Allergies appear when the immune system develops an adverse or exaggerated response to an allergenic agent, leading to the release of high amounts of histamine. In food allergies, this immunological hypersensitivity is a consequence of the ingestion of certain foods or certain compounds in industrial feed.
In felines, food allergy is diagnosed with some frequency and causes symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and reddening of the skin. If your cat shows these symptoms or shows any change in its appearance or behavior, it is of course essential to go to the veterinary clinic to carry out a professional diagnosis and establish a treatment appropriate to its needs. However, in this article on our site, we present the main symptoms of food allergy in cats so that you can recognize this condition early. We also tell you about the forms of treatment and if there are viable possibilities to prevent this hypersensitive reaction in your cat.
Differences between food intolerance and allergy
There is still some confusion between allergies and food intolerances, but they are quite different clinical pictures that require specific treatments to preserve the good he alth of our kitties. It is important that guardians know how to identify and differentiate them to provide optimal nutrition to their cats and easily identify the symptoms of any eating disorder.
The first key difference is that a food intolerance does not trigger a hypersensitive response by the immune system. Digestive discomfort associated with intolerance is caused by the inability (or great difficulty) of the body to digest certain molecules or nutrients. In many kitties, this condition may be associated with some underlying disease.
In food allergy, the immune system identifies some component of the cat's diet as a foreign body that needs to be combated to preserve the balance of the organism. Therefore, it reacts in an exaggerated (or hypersensitive) way, activating a defense mechanism that includes a high release of histamine in the bloodstream.
In general, food allergy symptoms tend to be more complex and delicate to treat than an intolerance. When an animal is intolerant to certain foods, the simple act of removing this component from its diet is usually effective in avoiding any digestive discomfort. However, allergies require a detailed analysis to recognize pathogens and establish a hypoallergenic diet appropriate to the needs of each patient.
The symptoms of allergies and intolerances also make an important difference. In general, intolerances tend to cause digestive discomfort and metabolic failure, and may also involve a certain degree of toxicity. Food allergies, in addition to gastrointestinal discomfort, also often cause dermatological, respiratory and neurological symptoms (in more advanced cases).
How do I know if my cat has a food allergy?
Food allergies are characterized by complex symptoms, including gastrointestinal, dermatological, neurological, and behavioral disorders, etc. Therefore, we reaffirm the importance of quickly taking your cat to the veterinary clinic after observing any abnormality in its appearance, behavior or routine habits.
Below, we summarize the main food allergy symptoms in cats to help you be alert and quickly identify them in your feline. Notice!
- Dermatological symptoms: the dermatological alterations associated with food allergy are concentrated in the region of the neck and the cat's face Your skin may show redness, scaling, hair loss, scabs and ulcers. Many kittens also develop otitis externa as a result of a food allergy.
- Excessive itching and scratching: cats with food allergies feel intense itching and often scratch constantly to relieve the discomfort caused. In some cases, the cat may also lick itself excessively, turning the skin even redder.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms: the most frequent symptoms in cats are vomiting, diarrhea, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Respiratory symptoms: breathing difficulties and asthma.
- Neurological symptoms: Seizures may occur in more advanced cases of food allergy.
- Alterations in behavior: many kittens can present hyperactivity and hyperaesthesiaas a result of a food allergy. This can cause an increase in their aggressiveness and cause changes in their usual behavior, such as a tendency to isolate themselves or hide, appear less sociable than usual, loss of interest in their foodor for his toys, etc.
Cat Food Allergy Diagnosis and Testing
When identifying any symptoms of food allergy in your cat, it will be essential go quickly to the veterinary clinic We must bear in mind that, while Let's not identify the allergen hidden in your food, the symptoms will continue to progress and harm your he alth. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential to minimize possible damage and offer a he althy routine to our kittens.
In principle, many foods can trigger an allergic reaction such as eggs, dairy, soy, wheat, corn, chicken, fish, etc. Therefore, the elimination diet will be essential to verify which components may be generating the hypersensitive response in your cat's body. These diets are specially designed to verify (by elimination) the protein sources that can be allergenic for each kitten.
At the veterinary clinic, the practitioner will also perform a detailed physical exam and may perform some food allergy tests in cats to verify the different immune responses of your cat against possible allergens. In addition, to reach a specific diagnosis, the veterinarian will need to have a detailed history of each patient's diet. In this way, the guardians must inform the veterinarian of the complete composition of their kitten's diet. If the cat eats a dry feed, it is interesting to take the product to the clinic so that the veterinarian can analyze its ingredients. And if you usually change the feed periodically, it is also important to inform about the products that you have already offered to your cat. On the other hand, if you usually provide homemade food to your feline, it will be important to detail all the products used in its preparation.
Treatment of food allergies in cats
After concluding the diagnosis, the veterinarian will be able to establish a hypoallergenic diet according to the needs of each feline. For kittens with mild allergies, the vet may recommend hypoallergenic feed made with low molecular weight proteins, which facilitate the digestion and assimilation of these nutrients. There are some options already available on the market that are specially designed for kittens with low-complexity food intolerances or allergies.
However, these products are not usually effective in treating more severe allergies. If your kitty has a more complex allergy picture, you should be patient and follow your vet's recommendations. Little by little, the professional will design a diet that is compatible with your cat's body, offering essential nutrients without harming its he alth. In many cases, it may be more advisable to administer a homemade and natural diet, which allows you to control protein sources and eliminate components that are harmful to your body. In this way, when establishing the food for cats with food allergies, it is essential to know the food, or foods, allergen to be able to eliminate it directly from their diet, for which the elimination diet and the tests of specific food allergies in cats.
Is it possible to prevent a food allergy in cats?
Actually, it's a bit complicated to talk about specific prevention for food allergies. Each cat is a unique individual and its body has its own peculiarities, which is why it is difficult to predict what elements can trigger an allergic reaction in each cat. However, we can follow some guidelines to favor its digestive process and avoid exposing it to pathogens. We summarize these guidelines below:
- Offer adequate preventive medicine to maintain good he alth and strengthen your immune system, making regular visits to the veterinarian and respecting your letter of regular vaccination and deworming. You can also ask your vet about allergy testing for cats.
- Provide a balanced diet of excellent quality. If you choose to give him dry feed as the basis of his diet, remember to choose high-quality products that contain high-quality protein and are easy to digest. And if you choose a BARF or homemade diet, be sure to seek the guidance of your trusted veterinarian to establish a diet that is appropriate to your kitten's nutritional needs.
- Avoid foods that are difficult to digest and allergenic risk ingredients. Some foods are difficult for our kittens to digest and can cause adverse reactions, such as cereals and their derivatives (soy, corn, wheat). On the other hand, eggs and dairy products are among the main allergens, so we should avoid offering them to our cats.
If you notice any change in the appearance or behavior of your cat, don't hesitate to go quickly to the veterinary clinic.
