Feline Allergies and Treatment
Like humans, cats can have allergic reactions to different "foreign substances" called allergens, according to Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.'s website, an organization dedicated to educating people about cats and dogs. Feline allergies can be categorized into four variations: inhalant, flea, food and contact. If you suspect that your cat has an allergy, consult a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
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What Is an Allergy?
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A cat has an allergy when her immune system produces a hypersensitive response upon encountering an allergen. Cats are known to have allergies to certain fabrics, insect bites, pollen, dust mites and various foods. Feline allergies manifest in different ways; according to the website Pawprints and Purrs, allergic cats can have skin irritation, digestive distress and respiratory issues.
Inhalant Allergy and Treatment
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As the most common kind of cat allergy, inhalant allergy occurs when the cat inhales an allergen that causes a severe reaction; in most cases the allergic response presents as itching that affects the cat's entire body. She may obsessively groom and scratch herself, causing skin lesions to develop, state veterinarians Foster and Smith on the website Pet Education. Inhaled allergens may include pollen, mold and dust mites.
In addressing inhalant allergies, cat owners should eliminate the allergen from the cat's surroundings. Topical therapies such as shampoos, rinses and anti-itch products may be applied to affected areas. Antihistamines and steroids can also help with severe skin irritation and itchiness.
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Flea Allergy and Treatment
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Along with inhalant allergies, flea allergies are also common in cats. A cat with flea allergies will experience extreme itchiness when bitten whereas a healthy cat will have little or no reaction to a flea bite, according to the website Pawprints and Purrs. Cats allergic to flea bites will excessively scratch or chew the affected areas, causing hair loss, lesions and scabs.
Keeping your cat away from fleas is the best treatment, according to Drs. Foster and Smith on the website Pet Education. You should use pesticides to eliminate fleas inside and outside of the house in addition to using flea treatments on your cat.
Food Allergy and Treatment
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Food allergies are acquired when a cat eats a particular food over a long period of time. The cat may develop an allergy to the protein in beef, pork, seafood, chicken and dairy-based foods. Symptoms may include skin irritation, respiratory and digestive problems.
Veterinarians identify food allergies through trials where a cat is fed something she has yet to eat. If symptoms are noticeably reduced after 12 weeks, you'll be ask to give your cat the original food. If she displays symptoms again, this confirms that your cat has an allergy to that food, according to Drs. Foster and Smith on the website Pet Education.
Antihistamines and steroids can be used to alleviate symptoms but avoiding the problematic food all together is the most effective treatment.
Contact Allergy and Treatment
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Contact allergic reactions are rare in cats; they are isolated to the areas of the skin that are exposed to the irritant and in areas where there is not much hair, according to veterinarian Holly Nash on the website Pet Education. Typical allergens include wool, rubber, carpet deodorizers, flea collars and topical antibiotics.
Identifying the allergen and then eliminating it from the cat's environment will solve the problem. Nash recommends using hypoallergenic shampoos and detergents along with cleaning food and water containers regularly.
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References
- Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.: Feline Allergies
- PetEducation.com: Allergy and Atopy Treatment in Cats
- PetEducation.com: Flea Allergy Dermatitis or Flea Bite Hypersensitivity in Cats
- PetEducation.com: Food Allergies and Intolerance in Cats
- PetEducation.com: Allergic and Irritant Contact Dermatitis in Cats
Resources
- Photo Credit white angora cat eating from food bowl image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
