Cat Allergy Symptoms

Cats are common house pets and one of the most lovable and fun animals to have around. Unfortunately, about 25% people suffer from cat allergies. Dog allergies are not as common as cat allergies. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of cat allergy symptoms, if you happen to be a cat owner.

Causes of Cat Allergy Symptoms
Cat allergy symptoms are mainly due to the allergen Fel d1, a protein molecule found in the cat's dandruff and saliva. The salivary glands and sebaceous glands produce this proteins. During cat grooming, when the cat licks its skin and fur, the allergen get deposited on the fur and become airborne dust particles. Once these allergens are inhaled by humans, it may trigger allergic reactions.

As compared to the dog allergen, the cat allergen is lighter and can travel far and wide. They can penetrate deep into the lungs and trigger allergies. The amount of allergens produced by an individual cat differs from cat to cat. Also, male cats tend to produce more allergens than female cats, due to more secretion of Fel d1.

It was believed that only homes with cats as pets have allergens in their houses. Scientists have found that this is not true, even houses that never had a cat set its paws in the home had a significant amount of cat allergens. This is due to the personal cloud, an interesting concept discovered by environmental scientists. Each and every individual human or animal has a personal cloud of dust particles around them. This personal cloud travels along with them. If the person is a cat owner or has met someone who owns a cat, may acquire cat allergens in their personal cloud. So when traveling, unknowingly cat allergens like other dust particles are passed on from people to people. So when a person is exposed to a high number of allergens, it may trigger symptoms of cat allergy.

Symptoms of Cat Allergy
Symptoms of cat allergy can cause mild to severe reactions in humans. Many people may even develop chronic asthma. Cat allergy symptoms are visible and appear about 15 minutes to 1 hour after the exposure to allergen. The common symptoms of cat allergy are:

• Sneezing
• Cough
• Nasal congestion
• Sore throat
• Watery, red eyes
• Itchy nose
• Tightening in the chest
• Wheezing and difficulty in breathing

One may suffer from rhinoconjunctivitis or hay fever, the minute one enters a room or is exposed to cat allergens. The person may also suffer from delayed reactions like asthma attack, streaming nose, etc. One may even develop contract urticaria or hives on the skin in areas that come in contact with cat fur or saliva.

Prevention of Cat Allergy Symptom
You cannot prevent cat allergens or cat dander, as they are air-borne. You can however try to minimize the occurrences by trying the following instructions. You need to brush the cat daily to remove the cat dander. If you are allergic to cat dandruff, it is wise if you ask someone else to do it. You can use plain water to bathe your cat weekly and then move on to every fortnight. Keep the cat fur free from fleas and mites as the cats won't scratch and hence minimize the release of cat allergens into the air.

If you cannot avoid a cat living around you, then High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters should be installed. You should ventilate the rooms to reduce the cat allergens and dust levels and reduce humidity. Clean your carpets, walls, soft furnishings and bedding with a vacuum cleaner. You can control your cat allergy symptoms, only by avoiding the cat allergens.

Treatment for Cat Allergy
If you suspect cat allergy, then you should speak to your doctor about it. He may advise you antihistamines like Claritin or Benadryl that are over-the-counter drugs. You may be given decongestants like Sudafed or prescription Allegra-D.

The cat allergy symptoms are similar to many other allergic reactions. So the doctor may run a test to be sure it is a cat allergy. You may not be able to cure your allergy, but there are many ways to avoid it. Speak to your doctor for the best course of action for your cat allergy symptoms.