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Flea allergies
Flea allergies are by far the most common. If your feline friend is allergic to a protein in flea saliva, even one bite can make them super itchy. Naturally, your cat will start to scratch that itch, which can lead to hair loss, scabs, and skin infections, usually around the tail base, head, and neck.
The good news is you can prevent fleas by using cat-safe flea prevention all year long. If you think your cat might suffer from a flea allergy, make sure to reach out to your vet.
Food allergies
Food allergies happen when a cat’s immune system overreacts to certain foods – usually meat proteins like those found in beef, chicken, or turkey. Surprisingly, food allergies most often affect the skin, causing itching, scratching, and overgrooming, though diarrhea and vomiting can occur as well.
If your cat experiences any of those symptoms, make sure to take the poor animal to the vet. If they suspect a food allergy, they will likely put your cat on a special diet only containing proteins they’ve never had before, like duck or rabbit. Don’t switch your cat to a special diet without consulting a professional though.
Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis – also called atopy – in cats is an allergic reaction to things in the environment, like pollen, mold, or dust mites. Some allergens, like grass and ragweed pollen, are seasonal, while others, like dust mites and mold, are always around.
Unlike humans, who get sneezing and runny noses from allergies, cats react with itchy, red, and inflamed skin, especially on their head, neck, belly, and legs. Luckily, atopy isn’t very common in cats, but if you notice any of the symptoms, make sure to contact the vet.
Contact allergies
Contact allergies in cats happen when their skin reacts to certain products like cleaning agents, shampoos, flea collars, or bedding materials like wool. Since cats have thick fur and groom themselves a lot, these allergies aren’t very common, but when they do happen, they cause itchy, irritated skin where the cat touched the allergen.
The best way to fix it is to remove whatever’s causing the reaction, though figuring that out can be tricky. If you notice any skin issues, make sure to reach out to your vet.
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