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Hypoallergenic Dog Food

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Hypoallergenic Cat Food

A hypoallergenic cat diet is a low-allergen diet formulated for cats with skin or digestive sensitivities. Food allergies can be more common in cats and this can manifest as severe itching, and/or digestive issues. It is important to ensure that cats with food allergies are on a diet that can help alleviate their symptoms and reduce the risk of reactions.

Feline Food Allergies

Food allergies is a common cause of itchy skin in cats and these can unfortunately develop over a long period of time. Affected cats are often itchy around the head, neck, mouth, and eyelids.

Limiting access to other allergens, updating parasite prevention, and coming in for a vet check enable you to determine your cat's allergies and how to manage them. For further reading, have a look through our article: Common Causes of Itchy Skin in Cats

Types of Hypoallergenic Food

Hypoallergenic diets come in the form of hydrolysed protein or novel protein diets.

Hydrolysed protein diets are made with a protein that has been broken down into smaller pieces while novel protein diets contain a protein that your cat has not been exposed to previously, like venison or rabbit.

Both diets can be effective in managing allergies; hydrolysed protein is too small to bind to your cat's allergy receptors, and novel protein, as it is new to your cat's body, is less likely to elicit an adverse reaction.

Choosing the Right Hypoallergenic Food

It is important to consult your vet to rule out other causes of itchy skin or digestive issues first. After this, your vet may start a dietary trial for your cat using a hypoallergenic diet, depending on their history and symptoms.

Pet Circle carry a range of hypoallergenic diets:

  • Royal Canin Anallergenic - uses a hydrolysed protein sourced from chicken feathers. It is the gold standard diet for use in elimination diets
  • Royal Canin Hypoallergenic - made with hydrolysed soy protein, making it a great all-around option for general sensitivities
  • Hill's z/d - hydrolysed protein diet that also utilises a single carbohydrate source to further reduce the risk of allergic reactions
  • Hill's d/d - single protein diet made with venison, and its limited-ingredient recipe is also free of grains, gluten, and soy

Homemade diets can also be an option but this is best formulated with a nutritionist to ensure that the diets are complete and balanced for your cat.

What is the most common food allergy in cats?

It may come as a surprise that the most common food allergies in cats include fish, dairy, chicken and beef.

How can I tell if my cat is allergic to their food?

A dietary trial/elimination diet would be best. This involves feeding your cat a hypoallergenic diet exclusively for 6-8 weeks. If there is an improvement in symptoms, a diagnosis can be made.

Is wet food better for cats with allergies?

There is no major difference in feeding either a dry or a wet food to a cat with allergies but a mix of both dry and wet food is great to help keep mealtimes interesting, especially as food options are limited.

Author info: Dr Antonella Virina Pet Circle Inhouse Veterinarian.

Customer Declaration

Veterinary Diets are carefully formulated to assist with the treatment or management of a particular illness or condition. By purchasing this product, you acknowledge and agree the following is true and accurate:

  • I confirm that my pet was examined by a veterinarian who recommended the use of this product.
  • I understand that it is recommended that I seek veterinary advice at least every 6 months regarding the use of this diet.
  • I understand that I need to seek immediate veterinary advice if my pet's condition deteriorates while I use this product.