Cat Allergies - Understanding Your Cat’s Allergies

Name: Veterinary Services
Brand: Blue Oasis Pet Hospital

What are some common allergies that cats have?

Some common allergies your cat may have include flea allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergies. These are the most common categories of allergies in cats.

Dr. Noel Lucas
Blue Oasis Pet Hospital

Can my cat be allergic to its food?

Yes, your cat could potentially be allergic to its food. However, it's incredibly unusual and rare for cats to develop food allergies. If you believe your cat is allergic to a certain type of food, we would diagnose it through a food elimination diet, something we might prescribe for your cat.

Are there environmental causes for cat allergies?

Absolutely. Our world is full of allergens that can affect your cat just like they affect us. Cats can develop upper respiratory symptoms like coughing and sneezing, lung bronchitis, and asthma as a response to allergies. We also see digestive issues sometimes related to food allergies and environmental allergies. Cats with environmental allergies usually over-groom or itch their skin excessively.

Can my cat's allergies be related to feline asthma?

Cat allergies and asthma do go together. Indoor cats can be allergic to things like cigarette smoke or the smoke from heavily scented candles. These things can irritate a cat's lungs and cause asthma. Cats with asthma often present with coughing, which can sometimes be mistaken for trying to vomit.

Can bathing my cat cause allergies?

It's not common for bathing to cause allergies in cats, as they are rarely bathed routinely. If you are bathing your cat at home, make sure to use a pet-approved shampoo.

Can over-the-counter antihistamines be used for cats with upper respiratory allergies?

Yes, we sometimes use over-the-counter antihistamines for cats with itchy, irritated eyes or a watery, itchy nose and sneezing. However, I would advise you to consult with your veterinarian first to ensure you are giving your cat the proper dose and frequency.

If you have any specific questions or concerns about your cats with allergies, we invite you to reach out to your veterinarian. And if you're in the Mount Julia area, we would love to see you here at Blue Oasis Pet Hospital. Thank you.

If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (615) 975-2583 , or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram

Cat Allergies - FAQs

Dr. Noel Lucas
Blue Oasis Pet Hospital

What are the signs that my cat is having an allergic reaction to something?

An allergic reaction in cats will present as an intense itch, usually of the skin. They can get hives, so you'll see little hairs puff up. That's really, really rare for us to see that, but that can happen. They might get swelling around their eyes or their face and usually like intense vomiting or diarrhea, so GI reactions. So that would be an intense allergic reaction.

Will seasonal allergies sometimes present in a cat?

Yes, cats can actually have seasonal allergies. They can be allergic to grasses, trees, molds, fleas, and things that are just part of our natural cycle of seasons. They can be hard to diagnose. Often we have to partner with a dermatologist. Cats can have allergy testing on their skin just like you and me, and when that happens, we're looking to see what they are allergic to, and we want to customize some allergy shots for them. So they do get seasonal allergies, and usually, you're going to see your cat presents with just intense overgrooming of their hair coat and they're just thinning their hair. That is usually the main symptom of seasonal allergies in cats.

How are my cat's skin allergies treated?

We can prescribe some medication that can be taken orally to treat skin allergies. We can also partner again with a dermatologist to do customized allergy shots for your cat with seasonal allergies.

How can food allergies be treated?

Food allergies are diagnosed with a food elimination trial. So we have to prescribe a hypoallergenic diet, or we call it a novel protein diet which is a food that only has a protein that your cat has never eaten before and we are gonna feed that specific food for usually about 8 to 12 weeks for a food trial time. In that time, your cat gets no other foods at all. They only get the prescription diet and treats that we might prescribe, and we're looking to see if your cat's symptoms improve while they're on that food and that's how we diagnose food allergies.

Can I give my cat Benadryl?

You could give your cat Benadryl, but we don't recommend it. It doesn't last for very long, only about four to six hours and nobody's ever going to redose their cat every four to six hours with Benadryl. It could cause sleepiness and we would dose it depending on the size of your cat. So even though Benadryl is not particularly unsafe to give a cat, it's not very effective and I would never recommend that you give your cat any over-the-counter medications, even Benadryl, without consulting with your veterinarian.

Are there other allergy medications my cat can take?

There are a lot of other allergy medications your cat can take. We are going to prescribe or recommend allergy medication depending on what type of allergy your pet actually has. So that can only really be determined when you actually bring your cat in to see us. We have these conversations. We might do some testing and then we're going to prescribe the correct medication that is appropriate for your cat and their type of allergies. So we really recommend that if you feel like your cat may have an allergic type problem either with their skin or digestive issues, we want you to reach out to your veterinarian. Please schedule that appointment to get them seen, and if you have any more questions related to cat allergies, we invite you to reach out to Blue Oasis Pet Hospital. We're here to help.