How To Fix A Cat Allergy

Scientists May Have Found Out How To Get Rid Of Cat Allergies

That sneezing, wheezing, congested, itchy eye, must-escape-this-room-because-I-cant-breathe-around-this-cat feeling can ruin even the best of daysespecially if you are a cat lover.

But now, you might be able to avoid the allergies altogether, instead of avoiding the furry feline.

You read that right. There have been some very promising scientific breakthroughs that can help alleviate the symptoms of cat allergies altogether. Breathing comfortably without red, itchy eyes could become the norm for allergy sufferers.

And we arent talking about allergy shots or desensitization therapy, either.

These new treatments for cat allergies arent for youtheyre actually administered to your cat. The goal is to help make them less likely to incite an inflammatory process in you.

Heres everything you need to know about the potential new cat allergy treatments.

Get Rid Of Rugs And Carpets

Even with regular vacuuming, rugs and carpets can harbor cat dander and contribute to allergy attacks. Rolling up rugs can be an immediate solution, and replacing carpets with options like hardwood, laminate or tile will cut down on the amount of dander in your home more permanently. If youre attached to soft flooring, try sticking to area rugs and having them cleaned on a regular basis. That way cat dander wont have an opportunity to build up too much in the carpet fibers.

What Is Inhalant Allergy Or Atopy

Inhalant allergy or atopy is not well understood in cats. In dogs and humans, atopic dermatitis generally refers to allergic reactions to environmental allergens such as pollens, grasses, molds, mildew, and house dust mites).

“Most cats that have an inhalant allergy are allergic to several allergens.”

Many of these allergies occur seasonally, such as ragweed, cedar, and grass pollens. However, others are with us all the time, such as molds, mildew, and house dust mites. When humans inhale these allergens, we express the allergy as a respiratory problem. In humans, atopy is also sometimes called ‘hay fever’. The cat’s primary reaction to atopy is severe, generalized itching.

Most cats that have an inhalant allergy are allergic to several allergens. If the number of allergens is small and they are seasonal, itching may last for just a few weeks at a time during one or two periods of the year. If the number of allergens is large or they are present year-round, the cat may itch constantly.

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Natural Cat Allergy Remedies

Use an indoor allergen neutralizer. Always choose a natural formula. Unlike toxic chemical sprays and shampoos, these herbal cat allergy remedies work without exposing you to dangerous substances. Easy Air Organic Allergy Relief Spray and Organic Allergy Relief Laundry Rinse are excellent examples of natural solutions. Both these liquid formulas instantly destroy cat allergens. Its like taking dangerous boulders and crumbling them into harmless rubble. They work instantly, and benefits last for weeks.

Neuter your cat. Non-neutered males produce the highest levels of this allergen. So fix your guy. And, by the way, a number of studies also show that spaying sharply lowers Fel d1 levels in female cats.

Shampoo your cat. The animal will still produce Fel d1, but bathing dramatically lowers the allergen level in your home. On average, a weekly bath by a neighborhood groomer will eliminate nearly half the allergen in your home or apartment.

Change the litter box frequently. Cat allergens come from your pets urine and solid waste, so place the litter box in your garage . And change the litter every other day.

Moisten your pets fur before daily grooming. The moisture will help deactivate allergens, and daily combing will definitely get rid of more.

Use a HEPA vacuum at least once a week and a HEPA air purifier daily. Together, they will eliminate a lot more cat allergens.

How To Get Rid Of Cat Dander

Follow these four steps to cat dander removal in your home and reduce your allergy symptoms.

If any of these questions have you nodding in agreement, were here to inform you that this is not just you crying from cuteness overload, and in fact, you might be one of the 3 in 10 Americans who suffer from a pet allergy.

We know that finding a new home for Leonardo DiCatrio is not an option, so with todays blog post, were going to talk about simple things that you can do in your home to help reduce your allergy symptoms.

First, let’s start with the basics:

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The Best Medications For Cat Allergies Comparison Chart

Vetericyn Plus All Animal Antimicrobial Ophthalmic Gel

This gel contains the active ingredient hypochlorous acid and may help with burning, itching, and stinging. It is not recommended for use if the cornea is damaged.

