We get many questions about whether our food can be used as an allergy food. Here we explain some concepts about allergy, what types of allergy food exist and explain why an insect-based food can work well for food-allergic cats. Remember that if you have a cat that eats allergy food, hypoallergenic food or is undergoing an allergy investigation, you should always consult your vet before making changes to the cat's food and routines.
In this article we will talk about:
- What are the most common allergies in cats?
- What symptoms can be caused by allergies?
- What is an allergy investigation?
- What is the difference between hydrolysed food and hypoallergenic food?
- Can petgood's insect-based food work?
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON ALLERGIES IN CATS?
Allergies in cats can be simply divided into two categories: food allergy or atopy. Atopy is an allergy to something in the environment, like pollen, grass, mites or mould. We will only go into food allergy here, but keep in mind that the cat can have both food allergy and atopy at the same time, or just one of them. This sometimes makes it difficult to get a diagnosis of exactly what the cat is reacting to.
When it comes to food allergies, it is most common for the cat to be allergic to one or more protein sources. According to a study by Mueller et al (2016), the most common dietary allergens are beef, fish, chicken and wheat. In these situations, an allergy food or a hypoallergenic food may be suitable for the cat.
WHAT SYMPTOMS CAN BE CAUSED BY ALLERGIES?
The most common symptoms in cats are dermatological symptoms like itching, rashes and skin irritation. It often shows through excessive grooming where the cat washes off fur, or gets sores and rashes around the neck, ears or face.
WHAT IS AN ALLERGY INVESTIGATION?
If you suspect that your cat is allergic, it is recommended that you start an allergy investigation with a vet. If it is suspected that your cat has a food allergy, an elimination diet is a step towards finding out what your cat is allergic to. In these diets, allergy food with hydrolysed protein is often used. The goal is to find out whether your cat is allergic to food, and if so, which allergens the cat is reacting to.
If your cat is undergoing an allergy investigation and is specifically eating an elimination diet, do not change food without first consulting your vet!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HYDROLYSED FOOD AND HYPOALLERGENIC FOOD?
A hydrolysed protein is a protein that is broken down into tiny pieces. Thanks to this, the allergic cat's immune system does not react to it. This means that allergic cats can often tolerate different types of hydrolysed allergy food, and these are therefore used in elimination diets.
The term hypoallergenic has no established definition and is used for different purposes, and can therefore be a little confusing for the customer. Most often it means that the protein comes from a more unusual source, and therefore has a lower risk of causing allergic symptoms. It can mean that the protein is hydrolysed, but there is no guarantee. Some manufacturers also use the term hypoallergenic to mean that their product only contains one protein source, which can also be called single protein.
CAN PETGOOD'S INSECT-BASED FOOD WORK?
If a food allergy has been established with an elimination diet, the next step is usually to try to introduce a new protein source to evaluate whether the cat tolerates it. Insect protein is a new, unusual protein source that most cats have not been exposed to. Because of this, the risk is lower that the immune system reacts to the protein. Insects are the only animal ingredient in petgood's food. Our food is not hydrolysed.
There is no food that works for 100% of all allergic cats, because every cat is unique and has different needs. According to current research on dogs, there is a risk of cross-reactions between insect species, which means that dogs with mite allergy can also react to insects. This is an area that is still being explored, and much data is still missing on cats, but cat owners of cats with mite allergy should be aware that there is a risk that they also react to an insect-based food.
And last but not least, we always recommend that you with an allergic cat consult your vet before making any changes to treatment, allergy food for the cat or other routines. 🐱❤