Kitten Allergies

Kittens suffer from allergies just like adult cats. The problem is, due to their small size, they must be treated and medicated differently from full-grown cats. With the help of a veterinarian, your kitten's allergies can be treated effectively.

  1. Types

    • Allergies that kittens might suffer from include contact allergies (when an allergen touches the skin), flea allergies, inhalant allergies and food allergies.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of allergies in your kitten may include itching and scratching; licking or chewing at the base of the tail or the back of the thighs; bumps, scabs, or rashes on the skin; hair loss; vomiting or diarrhea.

    Diagnosis

    • Skin tests (such as applying allergens to the skin or conducting a biopsy of the affected skin), removal from the environment, blood tests and physical examinations are tests your veterinarian might perform to diagnose your kitten's allergies.

    Treatment

    • Treating a kitten's allergies includes removal of the allergen from your kitten's environment (eliminating chemicals the kitten inhales or fleas and so forth), topical or oral antihistamines, a change in diet, dietary supplements and, occasionally, allergy shots.

    Considerations

    • Any treatment you use on your kitten must be approved by a veterinarian and labeled safe for use on kittens. Also, a kitten may develop more allergies as it gets older, so periodic allergy testing may be beneficial.