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How long does it take a cat to show symptoms of a food allergy?

How long does it take a cat to show symptoms of a food allergy?

Updated On March 30th, 2018

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 11 lbs

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Answered By Menolly Cote, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

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Food allergies can be frustrating to deal with. A cat may show signs such as vomiting or diarrhea within hours of eating a food they are allergic to or it can take weeks to see a problem, Skin issues such as hair loss and scabbing sometimes will not occur until 2-4 weeks after a cat eats a food they are allergic to. Food allergies are typically seen in pets older than 1 year, but can be seen as young as 8-12 weeks in rare cases. If you are concerned Sweetie may have a food allergy, I would recommend discussing this with your veterinarian as they will be able to guide you in a food trial to confirm a food allergy.

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