If your cat has been over grooming & all tests for dermatitis or parasites have come up negative, your vet may advise you to put your cat on a food trial.
A food trial for food allergy in cats involves feeding a hypoallergenic diet for a specific period to determine if the cat's symptoms improve.
So, let's break it down: How do I do an Elimination Diet Food Trial for my cat?
1. Choose a Novel Protein / Hypoallergenic Diet:
Select a diet that contains a protein & carbohydrate source that the cat has not been exposed to before. Common choices include novel protein sources like rabbit, kangaroo or venison, and novel carbohydrate sources like potato or peas. Alternatively, you can use a hydrolyzed protein diet (e.g. Royal Canin Hypoallergenic Prescription Diet), where the protein has been broken down into smaller components that are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
2. Slow Transition to New Diet:
Gradually mix the new food with the current food, increasing the proportion of the new food each day.
Transition (by Petco):
Day 1-3: 75% old food /25% new food
Day 4-6:T 50% old /50% new food
Day 7-10: 75% new food / 25% old food
Then 100% new
3. Strict Feeding:
During the trial, the cat should only eat the hypoallergenic diet. This means eliminating all treats, flavored medications, vitamins, flavoured toothpastes. NOTHING else should be fed to the cat except this diet.
4. Trial Duration:
The trial typically lasts for 8 to 12 weeks. This period allows time for the cat's system to clear any allergens from its previous diet & for the symptoms to improve if the food allergy was the cause.
5. Monitor Symptoms:
Keep a close eye on the cat for any signs of improvement or worsening of symptoms during the trial. Symptoms of a food allergy in cats can include skin problems (itching, redness, hair loss), gastrointestinal issues (vomiting, diarrhoea), and respiratory issues (coughing, sneezing). If the cat has an adverse reaction to the food trial, STOP and consult your vet.
Some diets will cause your cat to drink more fluids.
6. Reintroduction:
After the trial period, you can reintroduce the cat's previous diet to see if the symptoms return, by adding one food item for a few days to check if any allergic flare ups. If it occurs, then it is likely that the cat has a food allergy to one or more ingredients in the previous diet. This has to be done to reconfirm that it was indeed whatever the cat was eating that caused the issues, and not just a coincidence.
7. Final Diet Adjustment:
Now that you know what you cat is allergic to, eliminate that from his diet & feed him accordingly to avoid said allergens.
Remember that this is a lengthy process but is essential for accurately identifying food allergies. The success of the diet trial depends on strict adherence to the selected diet without any deviations.
Ensure you advise everyone who is in contact with the cat to adhere to the diet & not feed anything else.
Always seek your vet’s advise before starting a food trial.
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