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If your cat scratches and licks itself frequently, or you notice sores and crusts on its skin, the house tiger may have an allergy. Find out here about the most important triggers, the typical symptoms and what to do if you suspect an allergy.
If you observe that your cat is constantly licking, scratching or gnawing, you might think of fleas at frst. However, the real cause is often an allergy,. This is an overreaction of the immune system to certain substances in the environment, because cats, like people or dogs, are also increasingly suffering from allergies.
Everyday substances from the environment activate the house tiger's immune system and there is a defense react ion against the harmless intruder. Substances that trigger such an excessive immune reaction are also called allergens. Different allergens can cause very different hypersensitivity reactions. There are two different (main) allergy types that are most common in cats. With type I allergy (immediate type), the body reacts to contact within a few minutes or even seconds, i.e. immediately,. The most common type I allergies in cats include flea saliva allergy, atopic dermatitis and feed allergy. With type IV allergy, there is initially no recognizable reaction when the cat first comes into contact with the allergen. However, the immune system is "sensitized" to the substance, ie put on the alert. With repeated contact, however, the immune system remembers the allergen: an infammatory reaction occurs, which is supposed to ward off the supposedly dangerous foreign substance, A typical example of such an allergy reaction is the contact allergy, in which the cat after repeated contact z. B. developed a reaction with cleaning agents, plants or shampoos, in which the cat after repeated contact e.g. B. developed a reaction with cleaning agents, plants or shampoos, in which the cat after repeated contact e.g. B, developed a reaction with cleaning agents, plants or shampoos,
If you observe that your cat is constantly licking, scratching or gnawing, you might think of fleas at frst. However, the real cause is often an allergy,. This is an overreaction of the immune system to certain substances in the environment, because cats, like people or dogs, are also increasingly suffering from allergies.
Your cat may have brought fleas into the house before. Then you know that the bite of a flea will cause your cat to be very itchy. However, many velvet paws are also allergic to certain ingredients in flea saliva, which can lead to extreme itching all over the body. Especially the area of the tail root, the abdominal and groin region and the neck are often affected. Often you can also recognize a flea saliva allergy by skin thickening and crusting the size of millet seeds, If the parasite has nested in the cat for a long time, it may lose its fur in individual places. But it doesn't have to go that far: if you carefully inspect your cat's fur while petting, you can usually detect flea infestation early on.
If you observe that your cat is constantly licking, scratching or gnawing, you might think of fleas at frst. However, the real cause is often an allergy,. This is an overreaction of the immune system to certain substances in the environment, because cats, like people or dogs, are also increasingly suffering from allergies.
Triggers of atopic dermatitis, also known as environmental allergy, are various allergens from your cat's surroundings, such as pollen, house dust mites or the spores of mold. In humans, the disease is also known as neurodermatitis. Whether the animal suffers from allergic symptoms all year round or only temporarily with atopic dermatitis depends on the allergen: while pollen usually only occurs at a certain time of year, dust mites or fungal spores can be found in the home all year round.
Similar to a flea saliva allergy, the immune system's defensive reaction also causes severe itching in atopic dermatitis. You will probably find that your cat licks itself very intensely, especially on the stomach, thighs and paws. After a while, this can lead to hair loss and skin changes, as well as skin abrasion and inflammation. Some cats, like humans, even develop allergic asthma in response to certain environmental stimuli. Since most symptoms are quite similar to other allergic reactions, it is advisable to see a veterinarian if you suspect them. This can rule out other allergies and also carry out an allergy test to identify the trigger of atopic dermatitis, Unfortunately it can be that the search for the trigger can be quite lengthy and diffcult, since a lot of different substances can be used. Your observations at home are particularly helpful for the veterinarian: you may already have a suspicion, for example because the problems arose with the use of a new cat litter or a new cleaning agent.
If your house tiger suffers from severe itching and skin inflammation, especially from reduced appetite, weight loss or persistent gast rointestinal problems such as
diarrhea, bloating or vomiting, a food allergy may be to blame for the symptoms. The cat is hypersensitive to certain proteins in its food. Feed allergies are the
second most common form of allergy in cats and are accordingly common.
Do you still believe that your cat cannot suffer from a food allergy, since you have been feeding the same food for a long time and have never had any problems before? Do not be misled by this, because a feed allergy can basically occur at any age and with any food. So it is quite possible that a cat may suddenly have an allergic reaction to food that it has tolerated well just before. The best way to determine whether there is a feed allergy is to use an exclusion diet.
All food components are excluded that the cat might not be able to tolerate and a source of protein and carbohydrates that your cat has never received before is fed. For the duration of the diet (12 weeks), no other food, including treats, may be fed outside the special diet, If the allergy symptoms disappear, the cat has developed an allergy to the previously fed or one or more components thereof, A provocation diet can then be carried out to identify the allergenic component.
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent allergy in cats, As a rule, these seem to arise from "nothing" and substances that were previously unproblematic can
suddenly trigger an allergic reaction, And unfortunately, an allergy rarely comes on its ownะ often cats are allergic to several substances at the same time or new
hypersensitivities develop over time.
A cure is not possible with an allergy, It is therefore important to eliminate the triggers of the allergy as much as possible, If the allergen is known, the veterinarian may be able to hyposensitize the cat. The animal is grad ually accustomed to the triggering allergens until the immune system has learned to classify them as harmless and ignore them. If the trigger is not known, there are effective medications that can significantly alleviate the agonizing symptoms of allergic velvet paws. Therefore, do not hesitate to see a veterinarian if you suspect an allergy. This not only improves your cat's life, but also protects it from potentially dangerous secondary diseases such as asthma or shortness of breath,