Do your eyes itch and your nose run every time you come into contact with a cat or a person who owns cats? If so, you are probably allergic to cats. But it is not the mere presence of the cat that causes your allergy nor is it their hair, but rather the proteins found in the cat’s dander, urine, and saliva. That said, cat hair floats in the air, making it the primary means of transport for those proteins. Allergen-carrying cat hair will end up in the environment on the objects that you come in contact with.
Hypoallergenic cats do not exist—they are a myth! All cats can produce allergies in humans, but some pets produce more allergens than others.1 This is why some individuals develop an allergic reaction to certain cats and not all of them.
In cats, the dominating allergenic protein is produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin and the salivary glands.
Why Am I Allergic to Some Cats and Not Others?
An allergen is a harmless substance that the immune system sees as an enemy, triggering an allergic reaction. There are 10 known cat allergens that cause allergies in humans. The most commonly encountered is the protein secretoglobin Fel d 1. It’s omnipresent in the United States (even in households that do not own cats)2 and is produced by the cat’s anal, salivary glands, and sebaceous glands. Intact or unneutered males produce more allergens than neutered cats.
All 10 proteins accumulate on your cat’s fur when they groom themselves. These remain on their fur and are released into the environment as your cat sheds hair and dander. Allergic people who come into contact with them will have a reaction.
Therefore, regardless of the cat breed or coat length, these pets have the potential to trigger an allergy.
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What Are the Signs of a Cat Allergy?
Cats love to be clean! They groom themselves all day and thus fill their fur with allergens. Hair and dander are lightweight and end up in the environment on various objects that the cat comes into contact with. Allergens are also persistent—they have even been discovered in houses where no cat has lived for several years.
If you are allergic to cats, the allergens that reach the lungs combine with the antibodies that your immune system produces and cause the following clinical signs and symptoms:
Sneezing fits
Runny nose
Stuffy nose
Difficulty breathing
Asthma
Itchiness around the eyes
Red and watery eyes
Rash
Scratching
Excessive tearing
Cough
Neurodermatitis
Hives
Flatulence
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Migraines
Signs and symptoms usually appear shortly after coming into contact with the respective allergen. Other important signs of cat allergy are fatigue (especially manifested in the case of untreated allergies) and continuous coughing. Symptoms such as chills, fever, nausea, or vomiting are usually related to other health conditions rather than allergies.
The 7 Cats That Produce Less Allergens
Although there are no hypoallergenic cats, certain breeds produce fewer allergenic proteins than others. Here are seven cat breeds that are considered hypoallergenic.
1. Sphynx
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This breed is known for being mostly hairless, so the allergenic proteins in their saliva cannot be trapped in their non-existent fur. That said, they will still groom themselves and get saliva on their skin.
2. Cornish Rex
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Cats’ hair is usually arranged in three layers: the outer coat, the middle layer, and the undercoat. The Cornish Rex cat only has an undercoat, which means they have much less hair than other cats, so the risk of causing an allergic reaction is lower.
3. Devon Rex
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This cat breed has the same type of fur as the Cornish Rex. The difference between these breeds is that Devon Rex cats have even less hair and do not shed much.
4. Oriental
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Oriental cats have short, fine fur and shed very little. For best results, bathe your Oriental cat regularly to help remove loose hair and thus reduce the amount that they shed around the house.
5. Russian Blue
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Although they have a rich coat, Russian Blue cats produce less Fel d1 protein. So, if you are thinking of getting a cat but are allergic, this may be a suitable breed for you!
6. Balinese
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As with the Russian Blue cat, the Balinese cat produces less Fel d1 protein than most other cats.
7. Siberian
Image Credit: Massimo Cattaneo, Shutterstock
If you want a cat with rich and long fur that will not cause you to have so many allergic reactions, choose the Siberian cat because it produces less Fel d1.
How to Reduce a Cat’s Allergen Levels
Here are a few tips and tricks to help reduce your cat’s allergen levels:
Bathe your cat twice a week with cat-safe shampoo, and make sure you rinse them well. Studies show that the accumulation of Fel d1 restores to its basal value within 2 days. Fel d1 levels are higher in the face area, so give it extra attention when you bathe your cat.
