Can Cat Food Allergies Make Your Cat Aggressive?

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If your beloved kitty cat has suddenly turned grumpy (and not in a fun, marketable way) there may be something going on that you don’t know about. Cat food allergies are one reason why your cat may be aggressive. Allergies caused by cat food can sometimes cause severe discomfort in your cat which is ultaimately what leads them to be grumpy and aggressive.

Before we dig further into why cat food allergies can make your cat aggressive, let’s look at some other common reasons why your cat may be acting out.

How To Deal With With An Aggressive Cat

The Trouble With Change

Change is often a culprit of sudden aggressive behavior in your cat. From lashing out when pet or touched, to hissing at anything that walks by, your cat can be affected by even the slightest disruption of life as he knows it. Many behavioral problems can occur when the following changes have intruded on your cat’s once peaceful life:

Moving into a new home
Bringing in a new baby
Adopting a new pet
Someone new moves in
Someone familiar moves out
Furniture is new or rearranged
Loud noises in the neighborhood

Your cat can become agitated at any change in routine, especially if things have been status quo for a while. Take some extra time to love her and let her know that no matter what has changed, your affection for her has not.

My cat was having some allergy issues after we moved into a new home. I was trying to get my online traffic school finished but my cat was acting in a very strange and aggressive way, making it difficult to concentrate. I was curious to know if it was the new home or allergies causing this, and I believe it was due to the new home.

How To Help Your Cat Adjust To A New Home

Unknown Illness Can Be Irritating

Your poor kitty might have a physical ailment that is causing him to lash out, and while cat food allergies may be a part of this issue, sometimes things just happen. Let’s face it, no one is happy and joyous when they don’t feel good. Some things that can cause your cat to react with anger include:

A wound that you can’t see
Chronic conditions such as arthritis or dental disease
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperesthesia (rippling skin disorder)
Poor eyesight
General illness (virus or bacterial infection)

Be sure to see your veterinarian to rule out any chronic ailments or illnesses that can be causing your cat pain. Most issues can be cleared up with medication or just good medical care, so don’t delay in treatment.

Cat Food Allergies Can Make Your Cat Miserable

Though cat food allergies are not likely to make your cat aggressive, they can cause your cat to feel sick and miserable. As previously mentioned, a cat who does not feel good is a cat who is not pleasant to be around. So while your cat might not be aggressive due to the cat food itself, your cat might be suffering. Cat food allergies usually manifest through skin issues, like rashes, itching, excessive licking, and biting. Allergies might also manifest as digestive troubles, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or loss of appetite.

Acute Cat Food Allergies

Fillers: The Common Cat Food Allergy Inducers

The main ingredients that can cause cat food allergies are corn, wheat, and soy. Unfortunately, these are found in many commercial brands of cat food that are sold today. You’ll need to do a bit of detective work to avoid these fillers, and that means you’ll need to become a label-reader. The main ingredients that can cause allergies include:

Corn. This can be whole or ground corn, corn meal, or corn gluten meal. Corn is frequently used as a filler ingredient to help make your cat feel fuller, but it does not add much of anything to the nutritional value in the food. It is normally used in cheaper cat food products, by you might often find it in brands that seem to be higher-end, so keep an eye out for it.

Wheat. Wheat and wheat by-product are very common allergens for cats. Some sources even that claim wheat has been linked to epileptic seizures and celiac diseases. Though when is seen as a high-quality carbohydrate source in cat food that provides energy for daily activity, there is still an allergy risk.

Soy. Though not as allergy-inducing as corn and wheat, some cats are still allergic to this product. The pet food industry says that soy products are a good source of bodybuilding protein, coat-nourishing vegetable oil, and healthful fiber for cats. And you’ll find it in formulas that help reduce hairballs. As long as your cat isn’t allergic to soy based ingredients, it shouldn’t pose any problems, but keep an eye on him until you know for sure.

Again, not all cats are allergic to these ingredients and many can tolerate these fillers without issue. However, since your cat is a meat-eater, you might see digestive upset since he does not process carbohydrates and plant-based proteins like other animals can.

If you suspect that your cat is having a reaction to these filler ingredients, try a grain free cat food and see if it makes a difference. There are plenty of good grain-free options out there that are labeled as such, but there are also good quality brands that don’t call themselves grain free; they just don’t include the fillers in their food. Good brands to consider are:

Meat: The Other Allergy Troublemakers

Believe it or not, some cats have cat food allergies to certain meats. Beef is the most common allergy inducer, but some cats can be allergic to fish. If your cat is a salmon or whitefish eater, try changing to a poultry-based diet, or a different meat such as venison or lamb. Some products that your cat may enjoy are:

Many cats have digestive issues when it comes to dairy products, so limit the milk intake to keep her GI troubles at bay. Monitor any changes in health or behavior to try and determine if you’re dealing with cat food allergies or something else.

No matter what your cat is going through, you can take several steps to get her back to her old self in no time. A check with the vet, a change in diet, and plenty of love can help her recover quickly and have her back to her purring, happy self in no time.