Feline Allergies: What to Look For, What to Do

Be wary when your cat begins muttering unusual sounds. This can be anything from coughing, snoring, to the more obvious sneezing; all of which can be signs of feline allergies. When you hear coughing, at first you might assume that your cat is merely trying to cough up a hairball. This can be the case, though coughing is also a sign of your cat trying to scratch its irritated throat, a throat irritated by none other than feline allergies.

So why do cats do this? When my cat Oscar began harboring these symptoms, my vet informed me that hairballs are actually a sign of allergies. He asked me if I ever heard Oscar coughing, and I told him yes. I also added that there were times I could hear him snoring from the other room. At first I just thought this was funny to hear my beloved cat snore so loudly, but Oscar's snoring was actually a sign of his congestion.

Another symptom Oscar had was feline acne. He had a good amount erupt on his chin, and to remedy it, my vet prescribed ear cleaner to be used on the chin. Yes, ear cleaner! Basically, I took a cotton ball and wiped away any oil and debris three times a day until the sores healed. (I should also note that the vet gave Oscar an antibiotic injection as a means of dealing with the acne infection). My vet told me this irritated area was another symptom of his allergy.

But Oscar's snoring and coughing were the greater concern, and so Oscar was prescribed allergy medication. The instructions were similar to human allergies, in that whenever Oscar seemed to be showing any signs of coughing, snoring, or sneezing, I was to give him half a tablet twice a day. The good thing is it has seemed to work thus far.

And I should also note the additional medication my vet prescribed, and that is canned pumpkin. Why canned pumpkin? Generally, it is used as a laxative, and even though Oscar wasn't showing any signs of constipation, my vet informed me that the canned pumpkin would essentially "cleanse out" his digestive tract, thus aiding in any possible build up of hairballs, which in turn, would reduce his coughing.

Other cat allergy symptoms can include watery eyes, irritated skin (rash) and vomiting. Though it is important you get your cat examined since these symptoms can also be signs of more serious infections. If the watery eyes are cloudy, bacteria is likely to blame. A skin rash can be anything from allergies to fleas, ticks, or ear mites. Vomiting can be a sign of multiple ailments, (some of them more serious than others) and the important thing is to keep a careful watch on your cat.

Record all the symptoms the cat is suffering from, and let your vet know of your concerns. As we all know, living with allergies is no fun, and cats feel no differently. Know that medications are available and that allergies are treatable.