Cat has an allergy to something, where do I start??

I recently decided to take my nearly 12 year old cat Krissy to the vet, just seemed time to get a blood check up to make sure all is well.

Her results showed an elevated wbc count, the eosinophils. They are twice the amt of the high end of the scale of normal range.

My vet said this particular cell reacts to fleas, parasites, allergies.

Well, fleas are out and she is and always has been treated every 3 weeks for all her years.

Had her poop checked, nothing there.

But as I have been researching allergies, I came to realize while she doesn't do major scratching or have sores or anything else, she does always have to be licking her paws, has very mild sound in her nose, and sometimes a bit of tear drainage, all are signs of an allergy of some type.

I think cat allergy, I think of food. I thought that was what I was going to have to start figuring out, eliminating, etc.

Well, I spoke with my vet yesterday to find out what was next, and was very discouraged and disappointed on his answer.

Now I chose this particular vet because he has a master's degree in nutrition, which I thought was ideal for Krissy who has always been overweight.

Then with this finding that she is allergic to something, I thought he could tell me something!

He said, I can put her on benadryl for a while to alleviate the symptoms, then stop and see if they return. She's always sleeping anyway so I'm not willing to go that route.

This is simply like putting a bandage on the surface but doesn't address the real cause.

I said wouldn't it be a food allergy? He said true food allergies are actually pretty rare.

Okay....so now what?! If her cells are that high, don't I need to do something to make her right?

Krissy is truly my baby, (avatar) and I can't feel okay about simply leaving it as is.

But what can I do?

I feel like long term elevation of wbc can't be a good thing, maybe it causes cancer or something with time......who knows?

My Tim recently started vomiting and the vets can't tell me why. I suspect a food sensitivity, though my vet is somewhat skeptical. On my own, but with the vet's knowledge, I recently started a food elimination diet.

Maybe you can try something similar with your cat. Unfortunately, veterinarians don't always know exactly what's wrong and often rely on treating symptoms (i.e., suggesting Benadryl). You could take a look at what you're feeding your cat to see if it includes common allergens like grains or fish. Or look around your house to see if you can identify any potential environmental triggers. You know your cat better than anyone and you may need to play "detective" to figure this out.

Sorry I don't have any other ideas, but this is what I would do if I were in your position. Good luck!

Good suggestion by AbbynTim to have a look around your home to rule out possible external factors such as dust mites and molds.



The one thing Benedryl may reveal is whether Krissy has some environmental allergy, a sensitivity of some kind to something external. If it were fleas, she would scratching. I agree that the Benedryl is not a solution by any means and I am not sure if Benedryl would be the most effective for this test. You did mention that Krissy has some noise when she breathes? If it is dry where you are, she could be reacting to the dry air, or pollen from something. If the symptoms go away as your vet suggested, then you know you are dealing with an external allergy.



I am in Canada and my cat Max has sensitivities to dust and air in the winter when it becomes very dry, and as the result of heating with a wood stove. His breathing changes and he snores often when he sleeps. This all goes away when the warm weather returns so I know that it is dry air and dust related. What I do now in winter is run an indoor water fountain and Max's snoring is reduced considerably. It's better for all of us actually.



While I understand the need to administer flea treatments especially for cats that may have flea allergies, I find every three weeks to be really excessive. Flea treatments are a form of pesticide and I would be concerned that doing this too often could create health problems. Could it be that Krissy is starting to have an intolerance to the flea treatments? Allergies are not uncommon with congestion being one symptom. Here is an article at PetMD : http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/neurological/c_ct_pyrethrin_pyrethroid_toxicity


Here is a link to one natural flea and tick solution that you might consider : http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/natural-flea-and-tick-control.aspx


As far as the high WBC, it depends on the type of WBC that is high. If high for Neutrophils and Lymphocytes, this usually points to infection. High WBC with eosinophils usually points to an allergy or parasite causing illness.



EDIT: I have been looking into fatty acid supplements for Max, such as Fish Oil. If the result is a contact allergy as the result of something external, fish oil can help to reduce the effects of histamines and other chemicals that are released through allergic reactions. 

