Food Allergies in Cats

  • Author

    • Nonseasonal itching, especially on the front half of the body, head, face, ears, and neck
    • Otitis externa – Itching and scratching can lead to inflammation and sometimes infection of the ears
    • Excessive licking of the affected skin
    • Papules (small, fluid-filled bumps) which eventually burst and crust over
    • Hair loss (due to excessive scratching, grooming etc)
    • Feline acne
    • Vomiting
    • Diarrhea

    Treatment

    • Avoid food that caused allergies, by switching to a homemade diet using novel ingredients (such as kangaroo) or the use of a commercial hypoallergenic one. If you are feeding a homemade diet it is important to ensure that your cat is receiving the correct nutrients in the diet.
    • Corticosteroids to control itching. Unfortunately, not all cats will respond to this treatment.
    • Antihistamines to control the itching.
    • Antibiotics to treat skin infections caused by itching.

    Author

    • Julia Wilson, 'Cat World' Founder

      Julia Wilson is the founder of Cat-World, and has researched and written over 1,000 articles about cats. She is a cat expert with over 20 years of experience writing about a wide range of cat topics, with a special interest in cat health, welfare and preventative care. Julia lives in Sydney with her family, four cats and two dogs. Full author bio