While not as common as dogs, cats can have also allergies. If you find that your cat is constantly sneezing, scratching, or suffering from ear infections. Keep reading to learn more about allergies in cats.
Symptoms of allergies in cats
Allergies can affect a cat’s skin, stomach, and respiratory just like in humans. Some of the more common signs that your cat may have allergies are
- Severe itchiness: This is usually due to external parasites like fleas
- Skin infection: This is usually a result of excessive scratching since this can cause open wounds which can eventually become infected
- Consistent ear infections
- Gastrointestinal troubles like vomiting, diarrhea, gas
- Over-grooming: Usually from being itchy
- Loss of fur: Also due to itchiness
4 Types of Allergies in Cats
Let’s look at the various types of allergies in cats from the most common to the least.
1. Allergies to ectoparasites
Ectoparasites include any external parasites found on your cat in its natural environment, for most cats this means fleas but it can many any insect sting or bite including wasps, mosquitos, horseflies, spiders, and bee stings. This causes feline atopic dermatitis.
Cats aren’t actually allergic to the fleas but to their bites. When a flea bites their host it injects compounds that cause a reaction.
2. Environmental allergies in cats
Just like in dogs, the most common allergies are environmental including fungus, mold, dust, grass, pollen, and weeds. Cats can also be allergic to indoor allergens like smoke, some cleaning products, and smoke. They may also be allergic to flea and tick prevention, prescription drugs, and yes some kitty litters. Usually, these are inhaled.
3. Food Allergies
Some foods or ingredients can cause some allergic reactions but food allergies are fairly rare in cats.
Only a small percentage of allergies in cats will be due to food allergies and will usually be due to a specific protein. The most common ingredients that cats will be allergic to are chicken, beef, and dairy.
A true food allergy will cause an actual reaction to the immune system so if you only notice digestive system issues like gas your cat may have a food sensitivity. To read more about the differences between food allergies and food sensitivities click here.
Your veterinarian can always help you do a food trial to determine if your cat has a true food allergy.
4. Contact Allergies
If your cat is allergic to certain topical things like shampoos or certain flea/tick prevention this can exhibit as a contact allergy or contact dermatitis, where you may notice raised skin, rashes, or excessive itchiness or pain in the area.
5. Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies can be a subset of environmental allergies since they are most likely due to pollen in the air. If your cat seems to develop excessive sneezing or coughing in the Spring and Summer when pollen is at an all-time high they may suffer from seasonal allergies.
How your vet will diagnose allergies in cats
- The way your vet will diagnose allergies in cats will usually be by ruling out other issues that cause some of the symptoms of allergies like sneezing and persistent ear infections,
- They may also do a food trial if it is suspected that your cat has a food allergy
- Other testing may also be done like a blood test to determine if the organs are normal or may be the cause of some issues noted
- Allergy skin tests are also available for cats that are suspected of having allergies
Treating allergies in cats
Treatment of allergies in cats varies individualistically as your veterinarian will want to treat the underlying cause if possible.
There are three things that your vet may want to do
- Treat based on symptoms: Your vet will want to treat any symptoms that your cat exhibits such as open wounds from scratching or ear cleaning for persistent ear infections. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics or topical anti-inflammatories as needed.
- Medication: Your vet may prescribe some medication for your cat including steroids and dietary supplements
- Allergy shots: There are also allergen-specific shots for severe cases of allergies in cats
Dealing with your cat’s allergies at home
It is crucial that you learn why your cat is exhibiting allergies so that you know exactly what needs to be changed. But some things that might help include
- Use a dust-free litter
- Dusting the home around areas your cat frequents
- Wash and change your cat’s bedding regularly
- Ensure your cat is on a veterinarian-approved flea and tick prevention
- Feed your cat a protein that they are not allergic to
- If you smoke do so outside and away from your cat as it can irritate their lungs and cause coughing and sneezing
If you suspect your cat has allergies it is important to get them into the vet as soon as you can to rule out other causes of their symptoms such as upper respiratory infections,
