ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9607010020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: claws & paws
SOURCE: JILL BOWEN
Q: Every spring my 7-year-old spayed tabby cat sneezes a lot and seems to wheeze. My veterinarian puts her on cortisone tablets and tells me to keep her indoors as she has an allergy. I have never heard of this before and wondered if it was common.
A: Fifteen percent of all cats in the United States suffer from one or more allergies. A cat with one allergy often has others.
Flea allergy is the most common. It is usually seen in older cats as cats' sensitivity to flea bites increases with age.
Cat allergies fall into several categories, each with a parallel complaint among human allergy sufferers. Your cat probably has an allergy to pollen, which irritates the nasal passages and lungs. House dust and dust mites can cause the same symptoms. Kitty litter may also cause problems as can dust from the furnace, especially when it is first turned on. Other inhalant allergens include cigarette smoke, perfume, household sprays and air fresheners. As well as sneezing and asthmatic symptoms, there can also be hair loss, pustules, scabs and even ulcerated areas on the skin.
Between 5 percent and 10 percent of allergy cases are caused by food. Like contact allergies, the symptoms are dermatitis and severe itching, but in some cases it will also cause vomiting and diarrhea. Occasionally the cat may have excessively oily skin, ear inflammation and/or hair loss. A food allergy does not show up overnight, it can take anywhere from one week to 10 years for the cat to develop symptoms, but normally it takes over two years.
Contact allergies cause dermatitis, pigment changes or skin eruptions and usually require prolonged contact for the cat to develop such symptoms. Some of the common contact allergens include certain plants, especially the oily leafed ones, like rubber plants; other contact allergens are carpet fresheners, wool, house dust, newsprint, cleaners and topical medications and even the carpet itself. The signs of contact allergy are most noticeable on the chin, ears, inner thighs, abdomen, under the front leg and around the underside of the tail.
Certain cats are allergic to some antibiotics and to some vaccines; these usually cause skin eruptions, although each drug causes different symptoms and the symptoms can also differ from cat to cat. There is no way to predict how each cat will react.
To treat the problem, eliminate the cause wherever possible. This in itself can be time consuming and frustrating. You and your veterinarian often assume the roles of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. While the obvious symptoms are treated with antihistamines or steroids, more serious cases may require systemic steroids and regular visits to your veterinarian.
If you have a question for Jill Bowen, please write to her in care of the New River Current, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va. 24073 or send e-mail to Currentbev.net.es
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