Common Feline Food Allergies

Like beef seafood is another leading cause of feline allergies.

Common feline food allergies.

Food allergy refers to an allergic reaction to a protein found within food. Allergies are however incredibly common and for this reason in this animalwised article we would like to discuss what the common food allergies in cats are. Studies have shown that food allergies overall are the third most common type of feline allergy outranked in frequency only by allergies to flea bites and inhaled substances. Flea allergy and environmental allergies the ones that cause hay fever symptoms in humans are the most common.

When a cat has allergies her immune system is overly sensitive to certain everyday substances and begins to identify them as dangerous. Flea allergy environmental allergies atopic dermatitis and food allergy. Although itchy irritating skin problems are the most common signs of this allergy an estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of affected cats also exhibit gastrointestinal. Soy is added to cat food for the protein benefit but.

However unlike seasonal or environmental allergies cat food allergies are much more difficult for a veterinarian to diagnose and treat because there is no accurate. The top cat food allergies are chicken beef dairy egg and fish. Environmental allergies like pollen or mildew are much more common in cats than allergies caused by food. Allergies to particular ingredients in food are another type of feline allergy.

Affected cats may develop recurrent infections of both the skin and ears. Even though these substances or allergens are usually common in most environments and harmless to most animals a cat with allergies will have an extreme reaction to them. Food allergies can develop at any time during a cat s life typically causing chronic year round itching and skin inflammation. If you suspect fish is to blame stop choosing seafood based cat foods and stick to venison or duck.

Only 10 15 percent of all cat allergic reactions are caused by food. If your cat has allergies try using homemade cat foods to see if that clears the allergy symptoms up. Surprisingly grains are not the most common allergens for cats. Both dogs and cats can be allergic to any food ingredient but for cats common proteins are the biggest issue.

A vet will also be able to establish an appropriate treatment. Cats with food allergies typically have itchy skin and may also develop recurrent skin or ear infections and have gastrointestinal signs like vomiting diarrhea and or increased gassiness. Food allergies are diagnosed by performing a food trial and managed through the long term feeding of a food that does.