How do you treat cat allergy in humans? What are the causes of cat allergy in humans? What are the symptoms of cat allergy in humans? How is it diagnosed and treated? This article will tell you what you need to know about cat allergy’s causes, symptoms, and treatment/remedies in humans.

What Causes Cat Allergy in Humans?

Allergies to cats are the most common animal‐origin allergy in humans. in a published article by Ebenezer Satyaraj, et al, which is available here, cat allergy in humans is said to affect approximately 1 in 5 adults worldwide. The prevalence of allergy to furry animals has been increasing, and allergy to cats is a major risk factor for the development of asthma and rhinitis.

Indeed, cat allergy in humans is twice as common as dog allergies. It is reported that about 10% of the U.S. population have pet allergies and cats are among the most common culprits.  Contrary to what has been supposed, it’s not the fur or hair of your cat that’s the cause is the cause of cat allergen or cat allergens. Individuals with cat allergies usually have allergic reactions to proteins found in the saliva, urine, and dander (dried flakes of skin) in cats.

Although there are eight cat allergens that are currently recognized by the World Health Organization/International Union of Immunological Societies, Fel d 1 is the only major antigen and is by far the most important and potent allergen responsible for cat allergy in humans. As such, the actual cause of cat allergy in humans is a protein called Fel d1. Invisible to the human eye, this tiny protein is produced mostly by glands underneath the cat’s skin. This also contaminates homes for those with cat allergies because cats shed Fel d1 constantly and unknowingly contaminate these homes.

Doctors claim that cat allergies are a result of cumulative exposure to cats that will eventually cause allergic reactions even in mildly susceptible people. Finally, physicians worry about cat allergies because they can lead to chronic asthma and irreversible lung damage.

In the first instance, to understand the cause of cat allergy in humans, you should know that people with allergic reactions have oversensitive immune systems. Their immune system often mistakes harmless things, such as cat dander, for harmful substances in the body. As a result of this, their immune attacks such substances as bacteria or viruses are usually attacked. The symptoms of the allergy – like allergic rhinitis – are the side effects of your body’s assault on the cat allergen, or trigger.

Another point to consider in understanding the causes of cat allergy in humans is that while some breeds, such as the “hairless” sphinx, are thought to rarely trigger allergic symptoms of cat allergy when compared with other breeds, it is still the case that any breed can be the source of cat allergens in humans. This is true regardless of the breed, hair length, or how much the cat sheds.

What Are the Symptoms of Cat Allergies?

Symptoms of cat allergies include itchy eyes, runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. Others are coughing and wheezing hives or difficulty breathing, rash on the chest, and redness of the skin where a cat has scratched, bitten, or licked.

Symptoms of a cat allergy in humans might develop in just a few minutes or take hours to appear.

How Do I Know I Have a Cat Allergy?

Although the symptoms of a cat allergy in humans may seem fairly obvious, it may not always be taken that such is an indication of cat allergic symptoms. It is always a good practice to get the professional assistance of a doctor to confirm if such symptoms are cat allergy symptoms. 

If your doctor suspects that you have a cat pet allergy based on the symptoms you mentioned, she or he may initially carry out an examination of your nose, by using a lighted instrument to examine the condition of the lining of your nose. This is because allergic rhinitis is common among those who suffer from a cat pet allergy. If you have a cat pet allergy, the lining of the nasal passage of your nose may be swollen or appear pale or bluish.

Your doctor may further carry out an allergy test, which may be a skin or blood test, to see if you have cat allergic reactions.

Allergy Skin Test

Your doctor may suggest that you have a skin test to determine exactly what you are allergic to. You are referred to an allergy specialist (allergist) for this test. In the allergy skin test, tiny amounts of purified allergen extracts – including extracts with animal proteins – are pricked into your skin’s surface.

Your doctor or nurse will observe your skin for signs of an allergic reaction after 15 minutes. If you are allergic to cats, you will develop a red and itchy bump where the cat extract was pricked into your skin. The most common side effects are itching and redness. These side effects usually go away within 30 minutes.

Allergy Blood Test

Sometimes, a skin test can’t be performed because of the presence of a skin condition or because of interactions with certain other medications. As an alternative, your doctor may order a blood test that screens your blood for specific allergy-causing antibodies to various common allergens, including various animals. This test may also indicate how sensitive you are to an allergen.

Along with allergy tests, your doctor may employ other means to confirm that you have cat allergies. As such, your doctor may require you to try living without your cat for a few months to see how your fare with the allergic reactions.

