Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.
Food Allergies & Food Intolerance in Cats
Cats with consistent upset stomachs, ear infections, itchy skin or excessive grooming issues may have their owners seeking causes, and often the culprit is thought to be their diet. But it’s important to understand what a food allergy really is and how your cat may be affected before you decide they’re allergic to something they’re being fed.
Myths & Misconceptions about Cat Food Allergies
The symptoms of food allergies in cats can mimic many other allergic reactions that are not based on their diet. In fact, some symptoms may have nothing to do with allergies at all, but are caused by non-allergen factors instead.
Let’s join Dr. Danielle Opetz – Fromm’s Doctor of Companion Animal Nutrition – to review and dispel some common myths about pet food allergies in cats!
MYTH #1: Food Allergies are Very Common in Felines
Although food allergies are often suspected in cats with the symptoms mentioned earlier, true food allergies are relatively uncommon, affecting an estimated 1% of cats. However, the likelihood of a food allergy increases among cats exhibiting allergy-like symptoms, particularly when multiple signs exist concurrently.
More often, these symptoms are caused by factors other than a food allergy. For instance, hormonal conditions or insect bites can result in skin problems that mimic allergic symptoms, while dietary indiscretions, such as eating human food off the floor, can lead to gastrointestinal upset.
A veterinarian would typically investigate these more common explanations before considering a food allergy. Even when other potential causes have been ruled out, food may not be the first suspected allergen. Food allergies rank as the third most common type of allergies in cats according to the Cornell Feline Health Center, behind allergies to flea bites and inhaled substances:
Most Common Feline Allergies
Flea bite/flea saliva
Environmental allergies (inhaled allergens like pollen, dust, smoke, etc.)
Food or diet allergies
Of course, cats may experience one or more types of allergic reactions concurrently. Since food allergies are less common than flea-bite and environmental allergies in cats, identifying what is actually causing your cat’s symptoms is an important step in finding the right treatment and management plan.
MYTH #2: Seeing Symptoms After Eating Specific Foods or Ingredients Means an Allergy
It’s understandable for cat owners to assume that symptoms appearing after eating certain foods may indicate an allergy to a specific food or ingredient. However, correlation does not always mean causation.
While reactions to certain foods may indicate an allergy, they may instead be related to a food intolerance, which is a separate condition and often easier to manage.
Difference Between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance
An allergic reaction involves a cat’s immune system, which activates when it mistakenly identifies a particular food component as a threat. The immune system responds to the perceived threat, triggering inflammation and other symptoms.
On the other hand, a food intolerance doesn’t involve the immune system. Instead, the body may have difficulty digesting or processing a particular food or ingredient. This can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, or other digestive issues. While unpleasant, food intolerances may allow for more dietary flexibility than true food allergies.
Many cat parents who suspect their pet has an intolerance to a particular food or ingredient may find that their cat does well with a Fromm cat food recipe, even when it contains the suspected ingredient. Fromm formulates their foods using diverse protein sources, fruits, vegetables, and carbohydrates, an approach known as the Multi-Ingredient principle.
How does the Multi-Ingredient Principle help with Food Intolerances?
By avoiding a heavy reliance on any single ingredient, Fromm's feline recipes provide a balanced approach to nutrition. This formulation strategy offers ingredient variety while limiting the reliance on any one component. Essentially, a balanced formulation helps avoid overuse of any single ingredient, an approach that may be beneficial for cats with food intolerances.
MYTH #3: Allergy Tests will Reveal What My Cat is Allergic To
Blood tests for allergies may offer some insight about environmental triggers and allergens, but they aren’t as reliable for identifying food allergies. Cats with true food allergies may react to several common ingredients used in cat food, particularly protein sources. These include:
Beef
Lamb
Dairy
Eggs
Chicken
Soy
Wheat
However, a cat could be allergic to any food ingredient, so identifying the specific ingredient responsible is the best way to determine what the cat is reacting to. This process is called an elimination diet trial and is considered the preferred method for evaluating suspected food allergies.
Elimination Diet Trials
Elimination diet trials work by feeding a carefully selected diet while eliminating other foods and ingredients that could trigger a reaction. This means treats and table scraps should be avoided, since they can interfere with the results of the trial.
If the symptoms improve during the trial, individual ingredients may then be reintroduced (or “challenged”) to help identify the trigger. An elimination diet trial can last several weeks to a few months and requires patience and consistency, but it can help determine whether food is contributing to a cat’s symptoms.
Investing the Time to Understand your Cat’s Dietary Issues
Food allergies and intolerances can be tricky to figure out, and most pet experts will agree that there is no perfect one-size-fits all model for feeding every cat. Taking the time to understand what may be behind your cat’s discomfort can help you find the right nutritional approach, whether a food allergy, food intolerance, or an environmental factor is involved.
For guidance on use of Fromm cat foods as part of an elimination diet, contact our team, or learn more about transitioning to a new cat food.
From our family to yours,
Fromm Family Pet Food
Danielle Opetz is the Doctor of Companion Animal Nutrition at Fromm Family Foods. She earned her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2023. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology/animal biology from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, as well as a master’s degree in animal sciences with an emphasis on companion animal nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.