• A Note About Steroids: Topical corticosteroids will not be prescribed if your cat has a corneal ulcer as this will make the eye condition worse and slow healing.

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Pet Allergies Tip : Change Your Environment

• Keep Your Bedroom Pet-Free. Something as simple as making your bedroom a pet-free sanctuary “can significantly decrease levels of allergens” in that space, says Alan Goldsobel, MD, a spokesman for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Goldsobel also suggest switching to special bedding designed to be less permeable to allergens.
• Consider a HEPA Filter. HEPA filters remove tiny airborne pollutants, like dust mites, pollen, and pet dander, from the air you breathe. “Dander is so airy and light that HEPA filters can filter it out of the air,” reducing your exposure, Chiu tells WebMD. Within a given area stand-alone filters are typically more effective than a whole-house HEPA system, Chiu adds. As for those air de-ionizers/purifiers often hawked on late-night infomercials, they may make allergies worse by releasing harmful ozone gas.
• Learn to Love Housework. “I try to vacuum the bedroom frequently and change furnace filters to reduce the dander in the air,” says Herrig. Other allergy sufferers tackle pet allergies by shampooing rugs regularly, changing people and pet bedding frequently, wiping down walls where pets rub, and dusting often. And to reduce the number of places where allergens can build up, Goldsobel suggests converting to hard-surface floor and minimizing the amount of upholstered furniture in your home

Continued

Signs Your Kitty Has Dermatitis

If your cat is suffering from dermatitis youll probably notice shes grooming the affected area obsessively. As Ive mentioned many times, cats are fastidious about keeping themselves clean, and often groom as a way of self soothing.

Take a close look at your kittys skin, paying close attention to areas around the face and feet. Itchy red spots that look similar to acne, or patches of dry scaly skin are common signs of dermatitis. Hair loss where your cat has been pulling at fur are also signs to watch for.

Scratching constantly at her ears and shaking her head are signs of either ear mites, an infection, or dermatitis. You may even notice discoloration in fur where your cat has been obsessively licking.

Take a look at your cats feet, especially between her toes, as this is a common area for dermatitis to develop. You may even have seen your kitty biting her toes as if trying to clean them.

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Help Your Cat Maintain A Healthy Weight

Obesity causes intestinal inflammation, which causes things to slow down in the intestines. Too much water is then absorbed from the stool, causing constipation. In severe cases, theres so much fat in the belly that it physically impedes movement of stools. Your vet can help you figure out if your cat needs to lose weight and work with you to create a diet plan.

Add Apple Cider Vinegar To Your Cats Water

Apple cider vinegar is an effective treatment for any kind of allergies in cats.

It has antibacterial and mild antibiotic properties that make it great for a wash that can remove irritants from your cats skin. In addition to removing allergens, it also boosts your cats immunity.

• Add ½ teaspoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to your cats water bowl.
• Another option is to mix ¼ teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into your cats food twice a day.
• Just mix apple cider vinegar and water in equal amounts and either spray or dab the mixture onto the problem areas.

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Step : Groom Your Cat

Bathing your cat is the first step to having a well-groomed pet. We know, we say bathe your cat, you hear start an apocalypse.

If your cat is extremely opposed to water, abort bathing and skip over this section for other grooming ideas.

If you are an allergy-sufferer and are wondering exactly how often to bathe a cat, its recommended that you bathe your cat once a month at the minimum, but every one or two weeks would be ideal. This is one of the best ways to remove dander from your home. Dont bathe your cat more frequently than that, however, because overbathing will most likely irritate your cats skin, causing them to produce even more dander.

If possible, start bathing your cat when they’re just a kitten so that they’ll be more used to the concept by the time they’re an adult.

To make things easier for you, we created a step-by-step tutorial on how to approach this aspect of grooming your kitty. Dont worry, this wont be Mission ImPAWsible .