Sterilize your cat.
Wash your hands every time you touch your cat.
Avoid touching your face.
Vacuum and wash the floors as often as possible.
Change bedding often.
Use antistatic sprays to prevent dust from spreading.
Replace your carpet because it attracts and hosts many allergens.
Avoid heavy curtains because they attract dust.
If you have a yard, create outdoor enclosures for your cat and encourage them to spend more time outside.
Consult the doctor for an effective anti-allergic treatment.
Conclusion
A significant percentage of the population suffers from cat allergies, and it is common for allergic cat owners to have to give up their dear friends because of this. All cats, regardless of breed, can cause allergies. The primary cause of allergic reactions is the proteins found in the sebaceous glands of cats’ skin. There are 10 allergenic proteins in cats, but Fel d1 is the most common one that produces allergies in humans.
Cat hair and dander are the elements that lead to allergic reactions. The hair itself is only a vector for the allergenic proteins found in dander, saliva, and urine. Intact males are also considered more allergenic than neutered cats.
To reduce the allergens around you, bathe your cat regularly, vacuum the floors often, change the bedding frequently, and neuter your cat.
Featured Image Credit: Dmytro Zinkevych, Shutterstock
Mange in cats is a disease of the skin. It is caused by microscopic mites that burrow into the surface of the skin. The skin loses hair and becomes thick and crusty. It is extremely itchy, and cats often scratch themselves so much they cause self-inflicted trauma—scratches and sores.
What Is Mange?
Microscopic insects—mites—that live their whole lives on the skin of cats digging tunnels into the surface of the skin to eat, poop, and lay eggs, called Notoedres cati. The skin has an inflammatory response to the mites, making it itchy.
What Are the Signs of Mange?
Mange causes the skin to thicken, form crusts, and lose hair. It usually starts around the ears, spreads to the face, and then to the neck. In some cases, the feet and belly become infected because cats lay curled with their face touching their feet and belly.
Itchy spots
Blister-type sores
Crusts
Hair loss
Scaling
Red skin
Discharging spots
Thickened skin
What Are the Causes of Mange?
The mite that infests cats is called Notoedres cati. The condition is called mange but can sometimes be mistakenly called scabies. Scabies is the same condition, but in dogs, it is caused by a mite closely related called Sarcoptes scabiei.
The mites can cause secondary bacterial or yeast skin infections. As the mites dig their burrows, they break down the integrity of the skin barrier, leaving it exposed to bacteria and yeast.
There are several veterinary medications that treat mange. The most common is a family of drugs related to ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug. Depending on the formula, it can be given by mouth, injected, or a small dot of it can be smeared on the skin—a spot-on.
Bathing a cat does not kill the mites unless it is with a cat-safe lime sulfur treatment. It can help the skin look and feel better after the mites are killed, and it can help treat secondary yeast and bacterial infections. But without medical treatment, the mites will not be killed and will continue to cause damage.
Many of the monthly spot-ons medications that treat and prevent fleas also treat and prevent mange.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it contagious?
Notoedres cati is very contagious and spreads from cat to cat by direct contact—a nose-to-nose type situation. The mites can’t live off the skin, but they don’t die instantly—they can survive for a short time, hours, for example. So, in cases of severe infestation, a cat can pick it up from the environment.
For example, if a cat lays in a box overnight and then another cat comes along immediately afterward and lays in the same box, it could catch mange. This is why it is important to do a deep clean when you treat your cat; give it the medication and clean it.
Can Notoedres cati spread to other animals?
Notoedres cati can infect other animals, like dogs and even people, but it rarely does. It usually prefers cats but will infect other species if the infestation is severe enough. Usually, if the cat is treated and it goes away, then it also goes away in other animals on its own—it is usually self-limiting in other species.
Why does only one of my cats have mange?
You would think that because it is so contagious that if one cat suffers from manage, then they all would. But just because one cat has signs of it and the others do not does not mean there isn’t an infestation. Each cat will have an individual response—based on how many mites they carry and how sensitive/allergic they are to the mites.
