Cat sitting for cats with allergies: special care

Updated 22/02/2024

We all know cats can be particular - food, bedding, interior decor choice, they don’t hesitate to let us know if something isn’t to their taste. However, sometimes, kitties are being picky for a more serious reason. As a sitter, you’ll probably care for many cats with allergies - they’re pretty common, just as they are in humans, and there are many different types of allergies found in fur monsters.

We’ll help you understand how to help cats with allergies, where these reactions come from, and any other tips or tricks you should be aware of when acting as a pet pal to a cat with allergies.

Common cat allergies

Although there are many types of allergies cats can either be born with or develop later in life, these reactions can fall into one of three categories:

Food allergy

All cats are born with one particular food allergy or intolerance - lactose. Yep, most cats cannot digest milk, cheese, cream, or any food containing lactose protein, so never feed them any of these things (or any other human foods).

Some kitties may have special diets due to an underlying condition, including allergies. Common culprits include proteins such as fish, turkey, or chicken. As expected, a kitty who eats something they are allergic to, may vomit it up or develop diarrhea. However, they may also develop watery eyes or skin rashes as a reaction.

Flea allergy

The most common of cat allergies, it’s not unusual for kitties to mildly react to a flea bite. Itchy skin around the bite can develop, causing the kitty to scratch. However, sometimes a flea allergy can be far more severe, with mild skin irritation turning into painful swelling and extreme itchiness. This reaction can happen from just one flea bite which leads to excessive scratching that can cause an open wound or sore to form. Once this happens, the sore can easily cause an infection which can be life-threatening.

To prevent a flea allergy from happening, pet parents will use a de-flea medicine on their cats once a month, something you may be asked to do as a sitter. For more severe reactions, their vet may ask cat carers to keep corticosteroids in the home - this offers them relief from the inflammation and itching.

Environmental allergies or atopic dermatitis

Cats are so like us! Just as some of us dread the changing of the season, so too can our kitty counterparts be affected by increased pollens, leading to hay fever-like symptoms. Similarly, some are even extra sensitive to excess dust in the house. If you notice your feline friend excessively sneezing, or developing watery eyes and a runny nose, this can be a sign they have an allergy to something in their environment. 

Similarly, skin rashes and irritation - also known as atopic dermatitis - can occur from these same sources. Notice if your cat friend is continuously itching one specific spot, excessively chewing on a particular area, or if any sudden fur loss has occurred.

How to help cats with allergies?

Pet parents with a cat suffering from pre-existing feline allergies will most likely alert you of their ailments. Specific foods, cat litter, toys, and treats will often already be provided. Be sure to ask them for a list of allergy triggers (sometimes certain detergents or air fresheners cannot be used around cats with allergies) and recommendations on what they can or can’t eat. Their vet will be able to recommend the best cat food, cat litter for cats with allergies, and other changes you can easily make to the home to help protect them.

What causes allergies in cats?

According to Malcolm Weir, DVM, MSc, MPH; Tammy Hunter, DVM; Ernest Ward, DVM from VCA Animal Hospitals:

“An allergy occurs when the cat's immune system overreacts or is hypersensitive to foreign substances called allergens. Allergens are foreign proteins that the body's immune system tries to remove.”

Just like us humans, this can be something a kitty is born with or develops later on in life. Some key signs of a cat allergic reaction are:

• “The most common manifestation is itching skin, either localized to one area or a generalized reaction all over the cat's body.
• Another manifestation involves the respiratory system and may result in coughing, sneezing, and wheezing. Sometimes, there may be an associated nasal or ocular (eye) discharge.
• The third manifestation involves the digestive system and can result in vomiting, flatulence, and/or diarrhea.”

If you notice any of the above symptoms or any other changes in your pet-sitting companion, you must contact their vet immediately. Let the pet parents know what’s happening and ask if this is something that’s happened before.

Meet our veterinary expert, Lizzie

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lizzie Youens BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lizzie graduated from the University of Bristol in 2011, and has been working in first opinion companion animal practice. She has worked in a variety of clinics across the UK, from large hospitals to small branch practices. She enjoys doing a mixture of medicine, surgery and emergency work. Lizzie currently works in a small rural practice where she enjoys working in a close-knit community. 

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