Pet Forum

Cat allergies will drive you nuts! Let's go over cat allergy causes, cat allergy symptoms, and cat allergy treatments. For those of you that aren't bothered by feline allergies, this is going to be way too boring, but for those of us that start sneezing when our kitty gets within 10 feet of us, it really is important to understand this issue.

What causes cat allergies? If you suffer from symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and itchy, watery eyes, you can only know for certain you have an allergy by undergoing a specific test. People who are allergic to cats have a reaction to the cat's saliva and dander (dead skin cells). However, typical allergic symptoms do not result from direct contact with your pet. Instead, when the cat grooms itself by licking its fur, it deposits saliva, which dries leaving behind the protein antigen and loosens dead skin cells. These allergens (saliva and dander) are very lightweight and are easily airborne. Once in the air, the antigens can spread to clothes, furniture, carpeting or any other household item.

What are the symptoms of cat allergies? The most common cat allergy symptoms are

• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Itchy nose, eyes and roof of mouth
• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose
• Pressure in the nose and cheeks
• Ear fullness and popping
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Hives

How do you treat cat allergies? One treatment that is always available for your cat allergy problem is to find a new home for the kitten. If your allergies are severe enough, this may be the best answer. A few cat allergy treatments that may help you includes: Inquire about desensitising treatment. Use a spray which can be applied to the cat’s fur to neutralize or reduce allergens on its fur. The apparent “effectiveness” of these sprays varies as some people are more allergic than others. Wear a pollen filter mask whenever you groom the cat or indulge in long cuddles with it. Grooming is best done in a well-ventilated area so that the dust dissipates. Restrict the cat’s access to certain rooms. Some rooms should be kept cat-free. Don’t let the cat sleep in your bedroom as it will leave behind dust-coated fur. Invest in a good air filter unit. These are not cheap, but they extract the minute dandruff particles which pass through most vacuum cleaners. If the cat lives indoors only, bathe it in distilled water each month to wash away dried saliva dust. Tap water leaves residues on the cat’s fur.

Picture of cat dander: