Cats suffer from the same types of allergies that humans do --- food allergies, inhalant allergies and contact allergies. The most common type of allergy in cats is a flea allergy, but if your cat is suffering from allergy symptoms, it can be difficult at first to tell what the trigger is. Read on to learn how to diagnose what's bothering your kitty and how to help him avoid allergy attacks.
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Flea Allergies
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A cat without a flea allergy will experience slight irritation and itching if fleas bite him. But a cat who is allergic will suffer a severe reaction to even just one flea bite. If your cat scratches or bites at himself to the point where he begins to lose hair in that spot, or if he develops sores and scabs from itching, this is a sign of a flea allergy. In the case of flea allergies, the worst itches typically develop just in front of the tail. Treat your cat once every three to four months with a flea prevention solution, sold at most veterinary offices. If possible, keep your allergic cat indoors during flea season (February until October or November in most places, depending on the frosts).
Food Allergies
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Usually cats develop food allergies later in life --- they are not born with them. If your cat has not eaten a specific type of food for a long time, he might become allergic to it. Most adult felines are lactose-intolerant, so try to avoid feeding your cat dairy products after he is a year old. The most common sign that your cat has a food allergy is non-seasonal itching, especially around the head and neck. Scratching, chewing and biting around the itchy area can cause hair loss, sores and cuts. Cats with food allergies often develop ear infections and digestive problems such as diarrhea and gas. To find the food your cat is allergic to, feed him small amounts of whatever he has most recently eaten, one item at a time (for example, if he last ate chicken and turkey canned food, give him a little piece of chicken, watch for a reaction, then give him a little piece of turkey). Once you identify the food responsible, avoid giving him that food in the future.
Inhalant Allergies
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Cats can be allergic to pollen, dust and mold just as humans are. As with other cat allergies, the most common symptom is itching, this time across the face, chest, belly and feet. Wheezing or sneezing is also a sign of an inhalant allergy. However, if your cat sneezes up colored discharge, such as green or yellow mucus, this is a sign that your pet's reaction is not an allergy, but rather a bacterial upper respiratory infection. You should take him to the vet immediately for treatment. If your cat's problems are allergy-related, you can try bathing him in a hypoallergenic shampoo. If this does not relieve his symptoms, consult your vet about allergy shots, allergy immunotherapy, or a steroid treatment.
Contact Allergies
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Contact allergies are the least common allergy in cats. They occur when your cat comes into contact with a certain type of material --- grass, fabric in his bed, cat litter, plastic materials such as toys or food bowls, or a flea collar. Contact allergies result in a severe itch in the area where the cat came into contact with the material. To prevent this, remove the offending material from your cat's environment. If your cat exhibits symptoms of a grass allergy, you might have to confine him to indoors.
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