Allergy to cats - symptoms and treatment in children and adults

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Domestic cats with their appearance bring peace and tranquility. They become friends for children and silent interlocutors for adults. In psychology, there is a whole section of the science of treating various diseases with the help of cats. And along with all the positive aspects, an allergy to cats comes into the house. People can live their whole lives next to cats, and then suddenly suddenly get sick. It turns out that allergies are a very common disease that affects adults, children and even animals themselves.

Allergy to cat fur: what to do and what are the reasons?

Most people mistakenly believe that it is the fur and undercoat of a pet that causes an allergic reaction. In fact, everything is somewhat different.

The main reason for allergies is not the presence of hair in a cat, but a special substance produced by the animal’s body. Representatives of the cat family produce an allergen protein, which is found in saliva, on the epithelium, in serum albumin, as well as in the secretions of the sebaceous and anal glands. Due to the fact that the cat is an extremely clean animal that carefully licks itself, the allergen is distributed throughout the entire coat.

The size and weight of allergens are so small that these substances are easily transported through the air, settle on clothing and even end up in human food. There are several most common ways to transfer an allergen from an animal to a person. These include:

Contact path. The most common transmission option. It appears at the moment of tactile contact with an animal (for example, while you are petting a pet).
Nutritional. This refers to the deposition of allergen protein on human food.
With saliva. It is also possible for an allergen to enter the body if a cat licks or bites you.

How to get rid of contact with allergens

If you have a predisposition to an allergy to cats, be sure to take the following measures:

Don't touch animals.
Avoid close contact with people who have these animals in their home. This advice is due to the fact that they may have fragments of fur on their clothes that you yourself will not notice.
In the event that you still have to live where there are cats, be sure to ask their owners to make sure that animals do not enter the room in which you will sleep. For the purpose of prevention, you will have to take anti-allergy drugs that prevent the manifestation and development of an allergic reaction.

The most drastic measure to combat allergies is to transfer your pet to an animal shelter.

Cat in an animal shelter

However, if this cannot be done for various reasons, it is worth taking some measures to protect your health. For example, you can:

Delegate the care of the animal to other members of your family.
Block your cat's access to the rooms you use most often. Do not allow him to enter the bedroom under any circumstances!
If you live in your own home, be sure to provide a place outside for your pet. This could be a utility room or a house on the street.
Clean your home thoroughly. It is necessary to carefully wash all corners and places where the animal could, in principle, leave hair or saliva.
Replace carpets with those that are least likely to attract allergens.
Ventilate the room as often as possible and disinfect it using quartz treatment.
Wash and comb the animal periodically. This will remove possible allergens from it and reduce the amount of hair falling out.

Remember that failure to follow these simple rules for keeping cats can provoke the development of bronchial asthma in the body.

Regular house cleaning

It is better to get rid of the problem earlier than to treat a more serious disease later.

Allergy to cats in children and infants

Since the immune system of a child's body is less resilient than that of adults, children often suffer from allergies to pets.

If in a family one of the parents or one of the close relatives suffers from a cat allergy, it is most likely that such a reaction will be inherited and passed on to the baby.

If the introduction of a cat into the family occurred before the baby was born, the likelihood that the baby's immune system will react abnormally to the presence of the allergen is much lower. If you are planning to buy a pet after the birth of your child, it is recommended that you and your baby visit friends or relatives who already have a cat. In the case of such an experiment, it will be easier to determine how likely it is that an allergy will occur.

Interesting fact: as experience shows, if a child has sufficient contact with a pet from birth, the likelihood of developing allergies in the future is reduced. Thus, additional strengthening of the immune system occurs to combat allergens.

Hypoallergenic cat breeds

If an allergy to cats is scary, but it’s impossible to give up purring happiness in the house, there is a way to slightly reduce the discomfort. True, it is not possible to completely eliminate risk. Cat breeds that do not cause allergies are beyond reality. There are those who produce a specific protein in lower concentrations than ordinary cats:

Rex: Cornish or Devon.
Sphinxes.
Siberian or Neva masquerade.

In addition to them, pay attention to cats that do not have an undercoat: Oriental, Balinese or Egyptian Mau.

