Feline Allergies

A very common, everyday condition that’s affecting our cute little kitties are allergies. When a cat is in an allergic state its immune system is very sensitive to foreign substances. The overreactions that the substances cause are usually manifested in three different ways. The first is itching of the skin, either in one part of the body or all over it. A second manifestation is problems with the respiratory system; the cat may be coughing, sneezing or wheezing. The third manifestation involves the digestive system, often resulting in vomiting or diarrhoea. There are four known types of allergies that cats suffer from – contact, flea, food and inhalant.

Contact Allergies
Contact allergies are not a particularly common allergy amongst cats, but when they do appear they will manifest themselves as a skin reaction. Examples of contact allergy causes are reactions to flea collars or to types of bed linen, such as fur. If the cat is allergic to such substances, there will be skin irritation and itching at the points of contact.

Flea Allergies
This is a very common allergy and the cats will have an itch reaction when the flea’s saliva has gone through the skin. The intense itching may cause the cat to scratch itself, which can lead to a lot of hair loss.

Inhalant Allergies
The most common type of cat allergy is the inhalant type. Cats can be allergic to all of the pollens that humans are. Many of these allergies occur seasonally, however some will be afflicted by them year round. Most cats that have an inhalant allergy are allergic to several allergens.

Food Allergies
Cats are not born with food allergies, instead they usually the develop allergies to different food product they have eaten over a long period of time. The allergy most regularly develops in response to the proteins; for example, beef, pork, chicken, or turkey. Food allergies can produce itching, digestive disorders, and respiratory distress.

For more information about how to treat cat allergies:
http://www.veterinarypetcare.com/catallergy.html
http://marylandpet.com/pet-scoops-animal-news/publish/common-cat-allergies-and-treatments.shtml