Being itchy is never fun, not even for your furry friend. One of the primary causes of itchiness in cats is allergies, and there are all sorts of allergies. Barking Head is here to help you know what causes the most common types of allergies in cats and how to deal with them.
Types of Allergies in Cats
There are numerous types of allergies that your feline friend can experience. Just like humans, cats can be allergic to plants, medications, food, etc., and these allergies come with symptoms like:
-Scratching
-Excessive licking
-Ear infections
-Itchy or runny eyes
-Diarrhoea or vomiting
-Ear infections
-Chewing at paws
The most common allergies in cats are either triggered by food, fleas or environmental factors, and these allergens can result in the symptoms mentioned above.
Food Allergies
One of the most common allergies that cats experience is food allergies. Your furry friend can be allergic to an array of foods, just like human beings. This kind of allergy can be hard to diagnose, but your pet feels much better when you find the right diet.
Flea Allergies
Most animals often become itchy when bitten by fleas, but cats tend to be extremely sensitive to even a few bites. When your feline is bitten by a flea, the saliva can irritate it all over the body, not just the bite location. To avoid flare-ups, it’s imperative to prevent the cat from being bitten in the first place. This can be achieved by applying a flea prevention product on a regular basis. You can ask your vet to recommend the best product for your pet.
Environmental Allergies
It can be challenging to protect your feline pet from environmental allergies which are usually triggered by grass, pollen, dust, fungi and mould. Since is it hard to avoid such allergies, your pet may require one or more treatments to avoid flare-ups.
In addition, cats can be allergic to cleaning products, perfume and cigarette smoke. All these triggers are a product of the environment your pet is exposed to. When possible, it’s best to avoid products that seem to irritate your feline or lead to allergies.
Diagnosing & Treating Allergies in Your Pet
To diagnose an allergy in your cat, a vet dermatologist will take a look at the pet’s medical history and conduct a physical exam. In some instances, they can do a test to look for environmental allergies. If the vet believes the allergy is caused by food, they will narrow down the root cause by changing the diet until the culprit is found.
When it comes to treating allergies, more often than not, prevention proves to be the best solution. If your pet is allergic to foods, plants, medications, cleaners and other unavoidable triggers, keep them away from those items. For things like dust and pollen, your furry friend may require medication to handle the triggers as these are almost impossible to avoid.
Keep in mind that treating allergies can be challenging if the source of the triggers is not determined. It may take a while for your vet to find the source of the allergies.
