One thing you may not know about cats is that they can experience allergies, just like humans. They can be allergic to grasses, pollen, other animals, and even to ingredients in food. As a cat owner, it is important to know the signs of allergies in your cat and what to do if your cat starts to show allergy signs and symptoms. Then, you can be sure you are doing everything you can to take care of your cat's health and their overall sense of well-being going forward. 

1. Vomiting and/or Diarrhea

Two of the telltale signs that your cat has an allergy to something are vomiting and diarrhea. If your cat experiences one or both of these symptoms it could be because they ingested something they are allergic to. 

However, these two symptoms alone may also be signs of other issues in cats. Because of this, it is important to seek care at a veterinary clinic if your cat experiences vomiting or diarrhea. The vet can rule out other possible causes like stress or acute illness and may be able to hone in on the possibility of allergies. 

2. Sneezing

If your cat starts sneezing a lot, it is a possibility they got into something they are allergic to. Normally, cats do not sneeze often. As such, any amount of sneezing more than one occasional sneeze would be considered unusual. 

3. Snoring

Cats also do not often snore but may start if they have allergies. The allergens in the air may cause their nasal passages to become inflamed, leading to the symptom of snoring. If your cat has not always snored or only does so at certain times of the year, it is a distinct possibility that allergies are to blame. 

4. Runny and/or Itchy Eyes

Another symptom of allergies in cats is runny and/or itchy eyes. If you notice a lot of eye discharge from your cat or they are scratching and pawing at their eyes a lot, they could be suffering from an allergic reaction to something in the air or even in their food. 

5. Irritated Skin

Allergies can also cause skin irritation and itching. Pay attention to your cat's habits. Are they grooming a lot more than usual? Are they scratching themselves a lot? Are they losing patches of fur from excessive grooming or scratching? All of these are signs of irritated skin that could mean your cat has allergies. 

What to Do

If you have noticed any combination of the signs and symptoms of allergies in cats, you should schedule an appointment with a veterinary clinic. They will do an exam and possibly blood work to rule out other causes of the symptoms.

There are also skin and blood tests for allergies in cats specifically that can determine if your cat has allergies and maybe even what they are allergic to. If your vet confirms or even just suspects your cat has allergies, they may have you put them on a special diet (if food allergies may be the culprit). The vet may also prescribe steroid medications to be administered to your cat to help with their allergies and/or antihistamines. 

Now that you know the signs of allergies in your cat and what to do about them, you can get to the veterinary clinic right away if you notice any of these signs in your cat.