Can Dogs Be Allergic to Cats?

Is your dog notorious for licking their paws in the middle of the night, making sleep impossible? What if we told you that paw-licking is the most common sign of allergies? Seasonal allergies come and go, but if you have a dog who never stops licking their feet all year, they may be allergic to something inside your home. And yep, if you’ve got other pets, including cats, they could be part of the problem, too.

What in the world can you do when one member of your family is allergic to another member of your family? Not to worry, while canine allergies to cats are rare, allergies are the most common reason why a dog will see the vet. And there are lots of ways to intervene if your dog is allergic to your cat. 

So, what’s actually causing the allergy?

A dog who is allergic to cats can be allergic to dander, saliva, and/or urine that contains proteins which their body is reacting to. This can cause symptoms such as paw licking, scratching, skin rashes, eye infections, skin infections, gastrointestinal (GI) sensitivities, and/or anal gland issues. The severity of symptoms varies between dogs, and some dogs will be prone to certain symptoms more than others.

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Is my dog allergic to my cat?

While not common, dogs can be allergic to cats. This is uncommon enough that it shouldn’t be your first concern if your dog is showing signs of allergies. However, if your dog’s allergy symptoms start after the addition of a cat to the household, if these symptoms are always present, if they aren’t responding well to an allergy treatment, or you’ve noticed your dog reacts to contact with your cat (with symptoms such as sneezing, scratching, or rashes) — then it’s time to ask if your dog may be allergic to cats. 

In reality, the more common causes of allergies are pollens, grass, dust and storage mites, fleas, and more. These are known as environmental allergens. Less commonly, though still more common than allergies to cats, are food allergies. In these cases, dogs are allergic to a protein found in foods such as chicken, beef, and pork. Food protein allergies are far more likely than other food allergies. 

Dog allergy symptoms

When suspecting that your dog has allergies, watch for these symptoms:

• Paw or limb-licking

• Scratching

• Skin rashes

• Scratches on skin

• Hair loss

• Greasy hair coat

• Malodorous skin or hair coat

• Bronzing, or a bronze to reddish-brown color change of the haircoat between the toes and between paw pads (on the underside of the paw) or in other areas your dog is seen licking, such as their elbows or belly

• Head-shaking

• Green or white mucoid eye discharge

• Scooting

• GI sensitivities, including the tendency towards soft stool, diarrhea, or vomiting

• Leather-like belly skin

Some secondary issues include:

• Eye infections

• Ear infections

• Skin infections

• Anal gland infections

If your dog is prone to recurrent episodes of any of the infections above, talk to your veterinarian about underlying allergies. 

Environmental allergy symptoms are not different from food allergy symptoms, except for their frequency. Seasonal allergies (or allergies that appear around the same time each year) are environmental allergies. Allergies that appear constantly include food allergies or persistent environmental allergies (such as a cat in their home). 

It is, unfortunately, not possible to narrow down the source by their type of symptom alone. If a dog shows allergy symptoms exclusively on their skin, the cause could be either environmental or food allergies. Likewise, for dogs with only gastrointestinal symptoms, either type of allergy can be to blame. The type of symptom does not tell you which type of allergy the dog has or what triggered it.

How to diagnose dog allergies

To diagnose a dog’s allergies, a vet will try a diagnosis of exclusion (or eliminating various potential causes from a dog’s diet and/or environment, until they can figure out the trigger). 

So, before assuming your dog is allergic to your cat, check with your vet to rule out potential irritants in the home, such as air fresheners, candles, and personal products containing fragrances. They may also check your dog for ectoparasites such as fleas, ticks, or mites, infections on the skin from bacteria, yeast, or ringworm, which may be causing a reaction.

If your dog is still showing signs of allergies around your cat, then they may be allergic to them. There is testing that can be done to confirm this. 

• With your normal vet, a blood test can be run for allergies.

• You can visit a veterinary dermatologist for an intradermal skin test, which is the same type of test they do for humans. 

