Feline Facts Article

Dealing with Your Cat Allergies

Cat allergies are reported as being one of the most common types of allergies. When you can sit that more than half of all households within the US have either a dog or a cat as a pet, you can see where these allergies can be a big deal. It has been reported that statistically over 10 million individuals living in the US have reported allergic reactions while around cats.

The main culprit in cat allergies has been found to be dander. To put it simply dander is simply dried skin cells which has been shed by the cat. Not only can dander irritate the skin to those who are allergic, it can also migrate into the person's immune system. Once the dander has reached the immune system it can cause a myriad of problems and resulting symptoms which are spawned by the allergic reaction.

When dander reaches the immune system of an allergic individual, the immune system sees the dander as a health threat to the individual and will react. The allergic reaction is not an actual disease, but rather a natural reaction your body takes to repel a perceived threat.

Those unfortunate individuals who find that they are allergic to cats can have an allergic reaction even when a cat is nowhere to be found. That is because that the allergy that is in the cat's body is also present in the cat's saliva and urine. A cat will leave traces of saliva and urine as a natural way to mark his territory. This means that even if you put your cat in another room to help alleviate the suffering of an allergic individual, it will probably not be very effective. Although you may have quarantine your cat, the excretions that your cat has deposited in your home will still be there to irritate the immune system of the allergic individual.

Cat allergies are usually treated with decongestants and antihistamines prescribed by a doctor. Some individuals will find that they are so allergic to cats that they will actually experience severe asthma attacks. These types of allergies must be treated with antihistamines to provide relief. For those individuals who find themselves stricken with coughs and swollen and irritated nasal passages, this can be treated by using decongestants. In some cases your physician may advise that you received an allergy shot to protect yourself against this allergy. Allergy shots are especially nice for those who find that they are particularly allergic to cats and are prone to have the asthmatic symptoms when they have an allergic reaction.

Anyone who suspects that they may have cat allergies should make an appointment to see a physician for proper diagnosis and treatment. Once you are there your physician can fully diagnose what type of allergic reactions you are suffering and how to best treat them.