Most of us can reach for the medicine cabinet
when the pollen count rises and attacks our sinuses, but that’s not an easy
task for our fury friends who don’t have opposable thumbs. So what can you do
you relieve your cat of its allergy symptoms?
Our expert tips below will help you keep your cat healthy and happy during
allergy season without a scratch or sniffle!Pollen Count
Certified veterinary doctors report more cat owners seek relief for their pets when the pollen count rises, but cat’s aren’t affected by pollen in the way a human is; rather, the sneeze and the physical irritation from the pollen causes the cat’s discomfort. When the pollen count rises, monitor your cat for sneezes and sniffles rather than taking them to the vet immediately, in case they aren’t irritated by allergy season.
If your cat is responding negatively to the high pollen count, keep your cat indoors during reported high pollen forecasts and remove shoes at the door or invest in a mat to prevent tracking pollen into your home.
Read more in « Conditions and Diseases in Pets and Animals»
Keep an eye out for allergy symptoms in your cat; when a cat has a problem with the pollen, you should notice the cat’s skin will typically suffer and become noticeably irritated because of the release of immunoglobulin from the reaction.Some symptoms of allergies include hair loss, scabs or open sores in cats, as well as discharge from the ears or excessive scratching.
However, if you feel your cat is suffering, don’t reach for the Bendaryl in the first instant. Instead, contact your vet and only use medication prescribed and recommended. Most vets’ note that, like humans, each cat reacts differently to medication on an individual level and the best treatment is offered after a thorough physical examination to ensure the cat remains safe and healthy.
Temporary Relief
Itchy skin and irritation can be a real bother for cats. You can bathe your cat in soap-free allergy shampoo with cool water only to reduce pollen and mold sports on the skin, and soothe irritated wounds. Your cat may not like the water, but it’ll do them a world of good and they’ll thank you later!
Severe Conditions and Treatment
Unfortunately, veterinary treatment for cats can be quite costly. Usually steroid injections can relieve symptoms, but this is a costly procedure and is only recommended for cases of severe allergic reactions. In the first instance, take your cat to the vet, who will determine the necessary action to undertake and possibly refer you and your pet to a dermatologist. The vet, or dermatologist, will use a series of blood tests or intra-dermal skin tests to deduce the specific allergen affecting your cat and recommend a treatment plan.
However, you can prevent potential severe reactions in your cat by having them undergo allergy shots to desensitize your cat to specific allergens, which is cheaper and more effective than steroid injections but involves a two year commitment. Oral medication, usually Atopica, can also be supplied in some cases to suppress T-cells and reduce inflammation, relieving symptoms.
The treatment method will be determined by the severity of the reaction and recommendation from your vet. However, since even preliminary tests for steroid injections can cost hundreds of dollars, you should consider insuring you pet in case they should have a severe allergic reaction.
Prevention: Monthly Flea and Tick Treatments
If you want to avoid those costly bills altogether you could try some prevention methods. Although pollen can be a pain for cats, flea and tick saliva can the primary cause of allergic reactions – and pollen season is also flea season in most states.
Comb your cat frequently and check your home for fleas on a regular basis to reduce the likelihood of a flea infestation. You can apply ‘Spot-On’, a popular flea and tick medication for cats, or use general flea prevention sprays in your home. If you’re concerned about the chemicals in some products, opt for Natural Chemistry DeFlea which only harms the exoskeleton of fleas, not cat or human skin. For the greenest alternative to flea prevention, natural oils and mineral based pesticides work just as well!
Omega-3 Oil
As a final tip to keeping your cat healthy in allergy season, add a little Omega-3 fatty acid supplement to your cat’s food. This helps keep their immune system in tip top condition, but also keeps the skin healthy and reduces secondary infections. If you don’t have any supplements or are unsure of a supplement dosage for cats, a little bit of salmon, trout and sardines are a perfect Omega-3 packed treat for your pet.
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