Allergic cat - any experience? Helllllp!

[pamplemousse]

Hoping someone has some experience of a cat with an unidentified allergy? Lumps on ears and in mouth and on tongue, poor sod. Steroids work, but I have no money at all and just can't keep going to the vet. And he can't stay on steroids for long, so I am fearful of the blood test, special diets that may ensue wail
PDSA full :(
And please I know I shouldn't have animals if I can't afford the vet, sometimes circumstances change :(

[MNP]

Does he go out?

Exclusion diet by making your own?

Eating plants in house/garden?

[pamplemousse]

He does go out yes.
Exclusion diet by doing it myself yes.
I don't think he eats plants, even grass, my other one does, but never seen him do it...

[pamplemousse]

MNP did you have any ideas? Please?

[Lizcat]

Of the cats I have encounter I am afraid house dust mites are right up there as a cause of allergies. So using an environmental spray that controls house dust mites, lots of hovering and washing.

[pamplemousse]

Really that is interesting. My house is pretty dusty too... Have de fleaed him, and he looks better already (less saliva) hopefully that means its that. Fingers crossed.
My family would wet themselves laughing if my cat had a dust allergy, I am not known for my dust free home...

[Dillie]

I have an allergic cat, and it has driven me potty!

Tbh it could be anything. My girl is on hypoallergenic food - gluten/wheat/dairy free food, non plastic bowls, all house plants are banned and any floor cleaning is done while she is not in the room and the floor is well rinsed and dry before she is allowed any contact. Even her cat litter is skin safe! She is also an indoor cat, as she went out a few times but her lip swelled and she lost fur on her back leg :(

I have never been able to pin it down, but her skin outbreaks have almost stopped.

Do you have plastic bowls? That is a well known allergy in pets (apparently!!) start with that and work it through.

Damn cats! Gotta love 'em!!

[LowRegNumber]

My cat is allergic to fleas which is easy to deal with but he is also allergic to almost every dry cat food out there! It started with him reacting to one and gradually we went through them all - including hypo-allergenic, vet diets and so on. We ended up with one single flavour of one single cheap and nasty brand!

In the end though we have managed to get it under control, he is on a strict flea/worm programme (to the hour) he only eats tinned food and he is no longer allowed out of the house! We discovered that he would nip to the neighbours for sneaky dried treats (they all love him as he is so cuddly) but they would set him off. We also found out that most cats are allergic to cows milk (some more than others) and most/all dry foods have some derivative of cows milk in them - a fact that surprised even the allergen free food rep!

Wrt the steroids, my vet handed me a very long term supply in one go rather than keep coming back. We could always spot the symptoms early so delaying for a consult just increased his discomfort as well as the cost. Obviously they are rarely used and only for the minimum time to allow his system to recover itself. Would your vet do similar? I don't know if this is normal or not and I know my vet trusts me to know what I am doing, he always asks me what is wrong with my animals when I call as he says I have a sixth sense for them - he also had me assist on my dogs last two ops (minor) to save me the cost of a vet nurse... So far from usual vet/client relationship!

[LowRegNumber]

Dillie, is it a dry food? If it is, and you haven't tried it already, I would totally recommend a fully wet diet. As I said even the hypo brands can have hidden dairy.

[Dillie]

LowReg, she is on a mix. Her tummy & skin seems to be happy with a little James WellBeloved and a rotation of Butchers Choice, Grau, Botiza, Cosma and Porta 21! Thank the heavens for online shopping!! :D

[pamplemousse]

Thanks :) good to know I'm not alone.
I tried Bozita, which he has turned his nose up at. I am very tempted to try raw food feeding him after having read (for frigging hours) some very interesting information. Then I will know precisely what he's eating. OTOH if he goes begging then all my effort could be wasted!
Argh! Lowregnumber I would love to be on those terms with my vet, he did waive the 2nd consult fee as I am brassic (sp?). I do tend to know whats wrong, maybe I should consider moving to save on vet bills. God I would be wildly excited if I could help with operations!! Pondering why I didn't go for the vet nurse career path rather than my current one

[LowRegNumber]

It was rather awesome, although I did think after how I would have managed if something went wrong, I think I would always have blamed myself iyswim.

With my cat it had got to the point where I would ring the vet and say "he's starting again" vet asked what his symptoms were "his ears are at the wrong angle..." it is always the same, when he starts his ears are the first thing you can notice! Of course the sooner the drugs go in the better so vet just handed them over lol. There was also the time I rang the vet at midnight saying my (different) cat is wrong - no symptoms as such but he is wring. Vet said bring him to morning surgery but I just couldn't shake the feeling so ended up taking him.in half an hour later. He had a bladder problem and would never have made it till morning. Vet was shocked he had no symptoms and also that I had been so sure. Sometimes you just know!

[americaninbritain]

My cat had spots on his face until we changed from plastic cat food bowls to ceramic bowls.