Your Cat’s Allergies: Diagnosis, Treatments, and Beyond
Does Your Cat Have Allergies?
Cats are notorious for hiding illnesses, but allergy symptoms might be the easiest for you to uncover. When we think about allergies and
Your Cat’s Allergies: Diagnosis, Treatments, and Beyond
Does Your Cat Have Allergies?
Cats are notorious for hiding illnesses, but allergy symptoms might be the easiest for you to uncover. When we think about allergies and cats, it’s usually about humans. Your cat can have allergies to common irritants, foods, and the seasonal type too.
Each type of allergy has its methods for diagnosis that either you or your veterinarian can assess. Learn the signs, differences, and treatments to help your kitty cope with their allergies.
How Common are Allergies in Cats?
Cats have sensitive upper respiratory systems, so allergies are more common than owners think. According to PetMD, Your cat can also have food-related allergies, and in some cases, a cluster of allergy-related conditions.
What are the Types of Cat Allergies?
Regardless of allergy type, diagnosing is often a complex process with a lot of trial and error. Sometimes, your cat will have multiple allergies too, which makes the diagnosis more difficult for your vet.
What are the Signs of Allergies in Cats?
Symptoms can vary as you can see in the video above, but they’re similar to what you’d expect for yourself. Remember, cats have multiple types of allergies too, and their reactions can vary.
For an in-depth look, you can watch a free webinar by the Royal School of Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh.
The webinar shows the extensive trial and error you and your vet will likely go through before reaching a full and accurate diagnosis.
Here are a few of the symptoms they cover.
- Excessive scratching
- Loss of fur
- Atopic dermatitis, such as rash and/or hives
- Excessive sneezing with or without clear discharge
- Skin redness
- Gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and diarrhea
- Anaphylactic shock
- Life-threatening and requires immediate intervention
Below we can have another look at the classic signs of a cat with a food allergy. You can see the kitty has many of these symptoms.
The veterinarian also discusses the common food allergens lurking in your cat’s diet like corn, wheat, and soy.
How Do I know My Cat Has Allergies and Not a Cold or Infection?
For upper respiratory symptoms, you might not be able to tell the difference.
However, pay attention to these telltale symptoms.
- Excessive nasal discharge, especially yellow or green
I Suspect Allergies. Should I Take My Cat to the Vet?
Anytime you believe your cat is ill, you should take them to the veterinarian to rule out other conditions.
What Can Mimic Feline Allergies:
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
- Feline infectious peritonitis
- Feline Leukemia
My Cat’s Always Eaten the Same Food. How Could it Cause Allergies?
This is a common misconception with feline allergies (canine too). Allergies can develop suddenly or over time, which answers the question.
Scientists and vets tend to disagree on how and why a cat’s body will suddenly see a substance as an invader, but they both agree that it does happen.
We Have Multiple Cats but Only One has Food Allergies?
Not every cat will have the same allergies or allergies period. However, in a multi-cat household, you should feed all of the cats the same food and treats if possible.
Otherwise, you might need to feed your non-allergic cats in an area off-limits to your cat with food allergies.
Some cats have severe allergies to the point where breathing in the allergen will trigger a response. In multiple pet households, this can pose a real threat.
One of our staff has a dog with severe food allergies, for example. He can’t have chicken, turkey, pork, beef, wheat, corn, soy, eggs, or rice. When she adopted a cat, she had to feed the cat a similar ingredient diet (strictly fish-based cat food) to avoid triggering her dog’s allergies.
It doesn’t take much either to set off their allergies, so cross contamination is a real concern for your kitty’s overall wellbeing.
How to Treat Your Cat’s Allergies
After diagnosis, you’ll be able to treat your cat’s allergies at home with medication, dietary changes as needed, and possibly changes in your household. It will depend on the type and/or cause.
For example, a dietary allergy will require a new food free of the allergen(s). You might still need to treat symptoms temporarily until you find one that works for them.
Over the counter, antihistamines seem to work well for itching and as a skin anti-inflammatory.
Steroids are another option, but they will require a prescription and can introduce new worries. Which medication your veterinarian recommends will likely reflect the severity of their allergies.
What is Zyrtec and Why Would My Cat Need It?
Zyrtec or the generic Certizine is the active antihistamine ingredient in Zyrtec. Cats with seasonal, food-related, and environmental allergies might benefit from the medication.
According to PetMD, Vets are also choosing it for more serious allergy-related conditions like asthma and eosinophilic diseases where long-term steroids used to be their go-to.
Will Zyrtec Work for Your Cat’s Allergies?
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