The interesting offer of hypoallergenic Allerca GD cats on the market, which are sold at exorbitant prices, must be viewed through the prism of skepticism. This breed cannot be called anything other than a publicity stunt.

The constant struggle with allergies brings a lot of trouble to you and inconvenience to your cat. Doctors recommend not to waste time and nerves looking for hypoallergenic breeds, but to try to find another home keeper.

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Treatment of allergies to cats should be discussed in cases where it is not possible to give the animal to someone. The reasons for refusing to get rid of a cat in the house can be different: strong attachment, feelings of pity, and so on. However, the manifestation of an allergic reaction to pets cannot be ignored. Common intolerance can be the onset of the following diseases: rhinitis, bronchial asthma, conjunctivitis, eczema.

How can you tell if you are allergic to cats?

Main symptoms of pet intolerance:

lacrimation with accompanying redness and irritation of the eyes;
labored breathing;
signs of a cold: runny nose, sneezing, cough;
skin rashes and irritation in areas with which the cat had direct contact;

Deciding to purchase a hairless breed will not save you from these symptoms. Scientists have proven that it is not the fur that causes an acute reaction, but secretions (saliva, urine) and exfoliation of the skin.

Treatment and safety measures when an allergy sufferer and a cat live together

If you notice the above symptoms, in any case, consult a specialist doctor.

When treating allergies to cats, your doctor may prescribe the following medications:

Claritin, Benadryl, Allegra, Zirtek are antihistamines that neutralize the effect of intolerance pathogens;
Allegra-D, Sudafed - decongestants used for complications;
Vibrocil, Prednisolone, Gistan are anti-symptomatic drugs (they ease the course of a runny nose, stop coughing and skin irritations);

The main methods used to eliminate allergic reactions:

special injections - provide an 80% guarantee of a positive treatment outcome, can be done from the age of five, full recovery can occur in 3-5 years;
allergen-specific immunotherapy is a kind of allergy vaccination, as a result of which the body begins to produce antibodies to allergens; course of treatment – 3-4 months;
addiction - in some people, the allergy disappears on its own when the body “gets used” to the chemicals present in the animal’s secretions, but it is not recommended to fully count on such a successful outcome.

Safety regulations:

do daily wet cleaning;
limit your pet’s freedom of movement around the apartment in order to interfere with it as little as possible;
maintain the necessary distance between yourself and the cat, as well as with people who have pets;
replace curtains with blinds, long-pile carpets with short-pile coverings, fabric upholstery with leather;
Keep the air in the room fresh: ventilate it several times a day, use purifiers and an ionizer;
regularly bathe your pet with special shampoos;
sterilize your pet.

If all drugs and treatment methods are ineffective, it is still better to place the cat in good hands or arrange a place for it outside. Living together in some cases can only aggravate the situation and lead to unpredictable consequences.

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An allergy to a cat may appear later than the cat. Usually these are the most dramatic stories: the cat has already become a member of the family, and it is absolutely impossible to imagine a home without it. If the allergy sufferer took care of the cat himself, then the first thing to do is to delegate the care of it to someone else. If a volunteer is not available, you can try wearing gauze or rubber gloves (depending on the area of symptoms) when you bathe and groom your pet.

Or another common case: in a family where there is a cat, there is an addition, and the parents are afraid that the child will develop an allergy. The most important thing here is not to leave the tailed one unattended. Don't forget to take care of his nutrition and health. It is important to vaccinate your cat on time and regularly show it to the veterinarian. Problems with the gastrointestinal tract, for example, can increase shedding and, accordingly, allergies to cat fur.

It is also believed that a spayed or neutered animal produces fewer allergens.

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The girl is allergic to cats

Signs of an allergy to cats are quite common in everyday life, so if you have a furry pet living in your home, you need to know how to promptly recognize an allergic reaction to an animal and take measures to treat it.

If this is not done in a timely manner, your cat may have to be taken to a cat shelter, and this is a real tragedy for both your beloved animal and all family members.

