Cats are pretty and playful animals that are fun to have as
pets. However, do not forget, these cuties can also cause a
life-threatening condition in sensitized individuals.
Cats are pretty and playful animals that are fun to have as pets. However, do not forget, these cuties can also cause a life-threatening condition in sensitized individuals.
How that sensitization develops has been confusing – the conventional thought used to be to prohibit children to keep cats.
The rationale was that repeated exposure to cats might make children allergic. However, newer studies just claim the opposite.
Keeping cats may give immunity to children as they are growing up.
It’s true that cats are clean pets and easily potty-trained, but by licking themselves, they spread allergens all over the body. Inhalation of airborne danders or hair can cause health hazards in sensitized individuals.
How do the symptoms of cat allergy develop?
The symptoms of cat allergy develop upon frequent exposure to cat allergens. This exposure is either direct, like holding the cat or indirect such as repeated inhalation of cat danders.
Some individuals may develop symptoms at work because some companies allow employees to bring their pets with them.
Also, cat exposure at work can happen if a colleague carries the dander and hair on his or her clothes.
Exposure to these allergens to a sensitized person can cause a variety of symptoms such as stuffy and runny nose, watery and itchy eyes or wheezing and shortness of breath.
Are there certain cats that cause fewer allergies than others?
Ideally, you should have a cat that does not cause allergies. Such a pet does not exist.
You are in danger of developing allergies to any cat, some more than others. It has been reported that darker cats can cause more allergies than brighter-colored cats.
Some of my patients have mentioned problems with longer-haired cats. Therefore if you like to keep a cat, you may choose a cat with a brighter color and shorter hair.
What are the symptoms of cat allergies?
Symptoms due to direct contact with cats may include skin irritation, itching and hives. Symptoms as a result of inhalation of airborne allergens may include red, watery, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, cough, shortness of breath and wheezing.
Control measures to prevent or minimize cat allergy symptoms
Removal of cats from the home environment is the ideal control measure to prevent allergic symptoms. However, due to the emotional connection of pet owners, such a measure is almost impractical. An allergic individual who is contemplating adopting cats for family members should seriously consider the decision.
Limit the boundaries. Keep your cat in an outdoor environment. If you wish to keep the cat in indoor environment, at least keep it out of your bedroom.
Close your bedroom vent. The cat dander can be transported to your bedroom via an open vent.
n Wash your pet. This is a limited measure of dealing with allergens, but it may temporarily control spreading of the contaminated danders.
Medications are a temporary way of controlling the symptoms; they include antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays and bronchodilators (inhalers that open the airways).
Is there a treatment for cat allergies?
The treatment of cat allergy is allergy vaccination. It simply consists of injecting cat allergen extract, a commercially prepared reagent, in increasing increments under the skin.
Such injections are administered in regular intervals. The injected allergens trigger the immune system to build up immunity against cat allergens. The period of vaccination is three to five years and the effectiveness of the shots may lasts up to years or even a lifetime after discontinuation of the injections. Following the environmental control measures, can extend the benefit of allergy shots.
Dr. Massoud Mahmoudi is an assistant clinical professor in the division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of California, San Francisco’s Department of Medicine and is in private practice in the South Bay. He is the author of the new book “Allergy Cure!” E-mail him questions at do************@***oo.com.
