Allergies commonly affect cats of all types and ages. An allergy occurs when a cat’s immune system overacts to a foreign substance. There are four types of cat allergies: these are airborne allergies, food allergies, flea allergies, and contact allergies.
Cat flea allergies are the most common amongst cats. Cats who are bitten by fleas will suffer minor burning and pain from flea bites, cats with flea allergies – however - will have a severe reaction to flea bites. A single bite can cause such severe itching that the cat will severely scratch or chew itself leading to open sores, missing patches of hair, and other symptoms.
Food allergies are allergies that cats develop over time. Allergies to meat like beef, pork, and chicken are the most common. Food allergies can provoke skin itchiness and gastrointestinal upset. To rid of food allergies, simply test to find out what the allergen is, and remove it from your cat’s diet.
Airborne allergies include pollens from trees, grass, weeds, as well as molds mildew and dust mites. Unlike human’s suffering (hay fever), when a cat experiences these allergens his entire body breaks out in severe itching. Treatments can vary from anti-inflammatory medications to shampoo, or even in severe cases, skin testing and allergy shots.
Contact allergies are the rarest amongst cats; these are cause by physical contact with your cat. Common contact allergens include carpet, wool bedding, or detergents. The symptoms are patches of skin irritation and itching where the allergens had contact with your cat. The most common locations for these contact points are elbows, bottom of the feet, and on the belly. To treat these allergies, discover the allergen and then remove it from the cat’s habitat.
If you think your cat is suffering from allergies, visit your veterinarian to identify and treat your cat’s allergies.