How to Help Your Cat with Allergies: Causes and Treatment

Itching, scratching, losing hair or maybe shaking their head – these could be signs that your cat may be suffering from an allergy.

So how can you manage this problem?

There are a number of ways to treat allergies including medical treatment or care products such as shampoo or conditioner.
Diet can also play an important part in managing this problem.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALLERGY

• Food sensitivities and allergies – This is a reaction to a type of food. The symptoms of both food allergy and food sensitivity look very similar but in the case of an allergy the reaction is triggered by the immune system
• Environmental allergies – this is an allergic reaction to something in the environment such as mites, pollens, dust and moulds
• Fleas – this is an excessive reaction to flea bites
• Bacterial infections

HELPING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES

If the problem is a reaction to a type of food then a change in diet is essential.

Allergies and sensitivities are usually a reaction to a type of protein so, look for foods with unusual proteins that your cat is unlikely to have eaten before.

It is also helpful to find diets with a limited number of ingredients as this reduces the risk of them eating one of the problem ingredients.

Hydrolysed proteins are also good. Hydrolysation cuts the protein molecules into very small pieces, so the body does not recognise them and they are less likely to trigger a reaction.

HELPING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES

Diet can also help in cases of allergies to things other than diet by improving the condition of the skin.

Your cat’s skin is their first layer of defence against allergens in the environmental. By improving skin condition, you can help improve the protection. Nutrients such as Omega-3 from fish oils and vitamins and minerals including zinc, vitamin A and B-complex can all help maintain a healthy skin.