According to the World He alth Organization, about 15% of the world's population suffer from some form of cat allergy. How does this condition manifest itself, why does it occur and what are the most effective methods of dealing with it? Let's figure it out.
Allergy Causes
Many people, mistakenly believing that they are allergic to cat hair, think that if you get a short-haired animal (Sphinx breed, for example), all unpleasant symptoms will cease to annoy. In reality, it is not the pet's fur that provokes the reaction, but a protein found in dead skin cells, which is part of the pet's urine and saliva.
Allergy sufferers have reduced immunity. Because their body is very sensitive to external stimuli. For every allergen, it includes a protective reaction. If the immune system is weakened, the main symptoms of an allergy occur, which are a side effect of the body's fight against irritants.
Even if the person is notsuffers from an allergy to cats, a pet can easily bring it. So, a fluffy pet often brings mold, pollen and other allergens from the street into the house.
Allergy symptoms
In order to be sure that an allergy to a cat has arisen, it is simply necessary to know how this condition manifests itself. It is worth noting that each person, due to their individual characteristics, reacts to these pets in different ways, and therefore one or more of the following reactions may be observed:
- Stuffy nose and runny nose.
- Tearfulness and irritability of the eyes.
- Persistent sneezing.
- Asthma-like attacks (shortness of breath, wheezing and cough).
- Redness of the area of skin that has been in direct contact with the animal.
So the person assumes they are allergic to a cat. How does this disease manifest itself, after what time period can the first symptoms be observed? Signs of an allergic reaction of the body can occur both immediately after contact with a furry pet, and several hours after it.
Allergy in infants to a cat is manifested by all the same symptoms as in adults. However, due to the fact that the immunity of newborn babies is very weak, the consequences of an allergic disease can be extremely dangerous: the development of bronchial asthma or allergic rhinitis in a child.
Methods for identifying cat allergies
If a person is not familiar with such a condition as an allergy to a cat, howthis ailment manifests itself, he cannot say with accuracy, then if there are suspicions, before you say goodbye to your pet forever, you should visit a doctor. Perhaps the pet has nothing to do with the owner's allergic reaction.
In order to make sure of this, the specialist will offer to conduct allergic tests. However, it should be borne in mind that standard tests are far from always informative and effective. This is explained by the fact that the allergens used for them are taken from an “average” cat (outbred animal), while the allergens still have minor so-called “pedigree” features. In more modern allergy centers, it is possible to conduct a test based on an individually prepared reagent, which can be pet hair, urine or saliva.
Mistakes in home allergy diagnosis
If, after the appearance of a cat in the house, someone from the household showed signs of conjunctivitis, dermatitis or rhinitis, before passing the sentence "allergy to an animal", it is necessary to carefully analyze the situation and make sure that there are no other causes of these symptoms.
First of all, you should check if your beloved pet has an invasive or infectious disease that can occur in both an animal and a person. So, diseases such as toxoplasmosis, mycoplasmosis or chlamydia are often disguised as conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. Redness and itching of the skincan be caused by a tick infestation known as scabies or a fungal infection known as lichen.
It should be borne in mind that in most cases, the cat itself may not have external manifestations of the disease. So, an animal that has had chlamydia may not experience clinical manifestations of conjunctivitis in the form of minor discharge from the eyes, but at the same time, a pet, being a carrier of the infection, can infect its owners.
The skin of many cats can be parasitized by a microscopic mite in size - cheilitiella, which does not cause any problems for the animal. This parasite does not live on human skin, but, once on the skin, it can produce a bite, which will lead to itching and irritation in this place.
Another common mistake in the "home diagnosis" of allergic reactions to a cat is the incorrect definition of the allergen. So, it is likely that the cause of an allergic disease is not the pets themselves. In modern times, more and more people are faced with such phenomena as allergies to cat food, zoocosmetics, toilet fillers, toys and other accessories.
Allergy Treatment Highlights
Get rid of allergies forever - the task is almost unrealistic, and we can say with a high degree of probability that from time to time this ailment will remind of itself. But at the same time, it is quite possible to significantly alleviate a person’s condition and prevent the occurrence of new rounds of the disease with even more acutesymptoms.
So, if there is an allergy to a cat, what to do in this case? First of all, you must completely limit any contact with your pet. It is also important to control your emotional sphere and try not to allow the influence of various stress factors on the body, which arise mainly due to separation from your beloved animal.
The main question that most allergy sufferers are trying to find an answer to is: "What to do with an expensive pet, without which it seems impossible to live?" Breakups are definitely hard to bear. But if a person suffers from a neglected allergy to cats, then this is extremely necessary. But it is better at this time to think about where the pet will be comfortable. For example, you can give a cat to relatives or close friends to be sure that the animal is taken care of.
Helpful tips on how to get rid of cat allergies
- First of all, it is necessary to avoid prolonged close contact with the cat: less often take the pet in your arms, stroke it. It is recommended to find an alternative to tactile communication. So, for example, it can be conversations, games using "rods", balls, watching the animal from the side.
- The territory of an apartment or house should be strictly "shared" with your four-legged friend. It is forbidden to let a cat into the bedroom of an allergic person, especially in his bed.
- After communicating with a pet or with its accessories, you must thoroughly wash your hands and even change clothes. Wash things withpowder with special additives.
- It is recommended to remove items from the home that can collect allergens: upholstered furniture, carpets, down and woolen bedding.
- Daily it is necessary to carry out wet cleaning in the apartment using anti-allergic products, use a vacuum cleaner with special filters, air purifiers.
The importance of proper nutrition and regular bathing of a cat
American studies have shown that washing a cat can significantly reduce the number of allergic irritants. However, over time, the level of allergens is restored, and therefore the animal must be washed every week. To do this, you can use both professional or anti-allergic shampoos, as well as plain water.
It is very important to properly feed your pet. This is due to the fact that poor-quality feeding can negatively affect the cat's skin, causing shedding and other damage, which, in turn, increases the concentration of allergens in the environment.
Medicated treatment
How to cure a cat allergy with medication? The doctor will first advise you to take antihistamines that block the action of allergens. Some of them (the drugs "Claritil" and "Benadryl") can be purchased at the pharmacy on their own, while others (the drug "Zirtek") are dispensed exclusively by prescription.
If a cat allergy is diagnosed, what to do in this casedoes conventional medicine recommend? Decongestants, which include Allgra-D and Sudafed, have proven themselves well in solving this problem. Their task is to reduce swelling and prevent mucosal congestion.
Easy to eliminate the symptoms of allergies and other medicines will help. So, for example, Nasonex and Flonaz sprays, traditionally used to eliminate the manifestations of allergic reactions, are especially effective.
One of the options for getting rid of allergies is a course of injections. But it is worth noting that such treatment, which is also not always effective, can last more than one year. This method of dealing with allergies is unsafe, and therefore it is forbidden for children under 5 years old.
Interesting facts
Cats have been shown to emit significantly fewer allergens than cats. Also, the younger the pet, the less irritants it comes from. Spayed and neutered four-legged friends are less allergenic compared to full-fledged cats.
Studies have shown that regardless of breed and gender, allergic reactions to these pets of a dark pattern or color occur in humans much more often than on light cats. Allergenic properties of saliva, urine and skin of animals do not depend on the length of wool and breed.
Knowing how to cure a cat allergy and following these guidelines for keeping a pet, you canget rid of unpleasant allergic manifestations without parting with your beloved four-legged friend.