How to determine cat allergy: diagnostic options

The most effective way to test is a cat allergy test. For examination, you need to contact a specialist - an allergist. The doctor will conduct one of the possible tests:

Scarification test. To carry it out, a small amount of an allergen substance is applied to the human skin (it is obtained from animal hair, epithelium or dander). If, in response to contact with an allergen, a papule with a diameter of about 6 mm appears on the skin, the test is considered positive.
Immunoglobulin analysis. For such a study, the patient will have a small amount of venous blood and mix it with the allergen. Depending on the degree of the reaction, conclusions can be drawn about the presence/absence of an allergy to the animal.
Provocative tests. These studies consist of the following: the patient is asked to inhale a small amount of an allergen substance, while the doctor monitors and analyzes the body’s reaction. This type of analysis is usually resorted to if the prick test and immunoglobulin analysis fail to provide an accurate picture. The provocative test is carried out in a hospital setting.

Diagnostics

Self-diagnosis and starting to take anti-allergy medications is the worst solution. Only professional diagnostics in a clinic can accurately determine the cause of the symptoms. The fact is that allergies are often disguised as many other diseases that can be triggered. Allergies can also pose a serious threat to the human body, leading to swelling of the larynx and other consequences.

The main method for diagnosing cat allergies is special medical tests. The patient's blood is taken for analysis to detect immunoglobulin E, as well as skin tests.

Why is it not recommended to self-medicate? There are many cases where the cat did not cause the symptoms, although in a sense the animal played a role, which allowed false conclusions to be drawn. The most common options for establishing an erroneous diagnosis:

an allergic reaction can be caused by accessories and animal care products (litter, cat shampoo, cat food, etc.);
cats accustomed to walking outside can carry other allergens on their fur (pollen, mold particles, etc.);
infection from an animal with other diseases with similar symptoms (chlamydia, scabies mites, etc.).

Allergy to cats: treatment

How to get rid of allergies to cats? There is no clear answer to this question. Some doctors believe that the most effective way to combat allergies is to completely eliminate contact with the allergen, while others offer less radical methods of control. These include limiting (but not completely eliminating) contact with the animal, daily wet cleaning, disinfection of the cat’s food, resting and toilet areas, ventilation of the premises and the use of a filter with a humidification mode.

In any case, if symptoms of an allergic reaction appear, you should go to the hospital. After the examination, the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment. It usually includes antihistamines, decongestants and anti-asthma drugs.

To ensure that skin manifestations of cat allergies go away as quickly as possible, it is recommended to use local cleansing, moisturizing and nourishing creams, lotions and emulsions daily. In particular, you can use products for these purposes. Products from this brand help cope with itching, redness, burning and rashes on the skin.

Symptoms

Let's look at how allergies to cats manifest themselves. In fact, the manifestations of an allergic reaction can be of different types.

Respiratory symptoms of a cat allergy:

nasal congestion and allergic rhinitis;
burning sensation and itching in the throat and nose;
cough and sneezing;
dyspnea;
swelling of the nasopharynx.

Against the background of these symptoms, general weakness and even fever may occur.

The intensity of respiratory symptoms varies from person to person. For some, they appear after prolonged contact with a cat, while for others, an attack can begin literally when the animal appears.

Manifestations of a skin allergic reaction to cats:

the appearance of irritation and itching on the skin;
burning and itching;
rash, blistering and redness.

Skin symptoms usually appear upon direct contact with the animal. If an allergic reaction is expressed only in this way, then it will be enough for the patient to simply minimize the risks of their manifestation - it is enough to exclude contacts with felines.

Allergic manifestations of food nature:

nausea;
pain syndrome in the stomach.

If an allergen gets into food, symptoms can manifest themselves in this way - a general deterioration in the condition, the urge to vomit and pain in the stomach. In this case, it is also important not to delay your visit to the doctor, so that the specialist has the opportunity to make the correct diagnosis as early as possible.

Other cat allergy symptoms:

headache;
lethargy and irritability;
the appearance of swelling in the eye area, profuse lacrimation.

It should be noted that all of the listed symptoms are not unique and may indicate the development of another disease. Therefore, the key point is accurate diagnosis and determination of the cause of the symptoms that appear.