It is common for one cat to have a flair-up while the other cats remain mostly normal. For one reason or another, the cats without signs of mites have them in their skin but do not show signs of infestation.
This is why all cats in the house need to be treated at the same time to get rid of it. If you treat your cat for mange and it does not go away, it is probably getting it from other cats that do not have signs of it.
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What happens if it’s not treated?
In severe cases, the skin thickens and becomes sorer, the legs can swell, and it can cause cats to starve and become emaciated. If it becomes severe enough, cats can die from mange, especially if there are also fleas and infections, creating a perfect storm of trouble.
How is it diagnosed?
If you suspect mange, bring your cat to the vet for a diagnosis. Expect them to take a skin sample that they will examine under the microscope looking for the mites.
As you can imagine, it can be difficult to catch the perfect sample of skin with mites stuck to it. It can be difficult to find the mites—there is a lot of skin for them to hide on. So, sometimes a vet will not be able to find evidence of the mites but will still give the medication, especially if the signs all point to mange. This is called a therapeutic trial. Because the medications are so safe and have the added benefit of treating fleas and other parasites, it usually helps.
How do I know if my cat is very itchy?
They will scratch their ears or face dozens of times a day. Two or three good healthy scratches are normal for a cat.
And especially because they groom themselves, it can be hard to tell when a cat is over-scratching itself but a cat with mange will scratch their face dozens of times a day. Sometimes they will scratch themselves, stand up to move on, and then suddenly sit and scratch themselves again.
Sometimes they will not let you pet their head or flinch when you go in for a pet, but sometimes they will love it when you do the scratching for them. A cat that leans into your scratches is normal; a cat that falls over leaning into your scratches is too much—usually.
Conclusion
Luckily, mange is not as common in our house cats as it used to be because most cats are being given preventative treatment for it through their flea treatments. But, in stray cats, mange can be quite common, especially in warm climates.
So, I hope you don’t feel too itchy now, but thanks for learning more about notoedric mange in cats.
Sources
Jackson, H. A., & Marsella, R. (2012). BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dermatology (No. Ed. 3). British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Of course, we all want to spend as much time as possible with our cats. However, busy work schedules and family holidays make that dream an impossibility for much of the time. Automatic feeders can help take the guesswork out of when you’ll be home to feed your cat since it’ll simply give them their set portion at the hour you put in the program or set the timer to.
All felines can benefit from regular meal times since they thrive on consistent schedules, but strict feeding times are critical for pets with diseases like diabetes that require small, frequent feedings. Pets who struggle with weight maintenance may also prosper from an automatic feeder that doesn’t allow them to raid their food bowl at whim.
When it comes to automatic feeders, you can find a variety of power options from a Wi-Fi-enabled feeder that you can control from anywhere in the world, to a gravity feeder that requires nothing but the laws of physics to deliver meals. We’ve compiled reviews of several top choices available in Australia in each of these categories to help you see which one fits into your cat’s mealtime routine best.
With the Advwin 6L Automatic Cat Feeder, you can continue to show your cat that you care for them even when you’re not there by engaging with the 2-way voice intercom. You can talk to your cat while they eat, and you’ll see and hear their response from wherever you are in the world. When the 1080P camera detects movement, it will send a notification and a picture to your phone to let you know that your cat is nearby. The night vision camera allows for a 24/7 inside scoop into your cat’s eating habits, which can be very useful if you’re monitoring their dietary habits for health reasons.
Designed with smart kitties in mind, there is a lock button on the device in case your clever feline learns how to press the release button. As an added bonus, the stainless-steel bowls are removable and dishwasher safe. In the event of power loss, there is a battery backup option where you can supply D batteries (not included). You do need at least 2.4G of Wi-Fi for this automatic feeder to function. As with most automatic feeders, only dry food is appropriate because wet food would clog the device.
But given all of the unique features and large 6-liter dry food capacity, this is definitely our pick for the best overall automatic cat feeders available in Australia.
