Cat Food Allergy

Some people are allergic to cats, but did you know that some cats are allergic to different kinds of food? If your vet diagnoses your cat with a food allergy, the simplest solution is to make sure she doesn't eat the offending food.

The elimination diet

If you know there’s a problem, but aren’t sure what food is causing it, your vet will help you come up with a special “elimination diet”.

The first thing your vet will ask for is a list of foods that your cat eats regularly. Working from this, the vet will then suggest a new diet made up of foods your cat has never eaten. Here are a few guidelines to help you and your cat get the best out of the diet:

• First and foremost, stick to the elimination diet!
• If your vet also prescribes medicine for your cat, make sure you follow the instructions on the pack
• Keep your cat’s water bowl full and clean at all times
• Make sure your cat drinks only water (you should never feed cow’s milk to your cat anyway, because she can’t digest the lactose, and diarrhoea may result)
• Keep your cat at home throughout the diet – you never know what she might eat while she’s out and about
• Keep your cat away from any other pets during feeding times
• Be patient – you may have to keep your cat on the elimination diet for up to ten weeks
• Watch your cat closely for improvements while she's on the diet, and let your vet know when you see positive signs
• Let your vet know about any unusual reactions to certain foods