Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Allergies
• Part 2 of 3: Treating Allergies
• Part 3 of 3: Identifying and Addressing Other Possible Causes of Allergy
• Tips

Cats are very concerned about the condition of their fur. However, some of them go too far, tearing their fur. Unfortunately, the appearance of such pets leaves much to be desired. To help your cat, you need to understand the cause of the problem, but sometimes it is not easy to identify it.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Allergies

1. 1 Your cat may be allergic. If a person is allergic to something, such as hay fever, they usually have a runny nose, sore eyes, and sneeze. Cats show other symptoms. The most common symptom may be itchy skin, causing the cat to pull out its own fur.
   • Some people are allergic to peanuts or seafood. The cat may also be allergic to one of the foods.
2. 2 If it is an allergy, you need to determine what is causing it. Anything can be an allergen. Typically, these are pollen and flea or tick bites.
   • If your cat is allergic to pollen, you will notice a worsening of symptoms at certain times of the year, such as summer (to grass pollen) or spring (to flowering trees). Typically, cats only experience relief during the winter when flowering stops.
   • Some products can also cause irritation (not to be confused with allergies, but the reaction will be the same).These include deodorants, perfumes, or hairsprays that can be used around the cat and get on the cat's coat, causing irritation.
3. 3 Try to eliminate the cause. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to determine which allergen is causing the allergy. Blood tests that are commonly done for dogs are generally not suitable for cats. Therefore, the veterinarian will try to make a diagnosis by excluding possible causes of skin irritation (for example, parasites, food allergies, etc.), and then prescribe appropriate treatment.

Part 2 of 3: Treating Allergies

1. 1 Minimize your exposure to allergens. Eliminate possible causes of allergy or irritation one after the other. Do not spray aerosols near the cat, do not use scented candles (their smell permeates the cat's fur, and the animal starts to itch, trying to get rid of it) and air fresheners. Vacuum every day to reduce the number of mites in your home.
   • However, this may not be enough if the cat exhibits a pollen reaction. In this case, drug therapy may be required.
2. 2 Use anti-inflammatories to reduce irritation. Your veterinarian will decide whether your cat should take medications after examining your pet. Medications used to relieve itching have side effects, so your veterinarian should evaluate the pros and cons of such treatment before prescribing medications for your cat.
   • If the cat pulls out the fur, and its skin is inflamed, red or wounded, then drug therapy is necessary (only if the animal has not pulled out several shreds of fur). Consult your veterinarian; it will determine if your pet needs medication.
   • Very often, doctors prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs. Corticosteroids such as prednisone are fairly effective and inexpensive drugs. The recommended dose for a medium-sized cat is 5 mg once daily after meals (treatment is 5 to 10 days, depending on how severe the symptoms are). If the cat is allergic to pollen, the dose should be reduced to one tablet, which should be taken every two days throughout the flowering season.
   • If possible, do not use medications during the winter. Although cats generally tolerate steroid side effects relatively well (unlike humans and dogs), you may notice an increase in appetite and thirst, leading to weight gain and a risk of diabetes. Discuss the potential risks with your veterinarian.
3. 3 Treat your pet with antibiotics. Antibiotics may be needed if the cat pulls out fur and sores appear on its skin. You may notice that the wounds are shiny, or they are damp, or they have a sticky fluid, or they smell unpleasant.
   • You can rinse the wounds with a solution of salt water twice a day, and then blot them dry. To prepare a salty solution, dissolve one teaspoon of ordinary table salt in 0.5 liter of boiled water. Pour the solution into a clean container. Soak the swab in a clean solution each time.

Part 3 of 3: Identifying and Addressing Other Possible Causes of Allergy

1. 1 Get your cat tested for food allergies. Food allergies are very common causes of irritation of the skin of an animal, due to which the cat pulls out fur. If your cat eats foods to which she is allergic, she may experience severe itching. Typically, protein foods can cause allergies in cats (such as nut allergies in humans).
2. 2 If your pet has a food allergy, you will need to review your cat's diet. By eliminating foods that your cat is allergic to, you can completely heal itching and irritation. Unfortunately, however, there are no precise laboratory tests that can identify a food allergen. The diagnosis is made on the basis of the appointment of a hypoallergenic diet.
   • The easiest way to put your cat on a hypoallergenic diet is to talk to your veterinarian about the pet's diet. Diets such as Hills DD, Hills ZD, Hills ZD ultra, Purina HA contain proteins in a form that prevents food allergies.
   • Review your cat's entire diet and try to eliminate ingredients that may cause allergies.
   • However, don't expect quick results - it can take eight weeks to clear your body of allergens. Be careful not to feed your cat any other foods that are not part of the hypoallergenic diet.
   • If your cat has a food allergy, you can continue to feed her a hypoallergenic diet or add one new food every two weeks while observing the animal's reaction.
3. 3 Check if your cat is allergic to fleas. Parasites, especially fleas, are a common cause of skin irritation. When a flea bites a cat, the parasite's saliva, which is an allergen, gets on the animal's skin. If your cat pulls out fur, you need to treat your pet for fleas and use special sprays to get rid of flea eggs and larvae in the house.
   • Effective remedies are Fipronil, which can be purchased without a prescription, and Selamectin, which can only be purchased with a prescription. Use these medications whether your pet has fleas or not. A single flea bite can cause a severe allergic reaction. Your pet may not be parasitic, but it will still experience nasty itching and irritation.
4. 4 The reasons for the fur pulling can lie in the behavior of the cat. When the animal brushes the coat, endorphins are produced, which are a natural form of morphine. The endorphins give the cat pleasure, and she may begin to pull out the fur to prolong it. Note that when the cat is stressed, she will persistently lick herself in an attempt to reduce her stress levels.
   • Try to identify the cause of your stress. You may have acquired another pet. Once you've identified the cause, you can try to reduce the stress in your cat.
   • If you want your cat to feel safe and secure, use synthetic analogs of feline pheromones such as Feliway. Feliway is available in 2 forms: aerosol and electric diffuser (fumigator); A fumigator is preferable because it can work without unnecessary intervention on your part.

Tips

• If your cat pulls out fur, be sure to check with your veterinarian. The veterinarian examines the animal for symptoms that may be causing stress. Your veterinarian will also recommend dietary changes as needed. In addition, your doctor may prescribe parasite medications.