Pros
2-way intercom communication between you and your cat
1080P camera activates when it detects motion
Night vision technology
Feed up to 8 times a day
Powered by adapter with D battery backup (batteries not included)
Cons
Only works with dry food
Can’t function without Wi-Fi
2. Cat Mate 2 Meal Automatic Cat Feeder – Best Value
The Cat Mate C200 is one of the most budget-friendly automatic feeders that also scores highly positive reviews. Our pick for the best automatic cat feeder for the money, this feeder gives your cat a thrifty way to enjoy a fresh meal up to 48 hours after you manually set the timer. There’s no Wi-Fi required, which is great news if you live in a remote area with poor signal.
The capacity is only 28 ounces, which is a little small. However, the ice pack lasts 48 hours at best—and some pet parents warn it’s not even that long—so this would probably be the best choice when you anticipate a long day at work or a quick weekend trip rather than a feeder to supply your cat’s needs while you’re on an extensive holiday excursion. The bowls and lids are removable and dishwasher safe for quick clean up.
We think our premium choice is the purrfect addition to any cat lover’s home. The cute kitty face feeder is equipped with a cat nose button for manual feeding, which thankfully can be disabled if you have a cat who likes to eat a little too much. You can set up to 12 meals per day on the included app, and you’ll receive important notifications on your phone such as when the feeder is running low.
You do need at least 2.4 GB of data to activate the Catit PIXI Smart Feeder and the included app tools, although the manual feeding button works offline if you’re experiencing connectivity issues.
Pros
Automatic feeder with cat nose button for manual feeding
Control feedings on the app
Supplies up to 12 meals per day
Notifies your phone when the reservoir is running low
Battery backup lasts up to 58 hours
Cons
Requires at least 2.4 GB of Wi-Fi
Dry food only
4. CatMate Automatic Cat Feeder with Digital Timer – Best for Kittens
As young kittens transition from mother’s milk to solid food, some might prefer the ease of wet food as opposed to dry, hard kibbles. An automatic feeder is a must in this situation because kittens need smaller portions more frequently than adult cats, and that can be hard to provide if you work away from home.
The CatMate C500 Automatic Pet Feeder features five compartments, each with a 11.5-ounce capacity. The twin ice packs keep the food fresh all day, and the unit can run for roughly a year on 3 AA batteries. Wi-Fi isn’t required since this automatic feeder runs on a manual timer. Of course, the downside is that you must remember to set it every time it runs out. The only other complaint is that some pet parents have noted that the bowl is a little too deep for their cat. On the plus side, the bowls and lids are dishwasher safe.
There are no frills with this automatic feeder. If you live in an area with frequent connectivity issues and power outages, the 2 in 1 Dog/Cat Automatic Feeder & 3.8L Water Dispenser by beyonday is the choice for you. It relies on nothing but gravity to deliver meals. Food and water travel from the reservoir into the bowl as it empties, giving your pet a continuous supply.
Of course, this design works better for some pets than others. It’s a dream for picky eaters and cats who don’t have a problem with portion control. However, a gravity feeder is definitely not recommended for felines who are overweight or require their meals at specific times.
Pros
Gravity design doesn’t require any power to function
Provides continuous food and water
Cons
Not appropriate for portion control
Not as reliable as a Wi-Fi feeder
6. WellToBe Automatic Cat Feeder with Double Bowls
If feeding time can cause tension between your pets, the Automatic Cat Feeder by WellToBe resolves the squabbles by splitting the meals into two portions. The splitter can also be removed if you only have one pet. The 4-liter capacity can deliver up to 6 individual meals per day from 1-48 portions of 0.28 ounces or about 1/16 of a cup each. The feeder runs off a power adapter with a battery backup option that requires 4 D batteries.
This isn’t a Wi-Fi enabled feeder, but it has many features typically featured in high tech feeders such as a blue warning light that will flash when the dispenser is running low. You can also record a voice message to play at mealtime that lasts up to 10 seconds. You might want to monitor the feedings occasionally to make sure your cats are receiving a fair amount of food. The only complaint voiced by pet parents is that the feeder sometimes gives one bowl an unequal portion compared to the other.