Which cats do not cause allergies?

The common misconception that short-haired or hairless cats do not provoke allergic reactions often causes problems and disappointments.

Unfortunately, cats that do not cause allergies are a myth. Even if you are planning to have a pet belonging to the so-called hairless or hairless breeds (Sphynx, Levkoy, Elf, Bambino, Cojona, etc.), this cannot be considered complete protection against allergies. These breeds, even without wool and undercoat, still produce a special protein, which becomes an allergen.

However, some felines still produce fewer allergens. These include:

Castrated and sterilized animals.
Pets of light colors. While scientists cannot say exactly why black cats cause allergies more often than their light-colored relatives, this fact is nevertheless reliable.
Cats are less likely to cause allergies than cats.

There are cases when a particular breed turns out to be less dangerous for a particular person. A similar situation can be observed in relation to a specific cat: for example, a person can react normally to the presence of other cats, but at the same time undergo an allergic reaction upon contact with his pet. This situation is explained by the fact that sensitization is an extremely individual phenomenon.

What are the symptoms of animal allergies?

Symptoms of allergies to animals that live in homes make themselves felt immediately after interacting with them, due to the presence of allergens near the allergic person. The occurrence of an uncharacteristic reaction of the body is indicated by:

repeated sneezing;
skin rashes;
sinus congestion or nasal discharge;
red eye syndrome, lacrimation;
cough, wheezing and shortness of breath;
discomfort in the chest.

Appearance on the skin

What can cause a rash? rashes and other indicated symptoms may indicate not only an allergy to animals, but also other diseases of internal organs and systems. To determine the cause of their occurrence, you need to consult a doctor.

Are cats always to blame?

Sometimes atypical reactions that can be mistaken for a cat allergy are caused not by the animal itself, but by its food, litter tray, bathing product, or flea collar.

There are also cases when a cat, which freely goes out for a walk, brings microscopic particles of plant pollen, particles of poplar fluff, and dust on its fur. All these substances can also provoke an allergic reaction in the owners - however, in this case, the allergy will still not be to the pet.

Sometimes the manifestation of a particular disease is mistaken for an allergy to a pet. There are cases when cats turn out to be carriers of infectious or invasive diseases that are transmitted during contact to their owners.

Remember: if signs appear that can be mistaken for an allergy, you should not immediately think about how to eliminate contact with the animal or even get rid of it! After all, first of all, you need to make sure that it is really an allergy: for this you need to conduct special tests and get tested.

Rules of conduct for allergy sufferers with cats

If someone in your family is allergic to cat fur. And a beloved pet already lives in the house, and besides, it is a hypoallergenic breed. Anyway, you don’t need to let your guard down and follow the following rules to avoid exacerbation of cat allergies :

At any time of the year, in any weather, it is necessary to ventilate the room. They do this in the morning, at lunch and in the evening. It will be enough to open the window for just five minutes;
As little as possible, collect things in your home that attract dust and cat hair (stuffed toys, furniture ottomans, carpets, curtains, down and feather pillows and blankets). If such interior items are present in the home, they need to be cleaned as often as possible;
It is advisable to purchase furniture for your home with a leather covering, which can be easily wiped with a damp cloth;
Put all personal belongings and clothes, bedding in closets so that cat hair does not cling to them;
Contact the cat as little as possible, and after each cuddle with your pet, wash your hands and wash your face. It would be ideal to change clothes so that the fur particles do not irritate the human body for the next day;
Every day, be sure to carry out light wet cleaning of your home with the addition of special products. Also vacuum, clean, and humidify the air. After all, nothing repels allergens like fresh air and a clean, damp room.

Try to accustom the cat to its own separate, equipped sleeping place. So that they do not enter the bedroom at all, and certainly not comb themselves on the bed of their owners.

The same applies to the space reserved for cats to defecate. If the animal is not walked, in order to avoid the spread of allergens throughout the apartment, they are also present in the animal’s urine. You need to place the litter tray in a specially designated room, preferably one that is well ventilated, and clean it as often as possible.

