The 7 Greatest Allergy Medicines for Cats of 2024

As a cat proprietor myself, I’ve in depth hands-on expertise treating cats with meals and environmental allergy symptoms. Along with the veterinarians my cats have seen over time, I additionally consulted with Dr. Hannah Hart, a veterinarian with PetMD by Chewy, to compile our prime suggestions for treating feline respiratory, digestive, and pores and skin allergy signs, in addition to dietary supplements to assist increase and keep your cat’s immune system, which may help management allergy signs. 

In the case of dietary supplements, we strongly advocate looking for merchandise made in the US. It’s also possible to search for the Nationwide Animal Complement Council (NASC) seal of approval. To show the NASC seal, firms should meet a number of necessities together with having robust high quality management, a system to watch merchandise, undergo random testing, and meet strict labeling tips.

Vets usually advocate a superb probiotic complement to assist relieve feline allergy signs—and, as I’ve talked about above, these Nutramax Proviable-DC Probiotic & Prebiotic Capsules have been really useful to me personally by a number of completely different vets on completely different events. Whereas many probiotics in the marketplace prime out within the 100s of thousands and thousands of colony-forming models (CFUs) of reside, lively cultures, this probiotic blows them out of the water with a whopping 5 billion CFUs. 

Dr. Hart additionally notes that this probiotic is available in a small capsule that may “be given as is or opened as much as sprinkle on meals” or blended right into a lickable deal with with out your cat actually noticing. Moreover, she notes that “this highly effective probiotic additionally comprises prebiotic fiber,” which helps maintain these lively strains of probiotic micro organism well-fed and thriving.

Though people solely require about 50 million CFUs for intestine well being, cats usually require between one and 5 billion CFUs—extra if they’re presently on antibiotics or experiencing a gastrointestinal situation. The excessive variety of CFUs on this product means you’ll be capable to ship the next variety of probiotics with fewer drugs, which is at all times a plus in the case of making an attempt to sneak a cat medication on the common. 

One of many downsides to treating allergy signs in cats with probiotics is that it’s not a right away remedy and takes time to point out results. It additionally requires every day use for optimum impression and continued upkeep, which will be dear—however since there are advantages to your cat’s total well being, it isn’t too laborious to justify the price.  

Is available in 30-count or 80-count blister packs

Acute remedy of cat allergy symptoms could also be addressed with a product you can have already got at dwelling. There are a number of human medicines which are secure for cats, starting from sedatives and SSRIs to allergy drugs. Not too long ago, whereas on the vet for my cat Bo’s seasonal allergy symptoms, the vet talked about that cats can tolerate a number of the similar antihistamines that people take, together with loratadine, also called Claritin. She mentioned they’ll additionally tolerate Benadryl and Zyrtec, too. I’ve chosen Claritin—the title model over the generic loratadine—as a result of I’ve personally given this to my cat with no destructive results. Benadryl is just not FDA-approved for veterinary use (but), and I’ve by no means taken Zyrtec myself. 

For some cats, Claritin can deal with sinus and respiratory-related signs (sneezing, watery eyes, runny nostril) attributable to environmental allergy symptoms. It is accessible over-the-counter, however it’s essential to first seek the advice of your vet to ensure it’s an acceptable remedy and for the proper dosage. Your vet may even be capable to let you know what negative effects to be careful for, comparable to extreme sleepiness. 

Vets must also be consulted so you’ll be able to double-check the proper formulation. For instance, you’ll completely must keep away from any chilly and flu-formulation or decongestant variations since these are unsafe for cats.

At all times seek the advice of together with your veterinarian earlier than administering

How We Picked

Extra picks on this checklist have been chosen as a result of they have been suggestions by our skilled vet supply, Dr. Hart from PetMD by Chewy, and after doing analysis on the best way to handle particular kinds of cat allergy signs. I additionally took into consideration product critiques of how properly sure allergy medicines carried out for different cat house owners and thought of options from colleagues at The Spruce Pets. I centered on effectiveness, ease of administration, how the drugs works, and the kind of allergy signs it’s designed to deal with with a view to discover the perfect choices.

Extra We Suggest

For Nasal Congestion: Whether or not your cat has a chilly or is sniffly and sneezy from allergy symptoms, this homeopathic remedy will assist clear up their respiratory misery. This dropper comprises roughly 90 doses and the variety of doses you’ll want to offer your cat will depend upon how extreme their signs are. I like that these drops don’t must be administered as nasal drops (which might possible not sit properly with most cats). As an alternative, you’ll be able to merely squeeze the wanted variety of drops instantly into your cat’s mouth, water bowl, or meals. 

This firm was additionally began by veterinarians, and it’s comforting that the product is secure to make use of for senior cats and kittens and has no identified negative effects. Though these nasal drops are efficient (and you’ll cease utilizing them when signs cease), the street to restoration will be time-consuming with really useful dosing thrice every day, or as much as each quarter-hour for extreme instances. The simple-squeeze dropper bottle is akin to a watch drop bottle for people. Drop management is nice, so there’s no want to fret about by accident overdosing except you squeeze the bottle extraordinarily laborious. Plus, the 15-milliliter measurement is ideal for slipping into your pocket or purse, and is TSA-friendly. 