I do agree, I would rather not be giving the flea meds this often, but it is needed and my vet even told me during our last conversation to not wait a month in between, as it is good for UP TO a month, but to use it every 3 weeks or so to be sure she is protected.

I'm in California, so the weather is not able to freeze out the fleas, so it's a year 'round thing unfortunately.

I do worry about it though, but fleas drive her crazy so there it is.....:\\\....

The moist sound is very mild, hardly ever hear it, somehow I hear it occasionally when she is eating her canned food though.

This, now that I think back during her life, has been there for many years, her occasional nasal sound.

She has never been sick or had a uri, ever, so it's not that. When I was reading about allergies recently I realized then that they are connected, otherwise I might have not even thought twice about it since it is so mild.

I'm not sure I understand what you meant by figuring out what it is by using the benedryl. (??)

I appreciate the help here, I am able to advise in many other areas but this stumps me, like entering a whole new area here.....thx

I also meant to mention, half of Krissy's life has been spent here at our current house, the first half spent at our prior house, and no difference in symptoms.

However I don't recall her licking her paws all the time in the earlier part of her life.

So I tend to think it is NOT going to be a dust mite type thing, but who knows at this point...

It is pretty dry here in Ca, but summer time as well as now doesn't really change her symptoms much either.

I read the article on pyrethrin, etc poisons, and yes, I know about this. For instance Advantix will kill a cat.

I don't know WHY Bayer, who makes advantix and advantage, would give such close names to 2 flea meds, with one being dangerous/deadly to cats....

Krissy gets advantage. This contains Imidacloprid. This wasn't in the list on the web md site posted.

catwoman707 said:

 
I do agree, I would rather not be giving the flea meds this often, but it is needed and my vet even told me during our last conversation to not wait a month in between, as it is good for UP TO a month, but to use it every 3 weeks or so to be sure she is protected.

I'm in California, so the weather is not able to freeze out the fleas, so it's a year 'round thing unfortunately.

I do worry about it though, but fleas drive her crazy so there it is.....:\\\....

The moist sound is very mild, hardly ever hear it, somehow I hear it occasionally when she is eating her canned food though.

This, now that I think back during her life, has been there for many years, her occasional nasal sound.

She has never been sick or had a uri, ever, so it's not that. When I was reading about allergies recently I realized then that they are connected, otherwise I might have not even thought twice about it since it is so mild.

I'm not sure I understand what you meant by figuring out what it is by using the benedryl. (??)

I appreciate the help here, I am able to advise in many other areas but this stumps me, like entering a whole new area here.....thx

Click to expand...

I am sorry to hear that the fleas are really bad. That's tough. I use Advantage as well, and had to dose everyone as the result of our newest member who showed up at our door one cold rainy October day. I didn't realize right away, but discovered later that he came bearing a mild case of fleas. Lots of vacuuming, loads of wash of pillows, bed sheets, blankets and area spraying to do carpets, floor and wall joints, and separate doses of Advantage.

What I meant by doing the Benedryl was basically the same as what your vet suggested .. Do a trial of the Benedryl and see if this clears things up. Krissy doesn't seem to have a lot of typical symptoms of allergies however. Just the paw licking right?

The causes for the rise in WBC with eosinophils that would most pertain to your situation would be either flea allergy dermatitis. I am seeing drug sensitivity as one cause for high wbc with eosinophils. The following is an explanation of this from one site : 

Drug Hypersensitivity

Eosinophils may be produced in an overabundant number as a reaction to an illegal drug or a prescribed medication. The immune system is usually one of the first systems to react to a new drug being introduced into the body, and in some cases the body mistakes the drug for an intruder and releases an abnormal amount of eosinophils. This reaction is referred to as drug hypersensitivity. It is possible that any new substance being introduced into the body could trigger eosinophilia if the body already is predisposed to drug hypersensitivity.

Link : http://www.ehow.com/about_5144408_causes-eosinophilia.html

If the fleas are that bad, could it be that Krissy may be having a Eosinophilic reaction, but without the obvious rashes and raised lesions that are typical with this. You would get raised wbc level for eosinophils with this.

