A Siamese Cat With Allergies

A Siamese cat with allergies requires treatment.

Siamese cats are not necessarily any more allergy-prone than other cats, but they are known to be highly intelligent, people-oriented and sensitive. Since allergies may be aggravated by stress and anxiety, allergy symptoms can be more pronounced in the Siamese. Also, since Siamese are purebred cats, they are more likely to have a home where the manifestation of the allergies are bound to be noticed by a perceptive owner.

Siamese cats with allergies can be treated in a variety of ways but the treatment is dependent on the cause of the allergic reaction.

Types of Allergies

Siamese cats are prone to bad reactions to anesthesia.

Siamese cats appear to be hypersensitive to certain medications used for anesthesia. Therefore, extreme care must be used when a Siamese cat is brought to the veterinarian for a procedure that may require the cat to be "put under." For example, a Siamese cat with a contact allergy may need sedation in order for the doctor to remove a sample of skin to biopsy to rule out skin cancer. In such a case, a Siamese cat will need extra care and attention.

Aside from allergies to medications, Siamese cats may suffer from food allergies, inhalation allergies, contact allergies and flea allergies. The methods of diagnosing each type of allergy differ, as do the treatments.

Food Allergy

Commercial cat foods contain common food allergens.

Cats often develop allergies to certain proteins in commercial cat foods. The most common allergens in cat food are chicken, fish, beef, wheat, dairy and corn. Meat byproducts are also commonly found in cat foods and can produce allergic reactions.

Food allergy symptoms manifest on the skin or in the digestive tract. Siamese cats, being highly emotional, may be more likely to experience digestive problems exacerbated by anxiety such as vomiting and diarrhea. These are the same digestive symptoms of a food allergy and so making a diagnosis may be challenging.

Skin-related problems include facial rashes, especially around the lips and ears, and excessive licking of paws, legs or the stomach area. Since Siamese cats can be highly sensitive, this behavior could become obsessive-compulsive, leading to an emotional disorder. If this does occur, the veterinarian can prescribe an anti-anxiety drug such as diazepam.

There are plenty of prescription foods on the market for pets being treated for food allergies. However, Siamese cats can be finicky eaters so getting the cat to eat the prescribed food may be challenging and make treatment difficult.

Inhalation Allergies

Siamese cats are just as prone to inhalation allergies as other cats. Inhalation allergies are the most common type of cat allergies. Cats suffering from this type of allergy have a reaction when they inhale pollens, grasses, dust mites and molds. Any airborne substance can produce an allergy.

Unlike humans, a cat that is allergic to something he inhales suffers from intensely itchy skin instead of sneezing. The itching can be so bad as to cause the cat to scratch himself until he bleeds. Secondary infections are a problem with this type of allergy. Due to the sensitivity in Siamese cats, the intense itching could lead to an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Long-term steroid therapy fights inflammation and relieves itching and discomfort; and anti-anxiety drugs may be especially helpful in Siamese cats if the itching becomes habitual and difficult to control.

Contact Allergy

A contact allergy occurs when the cat comes in contact with something to which he has developed an allergy. Relatively uncommon, contact allergies are aggravated by touching things such as cleaning solution, certain plants and lamb's wool.

The skin where the animal was exposed to the allergen may blister. This type of allergy usually only affects areas on the body where there is no fur, such as paws and the tips of ears. Removing the allergen fixes the problem.

Flea Allergy

As the name implies, a flea allergy is an allergic reaction to a flea bite. This allergy can be very serious, causing the cat to pull out patches of his hair in an effort to relieve the sensitivity.

Flea allergies are easily eliminated with products such as Frontline and Advantage.

References

• Little Big Cat: Food Allergies in Cats
• Know Your Cat: Feline Allergy