Allergies occur when our immune system becomes sensitive to the things in our surroundings. Just like people, cats and dogs can also develop allergies. Substances that may not bother you or be an allergen to you can very well be allergens for your cat.
While there are similarities in symptoms of allergies between humans and cats, some symptoms can be alarming. Signs like sneezing, itchiness, inflame the skin, and nasal discharge is common. While the most significant of which are those that affect respiration. A cat’s face, throat, or nose may enlarge as a result of the body’s reaction to an allergen, making breathing difficult. If not treated immediately, this swelling can induce coughing, choking, wheezing, and even collapse and death in cats that already have asthma.
4 Types of Allergies in Cats:
- Food Allergy: Food allergies are unlikely to be present in cats. Cats are more likely to acquire sensitivities to foods they have consumed for a long period. The allergy is most commonly triggered by the protein component of the food, such as beef, pig, chicken, or turkey. Itching, digestive problems, and respiratory discomfort are just a few of the clinical symptoms that can occur due to a food allergy. When clinical symptoms have been present for several months, the cat has a poor response to steroids, or very young cat itches without other obvious reasons of sensitivity, food allergy testing is advised. A specific diet will be prescribed as part of the investigation so that you and the veterinary team can monitor your cat’s health in the absence of allergen proteins.
- Flea Allergy: Cats that are allergic to flea saliva will experience more than just the usual itching. The response might cause a lot of irritation, leading your cat to scratch, chew, and bite herself in an attempt to get some relief. This can be more difficult than you might believe if scratching results in open skin sores or scabs, enabling bacterial secondary infection to start. The most essential flea allergy remedy is to get rid of all fleas. As a result, rigorous flea control is essential for effective treatments.
- Contact Allergy: Contact allergy causes a cutaneous response that is confined. Reactions to flea collars or certain types of bedding, such as wool, are few examples. If the cat is allergic to these chemicals, inflammation, and itching will occur at the places of contact. The problem is solved by removing the contact irritant.
- Atopic Dermatitis: For allergy sufferers, inhaling pollen, mold, dust mites, and other “inhalants” is a well-known trigger. And, whether seasonal or environmental, these inhalants might irritate your cat just as much. An inhalant allergy, often known as atopy, can cause skin irritation and itch in your cat, much like other allergies. Atopy affects the majority of cats, who are sensitive to a variety of allergens. Itching may only persist a few weeks, at a time during one or two seasons if the number of allergens is low and they are seasonal. The cat may scratch frequently if there are a lot of allergies or if they are there all year. Treatment is primarily determined by how long the cat’s allergy season lasts.
Treating allergies is complicated if a source cannot be determined. Therefore, a veterinary visit is a must. Texas Wellness Spray and Neuter Clinic have a team of experienced veterinary doctor to treat your pet’s allergy.