With either test, the goal is to gauge your dog’s immune response to a list of common or relevant allergens, which should include proteins specific to cats. After testing is complete, you’ll receive a list of what environmental allergies your dog is allergic to.

Important note: Over-the-counter tests using saliva or hair samples are not accurate. Any form of testing that claims to diagnose food allergies is also not accurate. The only way to diagnose food allergies is through a food-elimination trial, which is something you can speak to your vet about.

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What to do if your dog is allergic to cats

Several at-home treatments may lessen your dog’s allergic reaction to your cat. When in doubt, speak to your vet, who can also recommend an antihistamine, walk you through prescription allergy medications, and even discuss allergy shots. 

In the meantime, here are a few tips that may help relieve your dog from their allergy symptoms.

Deep cleaning

Removing as much dust as you can (including accumulated cat dander and hair) and cleaning surfaces and furniture to remove accumulated feline proteins can help relieve your dog’s allergy symptoms.

Baths

Bathing both your dog and any cats in your home will provide the most relief. Do not bathe your dogs and cats more than every three to four weeks, or else you might dry out their skin.

Bathing your cat with a medicated shampoo that is antibacterial, anti-yeast, and helps heal the skin barrier will give you the best results. Maintaining feline coats by brushing them will also limit how many allergens they shed. 

Bathing your dog, too, helps remove allergens from their body, while also using a medicated shampoo on them can help treat any existing allergic reactions. 

Air purifiers

These are fantastic for removing allergens from the air before they settle on your dog or around your home. Be sure to use air purifiers that have HEPA filters, and watch for filters targeting the removal of allergens from the air. 

Supplements

Some supplements can help your pet maintain a healthy skin barrier. There are many products available in various forms. For help choosing a safe and effective option, reach out to your veterinarian. 

Cat no-go zones

Keeping a cat-free room or area of your home for your dog can give them a break from the allergens in their living space. This can help limit the severity of symptoms, so your pup feels better. 

Allergy medication

Over-the-counter antihistamines can help in cases of mild allergies. Talk to your vet about the type of antihistamine and dose that you can potentially give to your dog. In many cases, prescription medication will be needed. These come in the form of tablets, capsules, liquids, and regular injections. If your pet has undergone immunotherapy testing (via a blood test or intradermal testing), the results can also be used to formulate shots or oral drops to give them at home to treat their allergy and ease their symptoms. 

Honorable mention

There are diets or dry shampoos for cats that can be used to limit the allergens cats shed into the environment that dogs may react to. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations if you’d like to know more.

Commonly asked questions

What are the signs and symptoms of allergies in dogs?

Signs and symptoms of allergies in dogs include paw-licking, head-shaking, scratching, rashes, and more. 

Can cats be allergic to dogs?

Dogs can be allergic to cats, and cats can be allergic to dogs. It’s safe to assume that any animal can be allergic to anything, though some allergies are far more common than others. Cats aren’t often allergic to dogs, just as dogs aren’t often allergic to cats. 

Are dog allergy symptoms the same as human allergy symptoms?

Very often, dog and human allergy symptoms are not the same. Common symptoms of allergies in humans include wheezing, coughing, runny noses or eyes, and sneezing, but these symptoms are very uncommon in dogs with allergies. While dogs may also be itchy, they’re more likely to rub their eyes than have runny eyes, and rub their nose than have a runny nose or sneeze. Respiratory symptoms such as wheezing and coughing are also rare in dogs with allergies. 

References

Brooks, Wendy. “Allergies: Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs and Cats.” Veterinary Information Network, Veterinary Partner, 15 Dec. 2023, veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951475.

Sparks, Andrew H. “Human Allergy to Cats: A Review for Veterinarians on Prevalence, Causes, Symptoms and Control.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, vol. 24, no. 1, 8 Oct. 2021, pp. 31–42. SAGE Journals, journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/1098612X211036793, https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X211036793.