Cats like humans are prone to allergies. Allergies are an immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to an allergen which to a specific organism is antagonizing. Virtually anything can be an allergen depending on your cat. It's important to understand early on what your cat is allergic too. Often clinical signs of an allergy come upon the cat seasonally and will develop before the age of two. Common allergies are pollen, tress, grasses, bushes, flowers and weeks. Common food allergies are beef, wheat, eggs, dairy products, chicken, lamb and soy. Dust mites, chemicals, drugs, and house hold cleaners also create skin allergies.
There are three types of skin allergies food allergies, flea allergies, and atopy and allergic inhaled dermatitis. The allergy being focused on by this article is atopy and allergy inhaled dermatitis which is a skin allergy caused by your cat when it inhales or absorbs the allergen though the skin. Cats are known to have allergies to fleas due to their sensitivity to the fleas saliva. This sensitivity leads to irritation of the bite zone. A flea bit increases the secondary bacterial infection.
Many allergic reactions in cats cause some amount of skin irritation. Cat skin allergies can be in the form of inflamed skin, itchy skin, irritated and red skin. Skin allergies also cause the cat to sneeze and have red watery eyes. Skin allergies can even spread into the ear causing an ear infection. Skin allergies cause the cat to benign licking, biting, scratching and become restless.
The best prevention technique is to prevent contact with the hypersensitivity. Cat skin problems can be difficult to manage so it is critical to take the cat to a vet who can perform comprehensive physical examination, blood and skin tests and check the cat's medical history.
