Food allergies and intolerances in cats: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Your cat is constantly scratching itself, already has some sore spots on its head and neck and its digestion is acting up? Then it could be suffering from an allergy or intolerance to one or more ingredients in its cat food.
So your cat doesn't have to suffer unnecessarily, if you suspect a food allergy or even just notice severe itching, you should seek veterinary advice.
Your cat will love the taste even if she is actually allergic to certain food ingredients. That’s why she relies on your help!
Definition: What is a food allergy in cats?
Often, the term intolerance is equated with or even confused with allergy. In everyday life, when people talk about an allergy to food, they usually mean an intolerance, because a true allergy is generally less common. To help you understand what we mean, here's a quick explanation of the difference:
The key point is that with a true food allergy there must be an initial contact without symptoms, because the immune system only reacts on the second contact with the ingredient. At the first contact, antibodies are formed which then signal your cat's body: "Hey, something dangerous is coming, let's go all out against it!"
With an intolerance your cat's body shows symptoms even at the first contact. Since these are similar, it's worth taking a look at the symptoms of food allergies and intolerances.
Possible symptoms of a food allergy in cats
In cats, severe itching is the main symptom of a food allergy. Affected cats scratch themselves especially intensely on the head and neck and can even cause wounds.
Overall, you should watch for the following symptoms in your cat:
increased scratching (due to severe itching)
sore spots and skin infections (especially neck and head)
unusually high hair loss
Vomiting
However, not every cat shows the full range of symptoms. If your cat has severe itching combined with gastrointestinal problems, a food allergy is very likely the cause.
If your cat is constantly scratching, it could be a sign of an allergy or intolerance.
Which food ingredients are cats often allergic to?
Just like us humans, our cats can be allergic to a wide variety of foods. However, there are a few food ingredients that trigger allergic reactions more frequently. For cats, these are mainly the protein sources, because unlike dogs, a →species-appropriate cat diet consists mostly of meat. The different combinations of various protein sources can then in the body trigger the allergic reaction in your cat.
Cats often react allergically to the following food ingredients or foods:
Beef
Chicken
Lamb
Wheat
Corn
Rice
Diagnosis and testing: The elimination diet as an allergy test
First, your cat will be examined by a veterinarian. In most cases, they can already confirm your suspicion or find another cause for your cat's behavior. If an allergy is suspected, an elimination diet is usually recommended.
This is a special form of nutrition, where your cat is first given a food with ingredients that it has never eaten before. To do this, the ingredients of the current food are broken down together at your trusted veterinary practice, and the ingredients of the current food are analyzed. Then certain ingredients are completely removed from your cat's diet for several months (about 2-4) from the menu of your cat.
Veterinarians often recommend starting with so-called hypoallergenic food because these use only "exotic meats" as single proteins and are therefore ideal for an elimination diet. This often means cat food with horse, goat or kangaroo. Or has your cat ever had kangaroo before?
Monoproteins & hypoallergenic: Discover our wide range of cat food now
Usually, after about 3-4 weeks during the elimination diet, an improvement in symptoms can be seen. Gastrointestinal issues usually improve after about 2 weeks , while itching and open skin lesions take about 4-6 weeks to get better. That's why it's important to allow enough time in which your cat only gets the food prescribed by your veterinarian. Also important: No unauthorized snacks on the side, no bites from the kitchen table, because such actions can distort the results of the diet!
No snacks? Not quite! If the snack is exactly the same type of meat in its pure form, that your cat is being fed as part of its food transition, then snacks are allowed. So your cat can happily try our →hypoallergenic snacks that are matched to the meat used in its hypoallergenic food.
Give Love - with our Snacks for Cats!
Suitable food for cats with food allergies
If you now think you have to start cooking for your allergic cat, that's not the case. Of course, you can prepare a balanced →BARF menu yourself, but this usually takes a bit more work.
When choosing food, just make sure that there are no allergens in the chosen food. It's important to take a critical look at the ingredient list on the packaging. Just because it says "with horse" on the package doesn't mean the food contains only horse meat. Hidden allergens are often found on labels under terms like "animal fats", "meat by-products", "bone meal" or "starch". If you're unsure, you can also show your preferred food to your veterinarian and ask if your cat can eat it.
