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.
Allergy Symptoms
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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