Could My Cat Have Hay Fever?

Cats exhibit symptoms similar to humans when suffering from allergies. They may sneeze, wheeze, or cough like they are trying to throw up a hairball but rarely does. Owners may notice bald patches where the cat has licked excessively. Allergens that affect cats are the same one’s that often contribute to human allergies, including house dust, pollens, and molds. To help ensure an accurate diagnosis of which allergen is causing your cat’s symptoms, keep track of the time of year when symptoms occur, the part of the body most affected, and whether the cat has been indoors or outside. Once an allergen has been identified, avoidance is the best prevention. If dust is to blame, regular vacuuming and dusting is advised. Mold sensitive cats should avoid the basement and other damp areas. Indoor cats can be affected by outdoor allergens from people bringing pollens in on their clothes and bodies.

Treatment depends largely on the length of the cat's allergy season. It involves two approaches. Steroids will dramatically block the allergic reaction in most cases. Some cats are helped considerably by a hypoallergenic shampoo. It has been demonstrated that some allergens may be absorbed through the skin. Frequent bathing is thought to reduce the amount of antigen exposure through this route. In addition to removing surface antigen, bathing alone will provide some temporary relief from itching and may allow the use of a lower dose of steroids. The second major form of allergy treatment is desensitization with specific antigen injections (or "allergy shots"). Once the specific sources of allergy are identified, very small amounts of the antigen are injected weekly. This is all in an attempt to reprogram the body's immune system. To find out if allergies are causing your cat’s symptoms and to learn more about treatment call and make an appointment today at 503-648-4117.