It is quite the case that having to live without your cat for a few months can be very hard and even scary at first, but you will adjust quickly and you will soon find out whether or not your cat is the cause of your allergic reactions.

How Are Cat Allergies Treated?

Cat allergy in humans can usually be treated or remedied with standard allergy drugs and controlling the level of exposure to cat allergens.

With the use of standard allergy drugs, your doctor might recommend some cat allergy medicine for humans. These may include:

  • Antihistamines
  • Decongestants
  • Allergy shots

Antihistamines, which are available over the counter, include:

  • cetirizine (Zyrtec)
  • diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  • fexofenadine (Allegra)
  • loratadine (Claritin)
  • There are some Antihistamines such as azelastine (Astelin) that come in a nasal spray

Decongestants that are also available over-the-counter include:

  • Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) or allergy drugs that contain the ingredient Pseudoephedrine such as Allegra-D and Claritin-D.

Steroid sprays are a common treatment for allergies. These include:

  • Budesonide (Rhinocort)
  • fluticasone (Flonase)
  • Triamcinolone (Nasacort Allergy 24HR)

These are steroid sprays that are available over the counter.

Allergy shots are another good option your doctor may prescribe. This involves training your immune system (immunotherapy) not to be sensitive to the animal (cat) protein that causes an allergic reaction.

It is important to however note that cat allergy treatment in humans with allergy shots may take a longer time to complete. It is also advisable not to use them for treatment in children under the age of 5. But for some people, they can be a source of remedies for cat allergies in humans. You need to however ask your doctor if they would be good for you.

When it comes to cat allergy treatment for humans, a common worry is that people ask how long it takes to recover from cat allergy. While the cat allergy medicine for humans mentioned above may be helpful in cat allergy treatment for humans and may be among the best cat allergy medicine for humans, you must consult with your doctor before you make use of any of these. Be sure that with the right prescription from your doctor they can bring the remedies for cat allergies in humans that you desire.

Reducing Exposure to Cats

Another way to about cat allergy treatment for humans – you may take this as some home remedies for cat allergies in humans – is by controlling the level of your exposure to cat allergens. Indeed, while cat allergy medicine for humans can help with cat allergies, the best way to treat cat allergies in humans is for you to avoid cats and their dander.

These tips may help you with controlling the level of your exposure. (I am assuming that you own a cat and do not want to give them away):

  • Rigorously clean your house often. Cat dander gets everywhere. So you need to sweep and mop the floors, vacuum the rugs, and clean your furniture regularly. Make sure to get a vacuum with a HEPA filter, because regular filters may not be fine enough to catch allergens. Get rid of carpets and drapes that can trap dander.
  • Clear the air. A central air cleaner and filters on the vents themselves can help prevent cat dander from circulating through the house.
  • Consider bathing your cat regularly. Experts aren’t certain if bathing helps reduce the amount of allergen. But if it doesn’t traumatize the cat too badly, you could try it and see if it reduces symptoms.
  • Keep some distance from the cat. Limit exposure to the cat. Some else should take care of the cat and do help with things like cleaning the litter box.
  • Restrict the cat to certain sections of the house or establish pet-free zones in your house. Don’t allow your cat to roam free. Keep the cat out of your bedroom at all times.
  • Be watchful when visitors who own cats are around. Even if your house guests leave their cats at home, they can bring the dander with them on their clothing and luggage. This indirect exposure can cause serious cat allergy symptoms in some people.

There is no certain way to prevent cat allergy in humans, particularly when they are part of our family, some studies have shown that exposure to pets as a young child seems to reduce the risk of developing pet allergies later. However, it is important to say that a child who already has allergic tendencies may get worse with exposure to a pet.

Some Final Words

It is important to remember that cat allergies are caused by a reaction to the protein called Fel d1. Some allergy relief may come by the use of the best cat allergy medicine for humans that are available. With the help of the prescription of your doctor, you can achieve the right cat allergy treatment for humans.

While the various techniques that have been mentioned as ways to treat cat allergy in humans, it is important to note that if keeping your cat is putting your health – or the health of someone else in your family – at serious risk, you may have to consider giving up your cat.

And whatever you do, don’t assume that you can just hold out for your cat allergy to ease off. Cat allergy might very well get worse. A severe cat allergy in humans can do more than make you very uncomfortable; it can increase the risk of asthma, which is a serious disease. So don’t ignore the signs of cat allergies. Instead, see a doctor. Together, you can figure out the best way to tackle the allergy.