Although cats generally enjoy good health and don't usually have problems digesting the food we give them, the truth is that we can find more than one or two that need change diet in order to be able to eat normally.
Allergy is a overreaction of the immune system by identifying something, in this case a component of food, as something to "attack." If you think your furry friend has this, we'll explain below. all about food allergies in cats.
The cat, a carnivorous animal
The cat is an animal carnivorousJust like the lion, the tiger, and the rest of the felines. Our little furry friend, just like his cousins, It is a nocturnal predator that hunts its prey at night. What kind of prey?
Basically small mammals, like rodents, rabbits, maybe a hare, and small birds. This means that the cat eats the meat of these animals to survive. It is what is known as a strict carnivore.
Until before the Second World War, and even afterwards, the feline fed on the leftovers. And it was fine. However, with the feed boom, those who cared for a feline found a food that they were told had all the necessary nutrients for the animal, and that it only had to be opened and served. To what extent is that true?
Useful note: the biology of the cat demands high-quality animal proteinamino acids such as taurine and animal fats; when their diet deviates from this base, they may appear and food and adverse reactions.
Food allergy vs. intolerance: they are not the same
It is not advisable to confuse Allergy and intolerance. In the allergies The immune system reacts against a food protein and this can manifest itself in skin and digestive system. In the and food The immune system is not involved and the problem is limited to gastrointestinal system (vomiting, diarrhea, gas). Both can coexist and generate similar symptoms.
What do you have to eat?
Well, you can put shoes, bones, rice, and vegetables in a shredder, and surely when you analyze it you would see that, yes, it has proteins, minerals, etc., but this would not be eaten by anyone. Eye, I'm not saying all feed is bad.
Currently we can find a series of brands that care a lot about cats and make their croquettes with natural food. In their sacks you will not see wheat, corn, or any type of cereal, nor dyes. The price is higher, but it is that the meat bought in the butcher shop is.
Anyway, there is nothing like natural food. The cat is a carnivore. Let's give it meat. Let's buy rabbits, chickens and organ meats at the supermarket or the village butcher shop and you will surely enjoy it, unless you have already gotten used to the feed, of course (from experience I can tell you that it is very difficult to make a cat change its mind).
But yes. If we give him a low quality feed, we risk that he has a food allergy. According to a study by Affinity Pet Care, approximately 6% of chronic dermatological problems in cats are due to food allergy. An allergy caused by a diet that does not respect the animal's body by having as a source of protein a food (usually cereals) that it cannot digest.
useful optionsdiets with new proteins (rabbit, turkey, duck) or hydrolyzed They reduce the risk of reaction; and a gradual transition It helps to assess tolerance.
Common causes and allergens
Food allergies are often triggered by specific proteinsAmong the most common allergens in cats are described veal, fish, chicken, dairy, egg, soybean and even pigAny protein, in theory, can become an allergen and sensitization can occur at any ageeven after eating the same thing for a long time.
Los additive (Flavorings, colorings, preservatives) less frequently cause allergies; often they are and food. There is also the cross reactivity between related meat sources and the possibility of coexisting environmental and food allergies.
How do I know if my cat is allergic?
When a cat has a food allergy, we will see that it shows the following symptom:
- Dermatological problems: alopecia, peeling, crusting, redness.
- Digestive disorders: vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, increased frequency of bowel movements.
- Changes in mood: apathy, general malaise.
Furthermore, it is typical to non-seasonal pruritus (He scratches himself all year round), sometimes with external otitis recurring. Not everyone presents the full picture: combine itching y gastrointestinal trastornos strongly suggests a food reaction.
Diagnosis: elimination and provocation diet
For the time being There are no blood, saliva, or hair tests. Reliable enough to confirm food allergies in cats. gold standard is a elimination diet for 6-12 weeks with a single source of new protein o hydrolyzed protein, followed by a phase of provocation reintroducing the previous food to check if the signs reappear.
Keys to making it work: offer exclusively the prescribed diet (without treats, flavored toothpaste or medications), control cross-meals in homes with multiple cats and try secondary infections that might mask the improvement. Avoid using commercial diets OTC for testing due to the risk of undeclared ingredients.
If there is no response, another trial diet may be required, taking into account dietary history, possible cross-reactivities and preferences (dry/wet). The veterinarian will assess whether there is seasonal itching that suggests an associated environmental allergy.
Prevention and treatment of food allergies
The best way to prevent and treat food allergies is providing the animal, from the first day it arrives home, a quality diet. Either BARF or I think, that does not have cereals or other allergens such as milk, soy, beef or egg.
Also, if we choose to give it I think we have to see if it has turkey or duck, which are highly digestible sources of animal protein, which means that the body can make better use of nutrients, preventing allergies from occurring.
When we want to give you prizes in the form of candy, also we have to look at the list of ingredientsThese ingredients will be listed in descending order of quantity. If they have a high percentage of meat (at least 70%), we can be sure it's a suitable food for cats.
Furthermore, the diets of hydrolyzed protein or unique ingredient They are useful in cats with confirmed hypersensitivities. gradual transition It helps detect reactions and care for the microbiome. In severe outbreaks, the veterinarian may prescribe treatment. supportive therapy (glucocorticoids, cyclosporine) and antibiotics/antifungals if there is a superinfection.
Once the allergen has been identified, the long-term strategy is strict avoidanceWith a complete and balanced diet that does not include the trigger(s), the prognosis is usually very goodIn homes with multiple cats, consider separate feedings or chip-enabled dining rooms to avoid mistakes.
We hope this article I hope you find it useful 