My cat is itchy from seasonal allergies. How can I help at home?

Although not the typical affected areas, make sure flea are controlled as this can contribute to ther allergies. A food change may make a bit different as this can be a food allergy. You want to switch to a hypoallergenic diet; royal canin, Purina and science diet all have good diets for this. From there you may need a low dose of cortisone intermittently to help but cats can build a resistance to long term use and have side effects. There is another immunosuppressive drug known as atopica that is helping some cats now. There is another drug called Apoquel that is not labeled for cats but is showing good relief in several

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It depends on which pill you are giving. I would recommend that you check with her veterinarian who knows her medical history well before giving any medications. I agree with you that this is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Hi there and thank you for posting your question. In regards to allergies, there are multiple causes of allergy symptoms. If we are talking about environmental allergies, there are certainly multiple things you can use to help alleviate allergies. Bathing with a good quality shampoo (Duoxo PS shampoo is a great product) is a good start. Supplementing with Omega-3 fish oils (such as Canine Welactin) and topical essential oils (Dermoscent Essential 6 spot on) can aid in relieving allergy symptoms. Over the counter antihistamines can also be used. You can start with Benadryl and give 1mg per pound of body weight every 12 hours for allergy relief. If these fail to relieve the allergy symptoms, then I would suggest scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss other options that you may have for treating the allergies as there are many treatments available from your veterinarian to help. Hope this helps and do feel free to contact me with any further questions / concerns that you may have!

I have a flea-allergic cat too and it is very frustrating. Ask your vet about giving her an over-the-counter allergy medication to help relieve the itching. Chlorpheniramine and cetirizine (Zyrtec) are commonly used to help cats with itching. Something else to consider is that your cat may have other allergies that are contributing to the problem. A common allergy is to the protein source in the food. Ask your vet about a limited diet or about getting Boris started on a product like Prescription Diet z/d. This diet is formulated with hydrolyzed proteins, a process that changes the protein in the food in such a way that the body doesn't recognize it as an allergen, and it still provides the nutrition your cat needs to be healthy. Also, consider asking for a recommendation to a veterinary dermatologist. They have more and better testing available to them as well as specialty education in skin problems that may make them better able to help you and your cat.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description and the pictures you have provided, this sounds as though Boba may be dealing with an allergy. There is nothing concerning in the pictures. It is difficult to say what the cause is as there are so many things that can cause allergies. I would recommend by starting with the below recommended products. If there is no improvement, I would recommend having Boba examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. He may need prescription medication to help with the main problem. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. 1. Welactin omega 3 fish oil capsules for cats 2. Douxo PS Calm shampoo and bathe twice weekly until resolved 3. Malacetic conditioning spray and apply to the affected areas until resolved. 4. Essential 6 spot on by Dermoscent

Thanks for visiting Petcoach! Not every flea product is effective, so I would still not rule out fleas if they are using a product not veterinary approved (many over the counter products are not effective). Food allergies are very rare and even rarer in cas; however you can recommend a high quality food for overall healthy haircoat and skin such as Royal Canin skin support, Royal Canin Ultamino or Evo (Innova). Oral pet formulated fish oils from your local pet store are most helpful with skin issues because they are a natural anti-inflammatory. I would recommend visiting your local vet for effective medications to calm the itch. There also may be an actual skin condition that would require specific treatment to cure. If everything checks out then a short course of allergy medication may resolve the itch. Here is a website link with more helpful general tips on itchy skin care. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=599 Good luck to your brother and his kitty. Take care.

What a handsome boy! There's a few things you may try. To absolutely make sure fleas are not the cause (remember, if you have a pet who is sensitive, tit only takes 1 flea to cause a reaction), talk with your veterinarian about using an oral flea prevention called Comfortis. Try this for 2-3 months and see if it helps. Kahlua looks a little heavy, sometimes this can prevent them from being able to clean the lower back/around the tail. Weight loss will allow him to adequately clean that area and in the mean time, shampooing the area every 4-5 days or using a dry shampoo and a brush every 3-4 days will help to decrease the oil production and decrease itchiness. Continue using a fish oil though I prefer an omega 3 fatty acids supplement. Changing the food to Royal Canin may also help improve the skin quality. Allergies can also cause itchiness but I recommend to rule out the fleas first. I hope this helps.