If signs of allergies still appear, you need to take preventive measures with tailed household members.:

Every week, bathe the cat with special shampoos and hypoallergenic products under running water. If it is a regular shampoo, it can, on the contrary, cause peeling and irritation of the animal’s skin, which will lead to an exacerbation of allergies to it;
In addition to bathing, cats need to wash their faces every day.
Review and balance your cat's diet. Food should not cause vitamin deficiencies, allergies, or hair loss in the animals themselves, so as not to provoke an allergy in the owner to his animal;
It is mandatory to regularly undergo preventive examination of the animal and get vaccinated against helminths and other parasites;
A neutered cat is the least dangerous in terms of allergies, so owners resort to this procedure so as not to get rid of their fluffy little bundle of joy.

As you know, females are also the least allergenic. Cats with light fur are least likely to cause allergic reactions.

Consumer Reviews

Seraphim about La Cree emulsion (otzyvru.com)

“It has always been difficult for me to choose a product to nourish dry skin that is prone to irritation. And when causeless skin itching began to bother me, I turned to a dermatologist. It was she who recommended La-Cri emulsion to me for daily care. The emulsion has a natural composition and is good for my sensitive skin. I apply it once a day after washing my face and my face feels fresh.”

Oskalena about La-Cri cream for sensitive skin (otzovik.com)

“In summer there is a frequent, even constant problem with mosquitoes. You can protect yourself from them, but not 100%, especially when it comes to children. After the bites, severe itching, redness, and inflammation begin. In this case, Virtex La-Cree cream for sensitive skin came to our aid. Two days earlier, my mother was bitten by mosquitoes, whose bites began to itch and become inflamed. I recommended applying La-Cri cream to the bite areas, and after a while everything calmed down and subsided.

We originally bought it for my son, who was half a year old at that time. I noticed slight redness around his neck and on his arms. I didn’t panic, I decided to just use La Cree cream, and I was not mistaken - everything went away after a couple of days.

The cream contains natural ingredients. The consistency is thick, brownish in color. It smells like sweetish herbs, but the smell is harsh. Without fragrances and dyes. Suitable for children from 0 years old.

May stain clothing after application. May cause allergies if you are hypersensitive to the components.

We really liked this cream. I feel like I’ll have to take more this summer.”

Sources:

Schneiderman Paul, Grossman Mark, Differential diagnosis in dermatology. Atlas, Binom, 2021.
Molochkova Yulia Vladimirovna, Dermatology. Brief reference book, GEOTAR-Media, 2021.
Sukolin Gennady Ivanovich, Clinical dermatology. A short guide to the diagnosis and treatment of dermatoses, Notabene, 2017.

Can a dog allergy go away?

An allergy to dogs does not go away without treatment, which is selected by an allergist after examining the patient. If you are allergic to dogs, symptoms include:

Nasal congestion and runny nose are treated with steroid nasal sprays, oral antihistamines and other medications;
watery eyes and redness of the eyes - with antihistamine eye drops.

If prescribed by a doctor, dog allergy vaccinations are recommended to help the immune system become more resistant to allergens.

Methods of detection

When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, it is important to accurately determine the source. To do this you need to undergo medical examinations. They allow you to determine both cat allergies in adults and children.

There are 4 effective ways to determine if you are allergic to cats. We list them below:

Monitoring the course of the disease. Monitor your condition carefully. Eliminate possible pathogens one by one. In the case of a cat, try to isolate the animal and have as little contact with it as possible. If the symptoms subside, there is a high probability that the pet is the source of the allergens.
Blood analysis. This type of examination is painless, suitable for young children and in cases where allergies are expressed by severe skin reactions. Initially, a so-called RAST test is carried out. A possible group of pathogens is identified in the blood and the person is referred for a more detailed study. Further blood sampling makes it possible to identify a specific pathogen from one of the groups of possible allergens.
Skin tests. The point of this analysis is that possible pathogens are applied to the forearm one by one, and then the doctor looks at the appearance or absence of irritation.
Allergy patch. A piece of gauze impregnated with various possible pathogens is glued to the patient’s back in the area of the shoulder blades. The patch is removed after 2-3 days. The pathogen is determined by irritation on the skin.

