Spring has sprung, and with it comes flowers, warmer weather, and those pesky spring allergies. While you may have already broken out the antihistamines, did you know that your cat may be suffering as much as you are?
That’s right; some pets, like cats, can suffer from seasonal allergies just like humans. Allergies occur when your cat’s immune system negatively reacts to allergens in the air. These allergens usually come from certain molds, foods, medications, pollen, insects, or even other animals. Coming into contact with these substances can lead to some unsavory symptoms that can decrease your pet’s quality of life. That’s why it’s so important to know the signs and symptoms of allergies so that you can treat them quickly and efficiently.
At Wapiti, we’ve been making supplements that can help support cats with everything from upset stomachs to seasonal allergies for years. With unrivaled counsel and products that foster strength, vitality, mobility, and longevity we’ve helped hundreds of cats support their spring allergies to lead healthy and happy lives.
Allergy Symptoms in Cats
Cats can’t merely look up at us and tell us that they’re not feeling well. Their form of communication is much more subtle and relies heavily on attentive pet parents. However, most cat allergy symptoms are pretty easy to spot, even by the untrained eye. The most common symptom of cat allergies is itchy skin. Cats suffering from this symptom will frequently scratch at themselves or rub up against pointy surfaces to relieve the itch, to a point at which their scratching becomes an almost constant habit.
Some other common symptoms of seasonal allergies include fits of sneezing, coughing, or wheezing. A more troubling sign of more severe allergies could also be vomiting, diarrhea, or itchy, runny eyes. Typically, the allergen type and severity of your cat’s reaction will dictate which symptoms your cat exhibits. If your cat suddenly starts displaying uncharacteristic habits or starts scratching or sneezing more than normal, then we recommend taking a trip to your vet to identify the underlying cause of your cat’s spring allergies.
What Causes Cat Allergies
There are a large number of everyday household and outdoor items that can cause spring allergies in cats. Some cats can be more susceptible to certain irritants than others. In fact, some can be prone to reacting to everyday items like perfumes, cleaning products, rubber, or plastic materials. In fact, for some cats, something as seemingly innocent as fabric can provoke an allergic reaction. And those are just inside irritants. If you have an outdoor cat, their allergies could be triggered by trees, grass, molds, weeds, or the pollens from certain flowers, especially in the spring when new foliage is blooming. And lastly, while not seasonal, some cats can have their allergies triggered by their food or by food you prepare in your house.
How to Treat Cat Allergies
With all of the potential triggers listed above, treating your cat’s spring allergies all starts with identifying the source of their allergies. While you may be able to make an educated guess, the best course of action when it comes to figuring what your cat is allergic to is to go see your vet. In most cases, your veterinarian will be able to find the source of your cat’s allergies after checking your feline’s medical history and conducting a physical examination. During this exam, your vet may decide to run an intradermal skin test or a blood test to identify what is prompting your cat’s allergies. If your vet suspects that your cat’s allergies are coming from its food, he or she may recommend trying an elimination diet to narrow down the source of your cat’s discomfort.
Your vet will most likely prescribe you some cat-friendly meds to help with their allergies. At this time you should be sure to talk to your vet about natural pet supplements to help manage your cat’s allergies in the long run. Our natural Chest Supplement for cats, for example, offers a unique herbal formula that’s specifically designed to help support normal respiratory function and health in cats experiencing allergies. This intuitive, natural allergy aid has been crafted using natural ingredients chosen for their ability to warm the lungs, harmonize the stomach, and clear the chest for easy breathing. When combined, these ingredients make our Chest Supplement a great choice to support felines that have seasonal allergies or runny noses/eyes. Between the medications prescribed to clear up your cat’s current spring allergies and our Chest Formula to keep their allergies managed in the long run, your cat should start to feel better soon.
Treat Your Cat’s Spring Allergies with Wapiti
When our cats are feeling down, we want nothing more than to make them feel good again. In partnership with your vet, Wapiti is here to help your cat feel good this spring when battling their seasonal allergies. If you’re interested in learning more about how our industry-leading pet supplements can make a difference in your cat’s life this spring, we urge you to give us a call today. Our team is standing by to answer all of your spring cat allergy questions.
