How Diet Cat Food Can Combat Allergies

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 they don'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 cats 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 cats anyway, because they can’t digest the lactose, and diarrhoea may result)
• Keep your cat at home throughout the diet – you never know what they might eat while they're 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 they're on the diet, and let your vet know when you see positive signs
• Let your vet know about any unusual reactions to certain foods