Eosinophilic Granuloma : http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/skin/c_ct_eosinophilic_granuloma_complex

Benadryl generally doesn't work in cats, you want to use something like chlorampheniramine or zyrtec in a cat.  Weepy eyes can indicate a herpes problem at least it does in 3 of my cats.  Elevated WBC's indicates an infection somewhere in the system, elevated eosinophils is usually caused by allergies, asthma, hypothryroid (usually in dogs).  Licking paws can indicate a food allergy, what is your kitty eating?

Krissy makes me worry lately, why does she prefer to nap in the spare bedroom, all alone? Right now this is where she is....again.

It's not like my house is noisy or busy, it's mostly just me on my computer.

What I know is, when a cat does this, they're not feeling well.

When she started doing this before, a few months back is why I decided I needed to take her in, see what her blood looks like, organ function, you know.

Should I have gone for the more detailed blood screening?? I can't help but feel, something is wrong. Not a drastic fast illness, but a slow progressing, she's not feeling good lately, geez Krissy sure is sleeping alot these days, type of thing.

What do you all think? I mean, the only thing this bloodwork showed was the elevated eos, but very likely from an allergy. I just don't see allergies causing this behavior.

My sister-in-law took her kitty to an animal dermatologist. They said it works like the people allergy tests - they draw a grid on the skin and inject possible allergens, and check for reaction. $$$$!!!! But they did find out the kitty is allergic to chicken and pepper trees (of which there are 2 on their property).

catwoman707 said:

 
Krissy makes me worry lately, why does she prefer to nap in the spare bedroom, all alone? Right now this is where she is....again.

It's not like my house is noisy or busy, it's mostly just me on my computer.

What I know is, when a cat does this, they're not feeling well.

When she started doing this before, a few months back is why I decided I needed to take her in, see what her blood looks like, organ function, you know.

Should I have gone for the more detailed blood screening?? I can't help but feel, something is wrong. Not a drastic fast illness, but a slow progressing, she's not feeling good lately, geez Krissy sure is sleeping alot these days, type of thing.

What do you all think? I mean, the only thing this bloodwork showed was the elevated eos, but very likely from an allergy. I just don't see allergies causing this behavior.

Click to expand...

You know your Krissi better than anyone, so its hard to offer a suggestion that will pertain and be most meaningful to her situation. Here in Canada it is winter and we have had a lot of snow. Max has been sleeping an awful lot, even though he goes outside now and then. Its the season and lack of exposure to the sun I am sure. He also likes to sleep in the cooler bedroom when the wood stove is making the downstairs area too warm, and to get away from Thomas who often wakes him up in an effort to get him to play. Where you are it is warm and sunny and so not weather related. If her allergies are particularly bad at this time however, this could be affecting her mood just as it does in people. Just a thought.

I'm not sure if my experience with this will help or not.

Abby has both food and environmental allergies. She will pull her fur out and scratch herself bloody around her ears and nose. We give her the Royal Canin limited ingredient foods only. Even if I give her a few regular cat treats, she will start with the scratching and pulling fur. She also pulls her fur sometimes when she is anxious so at times it is tough to figure out what is going on.

Sometimes in the warmer months the environmental allergies kick in with the bad scratching. I will normally give her chlorampheniramine when it gets bad. I've asked my vet about the allergy testing and she said for the money she feel sit is not accurate enough.

In looking back in the years where Krissy did NOT have an allergic reaction as she does now, I realize it was before she was eating canned food.

Formerly eating Iam weight control dry. No allergies. She ate that from about a year and a half old to 5 years old until I started understanding more about dry vs canned.

She eats fancy feast classics, breakfast and dinner, dry in between (Iams regular) 

Mostly chicken or turkey recently, but more of the fish varieties before very recently. I've been working away from the fish, so assuming I have to have her eating no fish for a good month before I start seeing a difference?

That is of course, if it is infact fish caused allergy.

Can you try a limited ingredient diet? I am aware of two non-prescription brands: Natural Balance and Nature's Variety Instinct. I am feeding the Instinct and both cats are doing well. I had suspected a chicken sensitivity in Tim, and will probably feed him chicken some day to see how he does. But he's doing pretty well now and I don't want to mess that up.

