Why can your cat have Intolerances?
If your cat has some symptoms that have not been diagnosed it is possible that it’s suffering from an intolerance? It is very common that people have food intolerances. If humans have sensitive to some food and items, why your cat would not?. An intolerance is a body reaction, in most cases to food, but there are also some other items such as wool or dust that can also cause an adverse reaction. Some allergens can be found in our home and environment in general as well as artificial allergens may all affect the health of your cat. As a result your feline may be missing out on a better quality of life.
143 food and 49 non-food
Find out if your cat reacts to a certain item such as food or artificial that may trigger a reaction in your feline pet. The cat test will analyse 143 food and 49 non-food such as milk, dates and dust amongst others. The test will indicate which foods or other allergens are causing a reaction and therefore should be avoided:
Cat Food Items Tested:
| Acid Phospherate | Corned beef | Peanut butter |
| Acidophilius | Cottage cheese | Peas |
| Agar | Courgette | Pheasant meat |
| Almond | Crab | Pig ear |
| Apples | Cream | Pig liver |
| Artificial bacon flavour | Crisps | Popcorn |
| Artificial beef flavour | Duck | Pork |
| Artificial cheese flavour | Duck egg | Pork scratchings |
| Artificial duck flavour | Egg white | Porridge oats |
| Artificial peanut butter flavour | Egg yolk | Potato |
| Artificial turkey flavour | Fish oil | Quinoa |
| Bacon | Gelatin | Rabbit |
| Baked beans | Ginger | Raspberries |
| Bananas | Gluten | Raw hide |
| Barbecue sauce | Goat | Rice |
| Bark | Greek yoghurt | Rye |
| Barley | Ground beef | Salad cream |
| Beef | Ground chicken | Salmon |
| Beef bone | Ground corn | Salt |
| Blue Cheese | Ground duck | Sardine |
| Bonemeal | Ground lamb | Sodium Acid Phosphate |
| Bran | Ground oats | Sour cream |
| Bread-granary | Ground turkey | Soy bean meal |
| Brie | Ground wheat | Soy flour |
| Brown bread | Haddock | Soy sauce |
| Brown sauce | Ham | Spring onion |
| Brussels sprout | Hare | Squid |
| Buckwheat | Honey | Steak |
| Butter | Ice cream | Strawberries |
| Butternut squash | Lactose | Stuffing |
| Butylated Hydroxyaniside (BHA) | Lamb | Sugar |
| Butylated Hydroxycoluene (BHT) | Lamb bone | Sunflower oil |
| Carob | Leek | Sweet Potato |
| Carrots | Lemons | Tomato |
| Cheddar cheese | Liver-lamb | Tomato sauce |
| Chicken | Maize/corn flour | Trout-sea |
| Chicken bone | Mayonnaise | Tuna |
| Chicken fat | Milk | Turkey |
| Chicken flavour | Milk from goats | Vegetable oil |
| Chicken meal | Noodles | Venison |
| Clotted cream | Oatmeal | Vinegar-malt |
| Coconut | Onion | Wafer |
| Coconut oil | Oranges | Wheat |
| Cod | Ox liver | White bread |
| Cod liver oil | Palm oil | Wood |
| Corn | Parsnips | Yeast |
| Corn gluten | Pasta | Yoghurt |
| Corn syrup | Peanut |
Cat Non-Food Items Tested:
| Algae | Colonial Bent Grass | Pampass grass |
| Aster | Corn plant | Pine Tree |
| Bamboo | Cotton Crop | Pollen |
| Bark | Currant Bush | Poplar Tree |
| Barley Crop | Dandelion | Rose Plant |
| Bee | Deer Epithelium | Rosehips |
| Bee pollen | Dust | Rubber |
| Beech Tree | Elm (Ulmus Glabra) | Seaweed |
| Bermuda Grass | Grass | Squirrel |
| Bifidobacterium Animalis | Hawthorn Tree | Stinging Nettle |
| Birch Tree | Hazel Tree | Storage Mite |
| Blackberry Bush | Leather | Wasp |
| Buttercup Flower | Maize (Zea Mays) | Willow Tree |
| Cherry Tree | Marigold flowers | Wood |
| Chile Pine | Mint | Wool |
| Chrysanthemum | Moss | |
| Clover | Nylon |
Why you should test your cat for any sensitivity and intolerances?
Like humans, cats can suffer from reactions that can cause serious health problems. Some reactions can be easier to be detect, such as skin rashes or digestive problems that cause diarrhea. However, some reactions to environmental allergens may be more difficult to detect. It can turn out quite complicated to detect changes of mood in your cat which may end up being miserable without you knowing it.
Sample report
After receiving the sample in the laboratory, the results will be ready in 7-10 business days. The report will provide you all the information to understand any intolerances that your cat has to the items tested. It will also include a comprehensive guide on how to eliminate possible intolerances from the diet of your pet.
Your pet’s intolerance test results include all items displaying a score of 85% and higher. After completing thousands of pet intolerance tests, the laboratory know 85% is the turning point where symptoms begin to develop into an intolerance.
How is the sample collection process?
The laboratory will simply need some cat fur samples for the analysis. The DNA testing kit will contain all you require to perform the test, you will also receive a Own Food Sample Container. The sample collection process for the test is very simple and easy and instructions are provided below. Bear in mind that if the hair is not collected as specified below, the laboratory will not be able to analyze the samples:
- It can be tested on any fur from the body of your cat.
- Ideally fur samples should include the root, if this is not possible cut it as close to the root as possible.
- If the hair is longer than one inch, we only require 5 or 6 fur strands is enough no matter how long the strands are.
- Place your pets fur in the grip bag provided and write your pet’s name on the label
- You will also be supplied you with a small green collection tube, this can be used to send the lab 1 sample of anything that you think your pet is sensitive to. This could be a sample of your pet’s food, treats, shampoo, material, pollen or dust
- Do not send the fur sample in any metallic packaging such as metal foil.
- Place the fur samples in a secure envelope or postage wallet before sending it to the address provided.
Treatment of intolerances in Cats
Once you receive the sample report it will determine the type of allergens that your feline is intolerant to. Some intolerances may require treatment and some it will simply need a change in the diet of your cat. Besides the report includes an extensive guide, we recommend you visit your veterinarian and discuss it with them to find what may be the best treatment for your cat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an allergy and intolerance in cats?
The reaction to allergies is more severe than intolerances and it is usually felt immediately. Intolerances are usually less severe and can change over time. In addition, the symptoms of an intolerance are not immediate, manifesting anywhere from 10 minutes to 48 hours after the food has been consumed.
What is food allergy in cats?
Food allergy is an adverse reaction of the immune system to an allergen, which in most cases is a reaction to a specific food protein.
On the contrary, if your cat has a food intolerance the immune system will not be affected. Food allergy are less common that food intolerances in cats.
What is food intolerance in cats?
Food intolerance is a non-immunologic adverse reaction to any digested food. If your cat vomits after eating is probably suffering from food intolerance. In such cases it is recommended you seek professional advice, the difference between food intolerance and allergy is not always easy to distinguish. Both show similar reactions.
Is there a minimum age of the cat to run the test?
The test is suitable for cats who are on full adult meals, so this would normally be from the 6 months onwards.
Do drugs have an effect on the results of the cat allergy test?
Most drugs do not have an effect on the test as this is not an allergy test taken from blood. However if you are concerned about a particular test you can let us know and we can check directly with the laboratory.
We offer a range of different Animal DNA Testing which you may also be interested if you have other type of pets. We offer a section with tests such as the Avian DNA sexing is the ultimate in testing for birds.