What Are Cat Atopy Allergies?

If your cat is pulling out tuffs of hair, grooming excessively, noticeably hair loss with sore spots, and inflamed ears then your cat may be suffering from an atopy allergy. This is an allergy that is caused when the animal inhales microscopic particles. Cats are very rarely born with this allergy and it will usually develop after being alive one year and get more intense as the animal gets older. Often these allergies are seasonal much like human atopy allergies. The animal can also display symptoms all year long if the cat is very sensitive or something else is giving the cat the allergy.

Diagnosing an atopy allergy can be very difficult because many cat allergies show very similar symptoms. The first thing that you should test for should just be a food allergy. This can be tested very easily just by switching the cat to a hypoallergenic food. If the symptoms persist then you can rule out a food allergy. A veterinarian can perform a complete test to find out what the cat is actually showing a reaction to. A vet can do a skin test or a blood test then refer you to to the appropriate treatment. Blood testing is used to detect antibodies in the cat’s system. Skin testing is often considered to be more accurate but blood testing must be used if the cat is on any other medications.

Immunotherapy is a great treatment option if a cat has allergies. The allergens that a cat is showing a reaction to are injected into the cat at increasing amounts which changes the animal’s immune system. This is usually considered one of the safest ways to treat a atopy allergy.

Shots can also be used. These are very similar to cortisone. This treatment type can show many different side effects however. This is because the injections are a kind of hormone. The most common side effects of these shots are lethargy, excessive thirst, excessive appetite, and an inflamed pancreas. These injections can be done at home if the vet chooses to give the owner that options. A shot must be given to the animal every three to six months.

If steroid injects are causing adverse reactions in the cat then antihistamines can be an effective treatment. These treatments are required to be given twice daily. Fatty-acid supplements may also be an effective cure. These work to stop the chemicals that irritate the skin by stopping their production.