Canned foods, great as they are for moisture, and Tim is prone to possibly both constipation and struvite crystals so we can never go back to dry, have a lot of thickeners and stuff. It could be one of those additives causing Krissy's problem. the Instinct does not have carrageenan or any gums, which is why I'm feeding this brand - trying to eliminate as many things as possible, then add back one at a time to discover the problem.

Just so you know, Tim used to practically live under the bed. We thought this was just his preference, he'd done it since he was a very young cat. Once we changed his diet from dry food to wet food and dealt with the constipation, that behavior stopped. From watching my cat over the past month as I've continued to change his diet, I have seen him go from a cat that used to spend a lot of time in our bedroom (at least on top of the bed instead of under) to one that is much more social and active. You are right that Krissy probably doesn't feel good. But maybe it's something you can solve by modifying her diet.

I had been thinking of going that route with the limited ingredient food, however they are both super picky with canned. Gosh I've tried so many kinds, trying to get them on something better than fancy feast. The was only 1 by soulistic they like, and it's fish, also BG 95% chicken they will semi eat now and then.

That's why I was thinking maybe I can get away with eliminating fish and see if that was it. Ugh...not easy.

It's not easy. I feel your pain. And I think trying to transition from Fancy Feast to....well...anything else is a challenge. They don't want to give up their FF.    Has you tried Nutro Natural Choice Soft Loaf and Chunky Loaf varieties that come in Turkey, Duck, and Chicken (separate flavors)? They are pretty stinky. Boo likes the Turkey. Like @AbbyNTim said, I think the best way to eliminate a food allergy to do a strict elimination diet with a novel protein, but this is difficult with senior kitties, IMO.

GoHolistic said:

 
It's not easy. I feel your pain. And I think trying to transition from Fancy Feast to....well...anything else is a challenge. They don't want to give up their FF. 

  Has you tried Nutro Natural Choice Soft Loaf and Chunky Loaf varieties that come in Turkey, Duck, and Chicken (separate flavors)? They are pretty stinky. Boo likes the Turkey. Like @AbbyNTim said, I think the best way to eliminate a food allergy to do a strict elimination diet with a novel protein, but this is difficult with senior kitties, IMO.

Click to expand...

Oh! They are making all of their food choices these days, not me! At 12 yrs old and possibly about 15 yrs old, they don't budge. They like what they like and I can just forget about anything new.............

Someone pleeas tell me the magical food! haha

Tastes they can't resist with all the right ingredients, I will invest in that company!! I know, no such luck

At their age I can't risk fatty liver issues, and Krissy is a chunky girl too.  

I don't feel very positive about this, unless by some miracle, as I eventually weed out all fish she suddenly stops chewing and licking. Is it EVER that simple?! Naw....nothing is ever simple.

"Calgon, take me away!"

Can you try transitioning them in the same way you would a dry food? Mix some alternate wet food into the FF and gradually decrease the FF? I do feel your pain, too, as we had to transition Tim, a definite kibble addict, to wet after his second serious constipation episode. It was hard and we went through a lot of cans, but it was worth the effort. Amazingly, now that he is off the "addicting" food, I find it much easier to try new brands - he is much less picky.

Okay people, so I went to Petco, intended to buy Nature's Variety Instinct, they had grain free and limited ingredient, and it is SO expensive!! I seriously doubt she is going to eat it.

Then I looked at Natural Balance green pea and duck....I remember trying to get a kitten teenager to eat this stuff once, he got thin fast, would NOT eat it.

What can I do??! There's got to be a solution here. SOOO frustrating.

catwoman707 said:

 
Okay people, so I went to Petco, intended to buy Nature's Variety Instinct, they had grain free and limited ingredient, and it is SO expensive!! I seriously doubt she is going to eat it.

Then I looked at Natural Balance green pea and duck....I remember trying to get a kitten teenager to eat this stuff once, he got thin fast, would NOT eat it.

What can I do??! There's got to be a solution here. SOOO frustrating.

Click to expand...

NV is expensive. I am currently doing the NV chicken @ $2.50/5.5 ounce can. Are you paying more than this?

At petco, cans are $2.89 each, the bags of dry were alot more, I think it was $36.99 for a 5 lb bag, that's insane. 2.5 lb bag was $19.99 or so.

I would need both as she eats canned for breakfast and dinner, with dry in between.