Cat Alergies

Cat Allergies

Owning a cat is a big responsibility. Did you know the maximum life of a cat is said to be estimated at about 25 to 30 years and sometimes the cat only lives around 14 years. You, as a new cat owner are responsible for the cats health, its food, behavior, and interaction with other animals and people. Many people have questions regarding allergies and cats. I hope this information will help.

People who are sensitive to animals are the ones who will most often get allergies. Cats can actually cause allergic reactions, but most any animal with fur or feathers could also cause symptoms such as red, itchy, watery eyes; nasal congestion; itchy nose; sneezing; difficulty in breathing; a chronic sore throat or a scratchy throat; coughing, weezing, or itchy skin. I may repeat myself a few times but it is important.

WHO GETS ALLERGIES AND WHY?

The determining factors as to whether a person will develop allergies or not seem to be both genetic and environmental. If you have close relatives that suffer from allergies of any kind, the likelihood is greater that you come from an "atopic" family. This means that you may inherited the potential to produce higher than normal levels of IgE in response to contact with an allergen.
The only way for you to become allergic to a specific substance is to be exposed to it. It is often thought that the first few months of life may be particularly important in this respect, as well as where you grow up. An example sometimes cited is that people born in the United States are more likely to be allergic to peanuts, because peanut butter is a very common food in this country, while people born in Sweden are more likely to be allergic to salmon, which is eaten in large quantities in that country. There is also evidence that genetically susceptible people born in the pollen season are more likely to suffer from hay fever. It is especially important for babies from "atopic" families to be breast-fed, as breast milk protects against the development of allergys.
There is a known difference in the scientific community between an allergy source and an irritation source. No one knows the full story as to why each develops and the various forms that they take, we just deal with it.

I have Allergies
(because of my cat or pet)

This article is intended to help pet owners get information about allergies, the possible causes, and try to find a solution for the people who love cats but suffer from allergies. So let's begin.

Allergies to animals can take 2 years or more to develop and may not subside until 6 months or more after ending contact with the animal. Carpet and furniture are a supply for pet allergens, and the allergens can remain in them for 4 to 6 weeks. In addition, these allergens can stay in household air for months after the animal has been removed. Therefore, it is wise for people with an animal allergy to check with the landlord or previous owner to find out if furry pets had lived previously on the premises.

How will I know if I will become allergic to my pet?

Being sensitive to animals is one of the most frequently seen allergies. Cats actually cause the most allergic reactions, but any animal with fur or feathers could also become a trigger for such symptoms as red, itchy, watery eyes; nasal congestion; itchy nose; sneezing; difficulty breathing; chronic sore throat and/or scratchy throat; coughing, wheezing, or itchy skin. People with cat allergies find relief in asthma drugs. Cat owners who have the misfortune to be allergic to cats can find welcome relief and protection from there symptoms by using asthma drugs.
It is known today that the domestic cat 1 substance, or the (Fel d 1) for short produced in the sebaceous glands of the cat's skin and in cat saliva, is believed to be the major allergen that most people who are allergic to domestic cats are actually reacting to. The dander (old skin cells) which animals shed constantly into the environment, are tiny micron-like particles that cling to furniture, draperies and wall coverings, and can cause problems for allergic people. The Fel d 1 airborne particles are the same size as bronchial medication droplets designed to penetrate into bronchial membranes...so, no wonder cat allergies can lead to asthma!! And, Fel d 1 (short for "Felis domesticus, i.e., the domestic house cat), which comes from the fatty secretions called sebum, can live for months or even years even after the cat is removed from the environment. Interestingly, female cats shed substantially less amounts of allergen than males, and a neutered male sheds significantly less than a full male tom. Other recent studies have shown that, regardless of the breed or sex of the cat, far more people have allergic reactions to darkly colored and pigmented cats versus lighter colored cats with less pigment.

Pet Allergies

Allergies are shown to be the most widespread chronic health condition in the world today. It has been shown, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, that one out of every four people is a chronic allergy sufferer. The dictionary defines allergy as a hypersensitivity, or an abnormal reaction to a substance that is harmless to most people. Allergies is a serious health problem which continues to grow rapidly in our world. The substances that cause allergies are called allergens or antigens . In fact the immune system is always involved in trying to defend us from ordinarily harmless substances which differentiates an allergic reaction from any other type of reaction.

The basis behind each of the allergic illnesses is almost identical. Allergies may be taken into the body in four different ways: 1) through the nose, throat, and lungs (such as in airborne substances we inhale); 2) through the mouth and digestive system (such as in the food, liquids or drugs that we ingest); 3) through the substances and chemicals that come in contact with our skin (such as plants, cosmetics, cleaning detergents, etc.); and 4) through the tissues under the skin (such as injected vaccines, medicines, animal bites or insect stings).

How do I live with Allergies

Having pets is good for you. They have done many studies and have proven that pet owners tend to live longer than non pet owners, because caring for a pet eases the stress of daily living. There have been some dramatic advances by scientists and researchers in the understanding and management of airborne animal allergens. It is important to remember that allergies are increasing ; that is, they build up. People also can have varying degrees of sensitivities to different allergens. Dust, mold, mildew, pollens, paint, perfumes, cosmetics, and many, many other substances can cause allergic reactions. Whether or not a person has symptoms, depends upon how many of these allergens are in his enviroment at a particular time. Remember that this is a constantly changing factor, depending upon a wide variety of conditions that occur in the home environment.

It makes sense, to reduce your exposure to other allergens that trigger attacks, for people allergic to their pets. Every allergic person has a tolerance level that is unique to them, and above which an acute allergic reaction takes place. As long as your total exposure is below your allergy threshold, you will not have a reaction. Sometimes, just by having a female or a neutered male cat will be enough to keep your allergen exposure below your threshold level. Many people that are highly allergic to cats have, over time, become "immune" to allergic symptoms from their own cat; however, they most often will still have allergic reactions of varying intensity to other cats.

What Can I do to help reduce exposure

There are a few things you can do around your house to lower your exposure. Since the allergens from cats are airborne and get into everything in the house, you can do several things to help reduce the number of cat-allergen reservoirs. Reduce the amount of carpet in your home, especially in the bedrooms and sitting rooms...learn to love hard wood floors!! Cover your mattresses and pillows with air-tight encasings, and reduce the number of upholstered furnishings, especially in the bedrooms. Have someone else do your vacuuming, or use vacuums with the built-in high efficiency (HEPA) filters. You can use an indoor air purification unit (those which use ozone as well as ionization), which greatly reduce the number of allergens in the air of your home, as well as virtually eliminating pet odors, cooking odors, and other unpleasant, lingering odors in a home.

What about allergy medications?

There are many new medications (without unpleasant side effects) such as nasal steroid sprays, which reduce allergic inflammation in the nasal area and help reduce the bronchial inflammation that leads to coughing, wheezing and chest tightness. Plus, there are now several different "over the counter" products for applying directly to the cat, which are supposed to help reduce their dander and keep them from shedding their allergens. I guess to elimate the majority of allergies you could trade you furry cat in for a hairless one.

Cat Allergies