My cat has an allergy, we think it might be to his litter (clay gravel). He's been itching his ears without end. We already tried the special food and he continues to itch his ears frantically, but once we changed his litter the itching seemed to slow down.
More recently, he was itching a bit more by his eyes and has a raw area around one eye where he's scatched off the hair and made the skin red and raw.
My questions are; has anyone else had a cat allergic to litter? and what can I treat the raw area around his eye with that will help it heal, prevent infection and not sting when I put it on? With it so close to his eye I don't want to use anything too stringent. So far I've only been dabbing it with a cool wet washcloth to take the itch out.
(If it isn't the litter he is allergic to then we are totally stumped as to what it could be. He's an indoor cat and his contact to things is pretty limited) Thanks for any help!
2007-06-17 16:51:06 · 6 answers · asked by koemoesiga 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
It is pretty rare for a cat to be that allergic to litter. I have to agree with the vet. It sounds very much like a food allergy. 2 questions for you....
1. How long to you try the hypoallergenic diet for? It can take 4-6 weeks for you to see the benefit from it.
2. Were you absolutely strict about it? Be HONEST... Even 1 kernal of the old food can defeat the whole thing...
I have seen this exact thing on cats more times that I can count, and usually the diet works...but only if the owner follows ALL of the rules.
However, if you really think it is something environmental i.e. the litter, you should really take him to an animal dermatologist. They can do the same skin test that a person would get, and they can tell you exactly what he is allergic to, then you can remove it from the environment....
GOOD LUCK
2007-06-17 17:22:27 · answer #1 · answered by Shamrock 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats get skin allergies, just like humans. The source could be many different things in your house, or just the pollen outside. Do you have indoor plants? Maybe it's a cleaner you use, or your fabric softener.
In either case, I'd take him to see a vet. There's probably some medications he can put the cat on to alleviate the irritation.
Go as soon as possible. Itching isn't extreme pain, but it can make the cat very miserable. Wouldn't you go in if you were itching like crazy?
Good luck!
2007-06-18 00:03:40 · answer #2 · answered by Sci Fi Insomniac 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well must be the brand new cat foods you guys feed him or can be that you need clean the littier box then or youre cat has fleas to make him itching too much . you need to get him allergeries shots from the animal veteriarina then so that he cant even get any out door virus and other virues that pets cant handle by. you should take him to the vet for check up in case if the cat caught something infection maybe can spread it to humans healths . i would call the vet plan a appointment .
2007-06-18 00:02:22 · answer #3 · answered by statecalifornia2009 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a food allergy, a flea allergy or an earmite allergy. His frantic scratching at his ears suggests an earmite problem.
This is one for the vet. Don't use any earmite (or flea) remedies you can buy at the grocery, pet or feed store, or peroxide or any kind of oil. Cats' ears are very delicate and you can easily do real harm by putting the wrong stuff down them.
2007-06-18 00:59:42 · answer #4 · answered by Kayty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This sounds a lot more like ear mites or an ear infection rather than an allergy. Have you brought him to the vet?
2007-06-18 00:01:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My vet tells me they treated a cat recently that was allergic to HUMANS! LOL. Take your cat in and have him seen. They can usually treat these things.
2007-06-18 00:14:06 · answer #6 · answered by L H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