Can Cats Be Allergic to Dogs?

Many pet parents know that cats can develop allergies. Pollen, mold, house mites, flea bites, and food ingredients are the most common triggers for cat allergies.

At the same time, research has shown that 10–20% of people are allergic to dogs and cats. This raises the question: Can pets also be allergic to other pets? More specifically, can cats be allergic to dogs?

Can a Cat Be Allergic to a Dog?

Yes, they certainly can. While the condition doesn’t seem to be common (there are no statistics available), veterinarians do report cases of cats being allergic to dogs. And vice versa—dogs can be allergic to cats. 

When cats are allergic to dogs, they have an abnormal immune response to proteins present in a dog’s dander (flakes of dead skin), saliva, and urine. We don’t know why some cats develop allergies to dogs and others don’t, but a combination of genetic and environmental factors is probably to blame.

How To Tell if Your Cat Is Allergic to Your Dog

Cats who are allergic to dogs develop the same symptoms that are seen with other types of allergies, including:

• Itchy skin, which leads to increased scratching and chewing

• Twitchy skin

• Hair loss

• Areas of skin that are bumpy and red

• Skin scabs or crusts

If a cat has asthma, a dog allergy can also cause symptoms like coughing and difficulty breathing. The typical human allergy symptoms of sneezing and red, runny eyes are less commonly seen in cats, but they’re still possible.

How Vets Diagnose Dog Allergies in Cats

All of the symptoms seen when a cat is allergic to dogs are also associated with other types of allergies and with non-allergic health problems too. For example, a cat who has hair loss and very itchy skin may be allergic to fleas or certain types of pollen, or they may have mange.

Determining if a cat has allergies and what they are allergic to takes some time. A veterinarian will ask you questions about your cat’s health history and symptoms, perform a physical examination, and then usually run a few simple tests to rule out other common diseases.

Testing may include a skin scraping to look for mange mites, skin cytology to rule out bacterial and yeast infections, and a fungal culture to check for ringworm. If all these tests are negative, your veterinarian may recommend allergy testing.

Intradermal skin testing (injecting tiny amounts of potential allergens into the skin and measuring the body’s response) is the best way to determine what a cat is specifically allergic to.

Blood tests are also available but provide less reliable results. If you suspect that your cat may be allergic to dogs, ask your veterinarian to include dog allergen in their testing, as they may not routinely do so.

What To Do If Your Cat Is Allergic to Dogs

Treatment for a cat who is allergic to dogs often includes several different forms of therapy used at the same time.

Most importantly, do what you can to reduce your cat’s exposure to dog allergens. If you don’t have a dog of your own, institute a strict no-dog policy at home and keep your cat 100% indoors.

If you do have a dog, bathe both your dog and your cat weekly to reduce the amount of allergen present in your environment and trapped in your cat’s fur. Some cat shampoos, like Duoxo™ S3 Calm, are formulated specifically to help soothe a cat’s skin.

Vacuuming frequently is also helpful, and you can consider setting up a dog-free zone in your home where your cat spends a lot of their time.

If lowering your cat’s exposure doesn’t provide enough relief, treatments that help manage their symptoms and reduce their allergic response may become necessary. Options include:

• Hyposensitization therapy: Allergy shots or oral serums given over time can make cats less sensitive to their allergic triggers.

• Nutritional supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids like those found in Nutramax® Welactin® Omega-3 Fish Oil Liquid Supplement for Cats may help improve the skin’s natural protective barriers and reduce inflammation and itching.

• Over-the-counter medications: While antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) or chlorpheniramine aren’t very effective when used alone, they may help some cats with allergies when used in combination with other treatments.

• Prescription medications: Severe allergies often require prescription medications. Veterinarians may prescribe prednisolone, dexamethasone, Atopica™, Apoquel®, or other medications based on the specifics of a cat’s case.

Talk to your veterinarian if your cat is showing signs of an allergy. They can recommend the best combination of treatments based on your cat’s unique circumstances.