Cats make wonderful pets, and are much loved family members in countless homes around the world. However, one of the most common allergic reactions in humans occurs in response to the presence of a cat.
The most typical symptoms of an allergy to cats resemble the symptoms of asthma, in that breathing difficulties develop.
The sufferer may wheeze, cough and sneeze, and often will experience watery eyes and itching sensations. Another frequent symptom of an allergy to cats is when cat scratches flare up as red welts in the skin surrounding the wound.
For many people showing an allergy to cats, the allergic reaction on first encountering a cat are minor. Perhaps the cat has just arrived in the home, or perhaps the person is a visitor to the home where the cat lives. If the reaction is not too inconvenient, chances are the person will soon naturally develop an immunity and the symptoms will pass. This will often happen when the cat arrives as a small kitten and immunity develops before it is fully grown. In the meantime, the situation may be quite tolerable if they keep their distance from the cat.
For a small proportion of the population, the allergic reaction to cats may be quite disabling. The symptoms are usually eased by taking antihistamine tablets that can be obtained in most countries without a prescription. This relief may, however, be temporary. Alright if you are just visiting the place where the cat lives for a few days, but probably not the best solution when sharing the home with the cat for an extended time.
Longer term solutions are available by treating the allergy medically. A doctor may run tests to confirm the source of the allergic reactions and prescribe a medication solution, often consisting of a series of injections to progressively build up immunity. The allergic reaction to a cat may just be a manifestation of that person’s susceptibility to a number of sources of allergies, and a good thing to have discovered and treated.
Not everyone is willing to accept a medical solution, and perhaps even that will not work. The question arises as to whether the problem can be solved by treating the cat.
The main cause of the allergic reaction is the small flakes of skin or dander that a cat will naturally shed into its fur and surroundings. The reaction comes when the dander in the environment of the home touches the person’s skin, and especially when it is drawn into the respiratory system. This, of course, will be present wherever the cat goes, and little can be done about it apart from making sure the cat is healthy and clean, and the house is kept clean, in order to minimize the problem. Even a regularly bathed cat will still shed dander.
Another known source of the allergic reaction is the saliva of the cat, which is transferred to its fur during natural grooming behavior. Cats will also leave traces of saliva around the home as they rub against furniture and other places as part of their instinctive habit of marking their territory. Inevitably a person sharing the home with the cat will eventually come into contact with cat saliva residues. In practice there is little that can be done to stop a cat’s natural behavior.
The ultimate solution to a persistent allergic reaction to a cat is is to not have a cat. This can be a difficult solution in a family where the pet is much loved, and not everyone experiences the allergic reaction. Taking a little time to allow immunity to develop, or seeking a medical solution, can avoid the anguish of parting with a pet.
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