What do I do if my cat is allergic to fleas?
Your pet’s veterinarian will recommend a topical, oral, or injected medication to ease your pet’s itching and inflammation. If your dog or cat has an infection, the veterinarian may also prescribe an antibiotic or antifungal medicine. You may have heard that human antihistamines can treat pet allergies.
What does it look like when a cat is allergic to fleas?
Many flea-allergic cats chew or lick the hair off their legs. Itching and hair loss around the tail base, neck, and head should be considered suspicious for flea allergy dermatitis. In addition, an affected cat may have numerous, small scabs around the head and neck.
What happens if your cat has flea allergies?
If your pet has a condition that requires prescription flea treatment, it’s important to contact your vet to discuss your options. Fleas are tiny insects that bite and cause itchy skin. They can lead to skin problems, especially in cats with flea allergies, and can even cause anaemia (blood loss) in kittens.
Is it possible for a kitten to develop an allergy?
It’s more common for allergies to develop in kittens and younger cats (less than one-year-old). However, it is entirely possible for an older cat to develop an allergy. Older-onset food allergies are more common than any other type of allergy.
What can I give my Cat for flea allergy?
Steroids can be given as cream, injection or tablets. Antibiotics might be prescribed if your cat has developed a skin infection, this is common if your cat has been biting, chewing and scratching itself a lot.
When to take your cat to the vet for fleas?
If your cat hasn’t been seen by a vet for a while or you have tried flea treatments which haven’t worked it is best to book an appointment. Your vet surgery will need to know how much your cat weighs so they can provide the right medication. For this reason you may need to weigh your cat at home.
Why does my cat have a flea allergy?
On the other hand, a cat with flea allergies has a severe reaction to even a single fleabite. This occurs because the cat develops an allergic response to proteins or antigens that are present in the flea’s saliva. When a flea bites a cat to consume a blood meal, some of its saliva is injected into the skin.
Can a cat with a flea allergy live a normal life?
Cats with a flea allergy can live a long, normal, happy life if their condition is well managed. You can’t prevent a flea allergy, but you can prevent symptoms developing by completely avoiding fleas. Did you find this page useful?
How is flea allergy dermatitis treated in cats?
Flea-allergic cats are particularly effective at removing fleas from their skin by eating them. How is flea allergy dermatitis treated? The most important part of treatment is reducing the number of flea bites.
Is it common for cats to get fleas?
You might not have guessed it, but cats can get fleas just as frequently as dogs do. In fact, flea bite hypersensitivity, or flea allergy dermatitis in cats, is the most common skin disease.