Pros
Split design is ideal for multiple cats
Delivers up to 6 meals a day
Plays a voice message up to 10 seconds
Blue warning light alerts you when food is running low
Runs off of power adapter and/or 4 D batteries
Cons
Some pet parents say the feeder may not distribute food evenly between bowls
The TEKXDD Automatic Pet Feeder releases between 1-5 meals per day depending on your presets. Although it’s not a Wi-Fi enabled feeder, the touchscreen controls give it a sleek and modern feel. You can greet your cat with a voice message that lasts up to 10 seconds that’ll play every time food is dispensed. The 3 D battery backup ensures that they never miss a meal in the event of power failure. The bowls are removable for easy cleaning, but they may not be dishwasher safe.
Pros
Distributes 1-5 meals per day
Touchscreen controls
Allows you to record a voice message up to 10 seconds
Feed your cat 1-4 times a day and never worry about them skipping meals due to power failure. The AEROKO Automatic Feeder runs off a power adapter with unique USB charging. There’s also a battery backup option that requires 3 D batteries (not included). If you forget to load the batteries and you do lose power, you don’t need to worry about resetting the feeding times when the power is restored. The memory function saves your settings so the feedings can continue as soon as possible. The bowls are also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
While this feeder is ideal for a long workday or a short weekend trip, it’s not recommended for a long separation from your cat since it can only deliver 1-4 meals before needing a refill.
Pros
Delivers 1-4 meals depending on setting
Charges by USB power with a battery back up
Memory preserves settings in the event of power failure
Cons
Low meal count
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Automatic Cat Feeder for Your Cat
You’ll need to determine which type of feeder best suits your cat by comparing capacity, timers, and functions. Higher-capacity feeders typically allow for more frequent meals. The AEROKO Automatic Pet Feeder is an exception, as it has a rather large 4.5L capacity despite the low 1-4 meal count. Kittens or cats with certain medical conditions such as diabetes benefit the most from small, frequent feedings. Make sure to take note of how many meals your dispenser can provide before needing a refill, especially in these cases.
Type of Food
Most automatic feeders only dispense dry food, as moist food can become clogged. Our best value option, the CatMate C200, and our best choice for kittens, the CatMate C500, are the only options for wet food, but they do have a low 2-meal capacity. Both are equipped with ice packs that last for roughly 48 hours. However, that’s the maximum, so we recommend checking the first few times you use them to find a more accurate estimate.
Timer Control
Some timers on automatic feeders are operated digitally, so you can set and forget it (as long as you keep refilling the reservoir when it runs low, of course). Others may have to be set manually or may be Wi-Fi controlled. If you struggle to maintain consistent internet connectivity at your house, you might benefit from a manual or digital timer. However, you’ll still need to make sure you have a battery back-up for a digital timer in the event you lose power.
Other Features
Automatic feeders may feature helpful high-tech functions, such as a voice recorder that allows you to create and store a unique voice message that can alert your cat when it’s dinnertime. You might also want to scout product descriptions for convenient perks, such as dishwasher-safe bowls and lids.
Conclusion
Automatic feeders can relieve some of the stress of owning a pet since it reassures you (and your pet) that they’ll be fed regardless of 5:00 PM traffic or dire circumstances at your kid’s school. It can also take the financial burden of hiring a pet sitter for a short weekend getaway. However, they can’t replace quality time with your pet. We also highly urge you to call someone to check on your cat if you’re going to be away for longer than 48 hours.
While automatic feeders are nice, unfortunately, they’re not infallible, and you don’t want to accidentally starve your pet if it malfunctions. Our overall best choice, the Advin 6L Automatic Cat Feeder fixes this problem somewhat by allowing you to monitor your cat’s eating habits 24/7 as long as there’s Wi-Fi connection. You can even talk to your cat with the two-way intercom. Our best value option, the CatMate C200, is affordable and can dispense both wet and dry food. Our premium choice, the Catit PIXI Smart Feeder, is one of the most high-tech feeders on our list. Whatever you choose, we hope our reviews helped make your decision easier!
