Food allergy in cats: how can you prevent it?

Do you think your cat is allergic to its food? Today we explain why this happens, and we recommend some pet foods so you can find a solution. Food allergies in cats are a condition in which the cat's immune system overreacts to certain ingredients in its food. This allergy can develop at any point in the cat's life, even if it has not previously shown problems with a particular type of food.

What are cats allergic to?

What are cats allergic to? Proteins in food are usually responsible for allergic reactions. The most common ingredients that cause food allergies in cats include:

Symptoms of food allergy in cats

The symptoms of allergy in cats can vary and affect different systems of the body, although the most common are:

• Skin problems: itching, redness, hair loss, skin infections, rashes or scabs.
• Digestive problems: vomiting, diarrhoea, gas or constipation.
• Otitis (ear infections): cats with food allergies may develop recurrent ear infections.

How is it diagnosed?

How do I know if my cat has an allergy?The diagnosis of food allergy is the most common, although it is usually complicated. However, there are different food intolerance tests for cats, designed to detect food intolerances or sensitivities in cats. The main methods include:

• Saliva test: This is a test that measures IgA and IgM antibodies in the cat's saliva against different foods (up to 24 foods). The result indicates which foods your cat may be intolerant to, allowing the diet to be adjusted accordingly. That said, it does not detect classic food allergies, but rather chronic intolerances and sensitivities.
• Blood test:They analyse the presence of specific IgE and IgG antibodies against food proteins. The results obtained help identify possible food allergies. It should be borne in mind that the clinical usefulness in cats is limited, so false positives or negatives may occur.

• Extended sensitivity tests:Some laboratories offer analysis of up to 143 foods and 49 non-food elements, detecting different intolerances.These tests can help identify both foods and environmental factors that trigger the symptoms.
• Elimination diet trial:Considered the gold standard for diagnosis, it involves feeding the cat a hypoallergenic diet or one with new ingredients for several weeks and observing whether the symptoms disappear. Afterwards, the suspected foods are reintroduced one by one to identify the cause.

Often, an elimination diet is recommended, which involves switching to a hypoallergenic food and then reintroducing the potentially responsible foods to observe the reaction.

Treatment for cats with allergies

Once the intolerance or sensitivity has been diagnosed, the main treatment for a food allergy in cats is to eliminate the ingredient causing the allergy. This is achieved by changing the cat's diet to a hypoallergenic or specialised formulation containing proteins and carbohydrates that the cat has not consumed before.

Veterinary foods for allergies are usually a good option, as they are designed to avoid the common ingredients that cause reactions. Here we recommend some pet foods for cats with allergies:

• Hipoalergénico Togo
• Purina Pro Plan Vet Canine Ha Hypoallergenic
• Royal Canin Veterinary Hypoallergenic

In some cases, medicines such as antihistamines or corticosteroids for cats may be necessary to control the symptoms, especially if the allergy affects the skin or causes infections.

If you think your cat may have a food allergy, the best thing to do is consult a vet to confirm the diagnosis and receive an appropriate treatment plan.