Testing to determine the allergen is sometimes simply necessary. Allergic symptoms are similar to other diseases. In addition, owners often sin on their favorite animal, while the body reacts to a completely different pathogen. In order not to say goodbye to your cat forever, it is better to have an accurate idea of what exactly caused the immune reaction.

Is it possible to cope with allergies on your own?

Of the available emergency measures for cat allergies, rinsing the sinuses comes first. Lightly salted boiled water (sodium chloride solution) is usually used. You can use sea salt. As a rule, it is used in nasal sprays. Since allergens are retained in the nasal mucosa, clearing it helps ease breathing and reduces symptomatic swelling.

Some herbs are considered proven and safe for allergies. The most recognized in this ranking is butterbur. This plant contains substances - inhibitors that bind sources of inflammation and swelling of the nasal mucosa.

Like antihistamines, butterbur has side effects, increasing drowsiness and lethargy. That is, this is a fairly effective remedy. The dried leaves and roots of this plant are ground into powder (you can use a coffee grinder) and taken orally several times a day, a teaspoon at a time.

What are hypoallergenic cats?

Some are sure that if a cat does not have fur, then it is not what causes the allergy. But the Fel D1 protein is found in the body of any cat, even a completely hairless one. It was noted that the reaction is most often detected in pets with long hair. Such cats often lick themselves and shed profusely. More allergen enters the space around them.

7 Although hairless cats are considered non-allergenic, they can also cause unpleasant symptoms

Cats and kittens that produce less Fel D1 protein are called hypoallergenic:

hairless cats: sphinxes, bambinos;
breeds with short curly hair: Cornish Rex, Devon Rex;
smooth-haired cats with scanty undercoat: Bengals, etc.

Experts note a reduced ability to provoke allergies in short-haired oriental breeds, allerkas, and Abyssinian cats. Of the semi-longhaired breeds, the Balinese and Javanese breeds are recommended.

8 Bengal kittens can easily claim the title of “hypoallergenic” due to their scanty undercoat

They are conditionally hypoallergenic, but many fanciers have managed to select a breed that causes a minimal reaction or does not affect the owner’s condition at all. You should not expect that such a kitten will automatically suit an allergy sufferer. It is best to find a way to communicate with your future pet for a few hours, for example, with a breeder. They are usually sympathetic to this need.

“Among the long-haired beauties, it is worth noting the Burmese cat. With a semi-long coat, she has a very small undercoat, so she sheds little.”

Prolonged contact with the kitten will help you understand whether there is an allergy to the cat. Although the reaction may appear a little later, when the allergen accumulates in the body. This possibility also needs to be taken into account. Even if you get a hypoallergenic cat, you will have to wash it a couple of times a week to reduce the amount of irritant in the house.

“When choosing a kitten, you need to discuss the possibility of returning it to the breeder if a severe allergy develops in the future.”

Why emergencies develop

Extreme allergic reactions to cats are very dangerous. It poses a direct threat to human life. The victim requires urgent qualified medical care; the symptoms are unlikely to disappear on their own. These conditions include anaphylactic shock and angioedema (Quincke's edema). Manifestations of such super-strong sensitivity of the body will be as follows:

A sharp drop in blood pressure.
Circulatory disorders.
Hypoxia (oxygen starvation of tissues).
Severe swelling of the face and mucous membranes.
Suffocation.
Loss of consciousness.

It is not known exactly why such a reaction develops when exposed to an allergen. There are many theories about this. Many researchers believe that this is genetically determined. It can be assumed that background diseases play a certain role.

If a person is intolerant to several substances, then simultaneous contact with them is almost guaranteed to cause anaphylactic shock. Increasing the duration of exposure also increases the risk of complications. Fortunately, such reactions to cats are extremely rare, but such cases are known. Caution must be exercised. Such attacks can develop very quickly, 10% of them are fatal.

Allergies are a very individual phenomenon. For some it manifests itself immediately, for others it appears many years later. For some it is mild, but for others it is life-threatening. It is necessary to know what causes this disease, what external and internal factors provoke relapses. Their elimination is an important step in proper effective treatment.