Cat allergies

Atopic dermatitis in cats is a chronic inflammatory skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to substances in the environment.

Feline acne occurs when the follicles on the chin become clogged with oils from the skin and dirt from the environment. The causes are not fully understood but have been linked to poor grooming, infection, stress, allergies, or abnormal sebum production.

Eosinophilic granuloma complex is a condition characterized by the appearance of lesions on the skin in response to an allergen. Eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) target the allergen in the blood, leading to a grouping of inflammatory cells (granuloma) that creates a large mass or lesion on the skin.

Feline asthma is an inflammatory response to respiratory irritants and stress that narrows the airways, making it difficult to breathe. In cats, the cause appears to be an allergic reaction to environmental irritants that causes hypersensitivity of the airways.

Cats experience two types of contact dermatitis: allergic and irritant. They both involve skin contact with an offending substance which leads to a dermatologic reaction.

Allergies are common in cats, similar to other species. Harmless proteins in the environment (allergens) stimulate the immune system, which overreacts and produces a strong inflammatory response.

Food allergies are a reaction of the immune system to specific proteins within the diet.

Whereas humans get sneezy and sniffly at certain times of the year, some cats get red, itchy skin and secondary skin infections for the same reason: seasonal allergies.

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is a skin disease that results when a cat develops an allergy to flea saliva. The body treats the allergen as a harmful substance and reacts disproportionately.