Straightforward squeeze bottle for utility

For Flea Allergy symptoms: One of many prime allergy symptoms in cats is fleas! Cats are allergic to flea saliva, so when a flea bites a cat an adversarial response happens. Sadly, fleas are a typical pest interested in cats. One of the best ways to deal with a cat with a flea allergy is with a flea safety remedy, like Revolution Plus. 

Revolution Plus is a topical medication that’s utilized month-to-month to the again of your cat’s neck. It absorbs into their bloodstream and works to kill fleas and flea larvae whereas additionally stopping fleas from laying eggs, stopping the life cycle. It’s additionally identified to cut back the indicators of pores and skin irritation from flea allergy symptoms. Apart from inflicting allergic reactions, fleas carry illnesses that may be handed between animals and to people, too. My cat isn’t allergic to fleas (I don’t assume, anyway—he’s by no means had them), however I nonetheless use Revolution Plus to maintain him flea-free. I’m additionally an enormous fan of the actual fact it’s additionally a preventative for ticks, heartworm, hookworm, roundworm, ear mites, and lice. That’s undoubtedly an amazing bang-for-your-buck in the case of defending your kitty towards pests. Nevertheless, if you already know you’ve obtained a flea infestation, you’ll must deal with that individually as Revolution Plus solely works to guard and kill fleas in your pet. 

Additionally protects towards heartworm, hookworm, ear mites, and extra

For Eye Irritation: This lysine gel tackles what I wish to name “head” allergy signs, like watery eyes, congestion, runny nostril, sneezing, and eye squinting—all issues going down inside your cat’s head. The place it actually shines, although, is nipping eye points within the bud. This product is a lysine complement that helps to spice up your cat’s immune system, notably its eye and respiratory well being. It may be used day-after-day, and is available in a maple-flavored gel kind (warning: it may be fairly sticky) that may be fed on to your cat.

Every five-ounce tube has about 50 servings’ price of product. I like that the corporate is owned by a vet, and that it’s licensed by the Nationwide Animal Complement Council. It’s additionally secure to make use of on cats a minimum of one month outdated. Whereas I by no means guessed that maple was a favourite taste for cats, most cats gobble this gel up (although it’s not successful with everybody). Since this can be a complement, it can take impact over time and is supposed for use frequently to attain optimum eye well being and immunity to decrease cat allergy signs. 

NASC-certified complement product

For Sustaining Pores and skin Well being: If you wish to trick your cat right into a more healthy, extra allergy-resistant pores and skin and coat, these Pet Actually Pores and skin and Coat Allergy Aid Chews are sometimes mistaken by cats as treats which are crunchy on the skin and creamy on the within. 

These complement chews have been developed by a nutritionist. Substances like omega-3 fatty acids and nutritional vitamins E and C work towards enhancing your cat’s coat and immune system. “Nutritional vitamins C and E are antioxidants that assist shield towards mobile injury,” Dr. Hart says. “Vitamin E particularly helps to advertise wholesome pores and skin and fur.” After including these treats—we imply complement chews—into their cat’s food regimen, house owners seen a marked enchancment of their cat’s fur. Dandruff flakes diminished or disappeared and pores and skin seemed to be much less irritated and itchy. My greatest qualm with this product is that there are two widespread cat allergy symptoms within the components: hen and barley (cats on a grain-free food regimen could particularly react to introducing grain components). 

Offers vitamin C, vitamin E, and antioxidants

For Histamine Upkeep: Don’t need to give your cat a prescription or human antihistamines? These Zesty Paws Aller-Immune Bites are bacon-flavored dietary supplements containing astragalus root. In keeping with Dr. Hart, astragalus root “helps to take care of regular histamine ranges within the physique—form of a pure antihistamine” that “could also be useful for cats with seasonal allergy symptoms.” We’re additionally massive followers of the antioxidant components that shield towards mobile injury and “thus promote a wholesome pores and skin barrier and respiratory operate,” and lysine, which helps ocular well being.

For taste, this product makes use of cane molasses (I’m seeing a candy, syrupy development), pork liver, dried cheese, and pure bacon taste. It’s a hit and miss, with some house owners reporting their cats can’t get sufficient and others saying their cats refuse to eat it or get sick. Every container comprises 60 chews, sufficient to final between one to 2 months, relying on dosage. 

NASC-certified complement

Why Belief The Spruce Pets? 

For this text, Okay. Alex Beaven collected skilled perception on cat allergy symptoms and cat allergy medicines from Dr. Hannah Hart, a veterinarian with PetMD by Chewy. She additionally did further analysis and relied on her personal private expertise coping with a cat who has a number of meals intolerances and environmental allergy symptoms, in addition to her earlier cat who had pores and skin allergy reactions. Alex has additionally written tales on the Greatest Probiotics for Cats, the Greatest Lickable Cat Treats, and the Greatest Cat Toys for The Spruce Pets.