Allergies in cats are very common and might give you a hard time. These allergies are usually caught by foreign substances like dirt and other outdoor substances. Skin allergy is common in pets of all kinds. Cats, like any other human being, are often prone to allergies like skin allergy, sneezing, coughing, etc. Additonally, there will be some situations where environmental allergies in cats arise. In all such circumstances one should visit the vet.
Cats, as pets, are fantastic company. They do not require a lot of human touches and are very economically friendly in terms of expense. All you have to worry about is a litter box and a bed. But one thing that is very common and recurring in the cases of cats is allergies. We can conclude that cats suffer from allergies when their immune system is introduced to foreign particles or substances and the failure of the immune system due to interactions of these allergens with the body.
Causes and Types of Cat allergies
We also had to look at cat allergies to understand why and how they catch them. Some of the categories of allergies cats can have are –
Environmental Allergies in Cats
An outdoor environment contains various agents that can cause allergies. Agents such as pollen, mold, fungus, etc., are natural agents that can result in an allergic reaction among pets. The natural environment is very vast, and there can be hundreds of allergens out there that carry the potential to mess with the immune system of a cat.
But the allergies do not only circulate among natural factors such as pollens or fungus. It can also be caused by synthetic products such as detergents, cleaning products, chemicals, smoke, etc.
Food Allergies in Cats
Dietary practices among humans, are diverse. Humans, throughout the years, expanded their appetites to different kinds of food, including meat and vegan products. But the human body cannot react to every type of food in the usual way. Humans are often allergic to a few food categories, such as milk, meat, etc. The same principle applies to animals as well. Domesticated animals have a very sensitive immune system compared to the animals that wander around in the wild.
Cats are often affected by food products and have allergic reactions. These food allergies in cats can be picked up from both meat and vegetables. Some of the symptoms of these types of cat allergies are vomiting, diarrhea or itchy skin.
What are Cats Mostly Allergic To?
Environmental and food allergies are responsible for a good proportion of allergies among pets, but there is another category that accounts for the most common allergies among cats
Flea Allergies in Cats
The most common allergies among cats are flea allergies. The toxins released from a flea bite can cause great irritation among pets and are one of the leading causes of pet visits. The toxin released when a flea insect bites can cause allergic reaction to cats not only in the region where the insect bit but also in the whole body. One indicator of cat flea allergy is excessive itching in the pet’s skin. A cat would continuously scratch the skin out of irritation which can even lead to bleeding and hair fall. The infected area becomes noticeable a few days after the bite.
To prevent flea allergies in cats, there are flea shots or cat allergy medicine in vet clinics. The cat allergy shots prevent the toxins from spreading and instead helps in developing antibodies that will act as a shield from fleas or ticks. Also, there you can buy the best flea and tick shampoo for cats available to treat your pet.
Symptoms of Cat Allergies
Here are some of the common cat allergy symptoms including cat food allergy symptoms that your furry friend manifests:
- Sneezing, coughing, and runny nose.
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
- Red and dry skin.
- Swollen paw, neck, eyes, etc.
- Excessive licking .
- Watery eyes in cats.
- Rigorous scratching.
- Ear infection.
So, these are some of the signs of cat allergy. In case these symptoms of cat allergies are severe or if any other signs exist, you should contact a veterinarian.
Conclusion
Animals such as cats make excellent pets. They are very easy to maintain and avoid giving you a tough time. But if you want to maintain this simple and smooth-going situation, you must avoid harmful things to your pet. Animals kept as pets are not very independent as they do not follow the rules of survival from that of wild animals. Keep a check on your cat’s dietary and physical activities, and you can live with allergy free cats!