Signs Your Cat Might Be Allergic to Its Food

Cat food allergies are reactions to certain dietary ingredients that can manifest through countless different symptoms. In most cases, these include skin-related and gut issues, with the exact response depending on your pet’s age, weight, and general health.

Just like us humans, our furry companions can become allergic to all kinds of foods. The quality of the meals also plays a significant role here, as heavily processed items can be problematic.

While food-related allergies are tricky to diagnose, this article can help. So, stick around, as we’ll first cover the most common problematic ingredients and warning signs you should look for. Moreover, we’ll show you how to distinguish allergies from other issues and what to do if your cat has such a reaction

Causes of Food Allergies in Cats

Unlike food sensitivity in cats, which typically manifests as an upset tummy, a food-related allergy involves a response from the whole immune system. This means that your pet’s body will start treating the ingredient as a genuine threat.

Unfortunately, our feline companions can develop allergies to almost any type of food in their diet. That said, sources of protein are the ones that turn problematic in most cases, including:

• Chicken

• Fish

• Beef

• Dairy

Besides these, some of the less common allergens include:

• Lamb

• Rabbit

• Eggs

• Wheat

• Corn

• Soy

• Barley

Either way, food-related allergies don’t appear overnight. While we don’t exactly know what’s causing them, we do believe that overexposure to the abovementioned items is a contributing factor.

Low-quality foods are also part of the problem. Additives and preservatives in heavily processed meals can worsen your pet’s allergic reaction.

Common Symptoms of Food-Related Allergies in Cats

Allergic reactions in cats caused by food can be hard to notice, even if you know your cat like the back of your hand. That’s because symptoms are often mild, and they might even overlap with many other feline health issues.

Nonetheless, if you know what to look for, both food sensitivity in cats and allergic episodes become much easier to catch. That said, below are some areas to pay special attention to.

Skin and Hair Issues

Cat food allergies often manifest on the skin. That includes anything from a bit of redness to full-blown rashes. These changes are difficult to notice because of all the hair, so pay attention if your cat is scratching or biting excessively.

Digestive Problems

Gastrointestinal issues are another common sign that your cat isn’t tolerating something in its food too well. These problems typically start with loss of appetite, but can build up to burping, vomiting, excessive gas, loose stool, and even diarrhoea.

Respiratory Issues

While these are less common than skin and digestive issues, your cat can also suffer from respiratory problems. In most cases, that involves sneezing and coughing, although your feline buddy may also start wheezing as it struggles to breathe.

Eye and Nose Discharge

Some cats can have allergic symptoms similar to the common cold. Whether that’s watery eyes or a runny nose, paying attention to these signs is vital. They’ll also typically appear alongside other issues we’ve mentioned above.

Excessive Bathing

Food allergies in cats can also manifest similarly to a human allergic reaction. Your feline buddy might start feeling itchy all over. If that happens, your pet will likely groom itself a lot more than it usually does. All that licking will probably be focused on areas with red skin or scabs as well.

How Do I Know If It’s a Food Allergy?

Taking your pet to a vet is the best way to determine if you’re dealing with an allergic reaction. However, not every sneeze or a bit of scratching is cause for panic. Nor is it necessarily a symptom of a food allergy.

So, before you take your pet to a professional, there are a few things you can try yourself, especially if your cat’s symptoms are mild:

• Put your cat on an elimination diet: Start by removing specific ingredients and focusing on hypoallergenic cat food for a while. This diet should last anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks before you can see any notable changes. 

• Remove other ingredients altogether: For the elimination diet trial to be genuinely effective, you’ll need to strictly adhere to the recommended ingredients. It’s crucial to stop giving your pet any other foods, treats, and supplements.

• Supervise your cat during the trial: While a food trial typically takes 8 weeks or more, it also depends on the severity of the cat’s allergy symptoms. If skin, coat, digestive, and respiratory issues appear worse, you’ll need to stop the diet and consult your vet.

If you don’t feel confident in diagnosing a food allergy yourself or your pet’s symptoms are progressively getting worse, a vet visit is the way to go. In fact, you should call or message your chosen pet doctor beforehand to get an elimination diet recommendation and approval.

Treating Food Allergies in Cats

If a veterinarian confirms your cat’s food allergy, it’s time to start the treatment. Your first goal here will be to reduce your pet’s symptoms and improve its current situation. However, long-term health management is just as important, and it includes all of the aspects below.

Medication

Depending on the severity of the allergy-related symptoms, the veterinarian might recommend antihistamines. Although they’re not a long-term solution, these medications can help alleviate itchiness. Corticosteroids are also an option here, but only use these if the vet has prescribed them.

Hydrolysed Proteins

New protein sources your cat hasn’t eaten before are a solid choice, but hydrolysed proteins are an even better option. These foods are metabolised through a process that significantly decreases the chances of your cat’s immune system recognising them as allergens.

Hypoallergenic Cat Food

Helping your pet maintain optimum health means you’ll, from now on, have to pay attention to ingredient lists. Opting for trusted brands like Pawy is a good idea, as it’ll provide high-quality, allergy-conscious meals for your furry friend.

Keep in mind that occasional itchiness and tummy issues can still happen. After all, your cat might manage to sneak in an off-plan meal, regardless of how careful you are. But as long as you’re consistent, these occasional cheat days won’t matter much in the long run.

Conclusion

Allergic reactions in cats can manifest through a range of symptoms, including skin redness, rashes, sores, and scabs, as well as hair loss due to excessive grooming, and even gastrointestinal issues that typically start with loss of appetite.

However, even if your cat is displaying one or more of these signs, that doesn’t necessarily indicate a food allergy. While you could potentially get to the bottom of it yourself, a visit to the vet for a professional diagnosis is always highly recommended.

And if the doc confirms what you suspect, you’ll need to manage your pet’s diet carefully. With trusted brands like Pawy, genuinely hypoallergenic ingredients, and consistency, your cat will thrive despite its allergy.