How to bathe a cat :

How To Deal With Being Allergic To Cats

This article was medically reviewed by Alan O. Khadavi, MD, FACAAI. Dr. Alan O. Khadavi is a Board Certified Allergist and a Pediatric Allergy Specialist based in Los Angeles, California. He holds a BS in biochemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and an MD from the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. Dr. Khadavi completed his pediatric residency at Schneider Childrens Hospital in New York, and then went on to complete his allergy and immunology fellowship and pediatric residency at Long Island College Hospital. He is board certified in adult and pediatric allergy/immunology. Dr. Khadavi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, a Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology , and a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology . Dr. Khadavi’s honors include Castle Connollys list of Top Doctors 2013-2020, and Patient Choice Awards “Most Compassionate Doctor” in 2013 & 2014.There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 58,072 times.

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Cat Allergy And Newborns

If you are bringing home a newborn, keep your baby and cats apart for the first three months. Cats like soft cozy places to sleep, and babies sleep a lot in the beginning, so it is tempting for a cat to cuddle up in the bassinet. If your baby is premature , you need to be extra-careful to keep the cat away from your baby. A neonates immature lungs cannot cope with the irritating allergens produced by a cat.

Am I Allergic To My Cat

Before you suspect that you might be allergic to cats, it is worth mentioning that there are a number of things you could be allergic to. Dust mites, for example, or perhaps you have a case of seasonal hay fever? That said, cat allergies are one of the most common allergies in the UK, particularly for those who also have allergic asthma or hay fever. So how do you know if you are allergic to cats?

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Do Hypoallergenic Cats Actually Exist

The short answer? Not really. There is no evidence that there is such a thing as a hypoallergenic cat, Dr. Delgado told Apartment Therapy. What people are responding to is the presence of a protein Fel d1 and there is no selective breeding of cats based on the level of that protein in their saliva. While there is evidence that Russian Blue cats produce less glycoprotein Fel d 1, which is a trigger for cat allergies, their hypoallergenic status simply means they produce fewer allergens than other breeds

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that 3 in 10 people in the United States have allergic reactions to cats and dogs but cat allergies are about twice as common as allergies to dogs. This has to do with the fact that cats groom themselves regularly, while dogs do not: People with allergies are responding to a protein in cats saliva, and since cats groom themselves so much, the protein gets on their fur and dander, Dr. Delgado explains.

Reduce Allergens In The Home

If your cat has allergies to things other than food, the best thing you can do is get rid of some of the allergens in your home.

To do this, Dr. Wooten recommends installing a HEPA filter in your air ducts and using an air purifier.

Also, you should keep your bedding clean. Washing all bedding weekly with unscented shampoo helps, Dr. Wooten said. Also wash any blankets.

Dealing with your cats allergies might seem stressful, but its really not all that bad. There are so many different ways to treat the symptoms, and your veterinarian will help you and your cat every step of the way.

We independently pick all the products we recommend because we love them and think you will too. If you buy a product from a link on our site, we may earn a commission.

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Increase Exercise And Enrichment

Exercise can help promote normal movement of the intestines, which helps treat and prevent constipation. Encourage your cat to be more active with things like cat toys, cat trees, window seats, and more playtime with you. Exercise will also help provide enrichment and reduce your cats anxiety, and it will help with weight loss.

Can Being Allergic To Pets Kill You

Anaphylaxis is a rare but life-threatening allergic reaction, usually caused by things such as insect stings or food items and even pets. It is a sudden and severe allergic reaction that occurs within minutes of exposure and requires immediate medical attention. Without treatment, anaphylaxis can get worse very quickly and lead to death within 15 minutes.

When someone comes into contact with an allergen capable of causing anaphylaxis, they might experience symptoms such as:

• Face swelling

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Reduce Allergens In The Environment

At roughly 1/10th the size of a dust allergen, these microscopic particles become airborne and remain in the environment for up to 6 months after the cat is no longer in the area. Regular cleaning is a necessity for those with cat allergies. Here are a couple ways to make a big impact.

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Why Do You Have A Cat Allergy

Contrary to popular belief, the main culprit behind your allergies isnt your pets fur, its their dander. When you feel that familiar tickle in your throat, its the reaction of your immune system playing things safe and trying to fight off allergens. Every cat produces dander, so having a non-shedding cat or one deemed hypoallergenic will offer little relief for your allergy symptoms.

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Keeping Your Allergies Under Control

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