Signs Of A Maine Coon Food Allergy

If your cat seems tired, itchy, irritable, or nauseous, a food allergy might be the culprit behind your cat’s illness.

Any cat can develop food allergies which, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems.

Maine Coon Food Allergies

Maine Coon food allergies can lead to gastrointestinal problems, irritated skin, wheezing, coughing, and sneezing, among other symptoms. While this breed is not as prone to allergies as other cat breeds, they might still have an allergic reaction to beef, corn, wheat, dairy, chicken, and other meat and vegetable proteins.

While this breed is not as prone to food allergies as other breeds, they can still develop serious allergic reactions to certain proteins or other foods.

The table below shows the most common food allergies in cats (source 1,2):

If you finally find the cause of your cat’s allergic reaction, allergy symptoms should clear after switching to a new food.

However, gastrointestinal symptoms can take between 2 and 4 weeks to dissipate, and itchy or irritated skin can take even longer (source 1).

We will now look at these 10 food allergies more closely, to understand why Maine Coon cats are allergic to these items:

1. Beef And Fish

Beef and fish are the two most common allergies in Maine Coons, but they are also some of the most popular proteins found in cat foods.

2. Other Meat

Maine Coons are less likely to have allergies to meats other than beef and fish, but they can still be allergic to any meat.

Chicken, turkey, and other seafood are just a few types of meat your cat could be allergic to.

However, meats like venison, rabbit, or bison are less likely to cause allergies in Maine Coons.

3. Meat Byproducts

Many cheaper cat foods contain lots of meat byproducts.

These include leftovers from meats that humans do not want, such as fats and organs.

These ingredients are poorly regulated, which means your cat could react to any number of proteins in the mish-mash of meat byproducts in its food.

Make sure you only feed your Maine Coon cat the best cat food.

4. Dairy

You should not provide your cats with any dairy, including:

• Milk
• Cheese
• Yogurt

While not all cats are specifically allergic to dairy, their bodies do not contain the enzyme needed to break down lactose, which will cause gastrointestinal problems when consumed.

Some cats, however, can have a more serious reaction to dairy, than others.

5. Corn

Corn is, surprisingly, a very common ingredient in cat foods.

This is a cheap ingredient that provides lots of carbohydrates, which essentially function as empty calories for your cat.

You should avoid cat foods with high amounts of corn and other carbs, but you should keep an eye out for a potential allergic reaction, as well.

6. Wheat

Wheat is a cheap filler product found in many cat foods, and it can also cause allergies in some cats.

Wheat is a very common culprit behind a dry food allergy in cats.

7. Barley

Like wheat, barley is another cheap grain found in many cat foods.

Usually, a little bit is okay, but it can be dangerous if your cat is allergic to it.

8. Eggs

While properly cooked eggs can be a great source of protein and other nutrients, it is also a common allergy found in Maine Coons and other cats.

9. Preservatives

Cats can, unfortunately, also be allergic to certain preservatives found in commercial cat foods.

This is a tricky allergy, as it can be nearly impossible to pin down exactly which preservative is causing your cat’s allergies.

10. Artificial Dyes

Some cat food companies also include artificial dyes to make their food look more appealing, although it can lead to allergic reactions and dry food intolerance in cats.

Symptoms Of Food Allergies

Here are some of the most common symptoms that can result from food allergies:

Sensitive Stomach

One of the most common symptoms of food allergies in cats is stomach sensitivity. Your cat may vomit, become constipated, or have diarrhea. Y

our cat may also use the litter box more frequently than usual, or become pickier about its food.

Lethargy

Food allergies will make your cat feel unwell until they are finally fed something that is allergen-free. This illness will take a toll on your cat, leading to fatigue, and your cat may also become more irritable or less social.

Itchy Skin

Many food allergies lead to inflamed, itchy skin. Your cat might overgroom itself, or scratch frequently. Its skin might look red, swollen, or dry, and your cat may also develop dandruff.

Itchy Eyes

A cat having an allergic reaction may have red, watery, or itchy eyes.

Wheezing And Sneezing

Food allergies can cause coughing and sneezing in cats. Your cat might wheeze, have a runny nose, or snore more often than usual.

What To Feed A Cat With Allergies

If your cat has a food allergy it is important to ask your vet for assistance on what to feed your cat moving forwards.

Here are some potential ways you can treat your Maine Coon’s food allergies:

Try New Foods

You may not have to jump to a specialized diet straight away. Try giving your cat foods with different kinds of meat or grains until you find one that does not cause an allergic reaction.

Buy Special Cat Food

There are lots of cat foods manufactured specifically for cats with sensitive stomachs or allergies.

Many of these foods contain rarer kinds of meats, such as rabbit or venison.

Allergies develop after exposure to a certain food, so your cat is less likely to be allergic to rare meat it has never tried before.

Try A Raw Diet

If your cat is allergic to certain preservatives, or several different kinds of food, it might be hard to find a commercial cat food that works.

You might consider feeding your cat a diet of raw meats, as well as Maine Coon supplements to ensure your cat is getting all of the nutrients it needs.

If you feed your Maine Coon a raw food diet, then you will have to provide a lot of different supplements, such as:

• Taurine
• Zinc
• Other Vitamins and Minerals

Another supplement you can provide is Vetri lysine Plus, which is a chewable form of lysine designed to help a cat’s immune system.

Lysine is a great supplement for boosting your cat’s immune system and alleviating symptoms like watery eyes or itchy skin.

Dry Food

If you feed your cat dry food, one great option for a Maine Coon suffering from digestive issues is to provide a diet specifically formulated to support your cat\s digestive health.

A product like this will help improve your cat’s stool quality and digestion and includes natural fibers to help support regularity.

The addition of prebiotic fiber also helps promote the growth of bacteria in the gut which is beneficial to your cat.

Cats with allergies are unable to break down certain proteins.

Wet Food

Royal Canin wet food is ideal for Maine Coon cats with sensitive digestive systems.