Are You Allergic to Cats?

It is thought that approximately ¼ of all cat owning households harbour at least one human who is allergic to their beloved pet.

Suffering from any allergy is certainly not a nice experience. Symptoms of cat allergies include watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, breathing difficulties, plugged or itchy ears and rashes or hives on the skin. These often result in head aches and fatigue.

Cat allergies in humans are caused by a reaction to glycoprotein, Fel d 1, secreted by the cat's sebaceous glands. This protein is found in the cat's skin and saliva.

Unfortunately, a cure for such a frustrating problem does not exist. Allergies often come and go with age, and certain drugs can keep symptoms at bay for a limited time. But a true sufferer is simply advised to stay away from the cause altogether.

Existing Cat Owners

There are a number of steps which can be taken to keep allergies at bay. These include:

• Minimizing furniture - Rugs, throws, cushions and excessive carpeting will all accumulate allergen.
• Restriction - Allow your cat entry only to certain rooms in the house. They should be completely banned from the bedrooms, and should never be allowed to sleep with you.
• Vacuuming - Be sure to vacuum the house on a regular basis, to remove as much of the allergen as possible.
• Ventilation - Adequate ventilation and the use of an effective quality air filter may dramatically reduce the amount of allergens.
• Grooming - Do not over bathe your cat, this will only dry out the skin and cause unnecessary stress. However, regular brushing outside the house will help prevent the spread of allergens throughout the house.

Potential Cat Owners

If you are adamant you want to keep a cat, even with your allergies, there are a number of steps which can be taken into consideration when deciding upon the individual you purchase.

It has been suggested that male cats shed more allergens than females. More owners have also complained about being allergic to darker coloured and pigmented cats over cats with lighter colours. This information however cannot be fully relied upon; rather, it can simply be taken into consideration.

There are also particular breeds which do not shed as many allergens as other breeds. These breeds have less fur or none at all and therefore the amount of allergens secreted is limited. However, as the allergens are also present in the saliva, sufferers will still be affected at some level.

Hypoallergenic breeds include:

• Siberian
• Sphynx
• Cornish Rex
• Devon Rex

For those with a real love and big budget, there is an expensive solution. 'Allerca', an American company has produced the world's first scientifically-proven hypoallergenic cats. Through selective breeding, Allerca have produced cats which do not secrete the glycoprotein Fel D 1. The Allerca GD Cat is available for a cost of US$3'950, and come in all coat colour and patterns. The coat is medium-long and low in maintenance. The breed is said to make a great family pet which is long lived and great with children.

Copyright © PetClub UK Ltd. 2007

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