what are the symptoms of being allergic to cats

Cat Allergies

Life with cat allergies -- whether they're yours or a family member's -- can enhance a lot of questions. Could a true cat allergy explain your son's never-catastrophe common cold symptoms? Volition you regret giving in to your daughter's demands for a kitten, despite your allergies? Will a so-called hypoallergenic cat permit you to have the pet you've always wanted without making you a sneezing, sniffling mess?

Read on to learn what you demand to know near cat allergies, from causes to treatments to avoidance.

What Causes Cat Allergies?

About ten% of the U.Southward. population has pet allergies and cats are among the most common culprits. True cat allergies are twice as common as domestic dog allergies. Simply opposite to what you might think, it'southward not the fur or hair that's the real trouble. People with cat allergies are really allergic to proteins in the cat's saliva, urine, and dander (dried flakes of pare).

How do these tiny proteins crusade such a big allergic reaction in the trunk? People with allergies take oversensitive immune systems. Their bodies error harmless things -- similar true cat dander -- for dangerous invaders, and assail them every bit they would leaner or viruses. The symptoms of the allergy are the side effects of your torso'due south assault on the allergen, or trigger.

Keep in mind that fifty-fifty if you don't have an actual true cat allergy, your true cat can however indirectly crusade your allergies to flare up. Outside cats tin can bring in pollen, mold, and other allergens on their fur.

And what most so-called "hypoallergenic" cats? While some breeds -- similar the "hairless" sphinx -- are said to exist less likely to trigger symptoms of cat allergies than others, any cat has the potential to crusade issues. This is true regardless of its breed, hair length, or how much it sheds. So if you know that you or another family member is allergic to cats, getting i -- no matter what the brood -- is not a practiced idea.

What Are the Symptoms of Cat Allergies?

Symptoms of cat allergies can include:

• cough and wheezing
• hives or a rash on the chest and face
• red, itchy eyes
• redness of the skin where a cat has scratched, bitten, or licked you lot
• runny, itchy, stuffy nose
• sneezing

Symptoms of a cat allergy might develop in just a few minutes or take hours to appear. About xx% to 30% of people with allergic asthma take astringent flare-ups subsequently coming in contact with a cat.

How Do I Know if I Have a True cat Allergy?

Although the symptoms of a true cat allergy may seem adequately obvious, it's not e'er the cat that causes them. It'southward a skilful idea to get confirmation from your doctor. After all, you wouldn't want to blame Mr. Whiskers unjustly.

Your dr. tin can do a peel or blood exam to come across if you're allergic. Still, allergy tests aren't always right; the doctor may also want yous to attempt living without a cat for a few months to see how information technology affects your allergy symptoms.

How Are Cat Allergies Treated?

True cat allergies tin unremarkably be controlled with standard allergy drugs. Your doctor might recommend:

• Antihistamines, which are available over-the-counter -- like cetirizine (Zyrtec), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine ( Allegra), and loratadine (Claritin); or some antihistamines such equally azelastine (Astelin) come in a nasal spray
• Decongestants, similar over-the-counter pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) or allergy drugs that contain the ingredient pseudoephedrine such as Allegra-D, Claritin-D, or Zyrtec-D

  Nasal steroid sprays, which touch allergy or asthma symptoms in various ways; steroid sprays are a common treatment for allergies. Budesonide (Rhinocort), fluticasone (Flonase), and triamcinolone (Nasacort Allergy 24HR) are steroid sprays that are bachelor over the counter.

Allergy shots are some other option. Allergy shots are not e'er effective, and completing treatment can take years. They're besides non used for children under age five. Simply they can exist a huge help to some people. Ask your doctor if they make sense for y'all.

Unfortunately, there's no manner to foreclose an allergy. Some studies have shown that exposure to pets as a young child seems to reduce the risk of developing pet allergies later. On the other hand, a child who already has allergic tendencies may get worse with exposure to a pet.

Reducing Exposure to Cats

While medical treatment can aid control cat allergies, the best approach is simple: avoid cats and their dander. Hither are some tips.

• Don't affect, hug, or buss cats. It should be obvious, merely some people call back a footling cat contact is OK. It isn't.
• Beware of visitors who own cats. Even if your house guests leave their cats at dwelling, they can bring the dander with them on their article of clothing and luggage. This indirect exposure tin cause serious cat allergy symptoms in some people.
• Programme. If y'all have to stay in a business firm with cats, ask that the cat be kept out of the room in which you will slumber for a few weeks before you arrive. Too, beginning taking allergy medication a few weeks beforehand. Once an allergic reaction gets started, it can be tough to control. But taking medicine can forestall it from happening in the first place.

But what if yous already own a true cat? Here's the most sensible communication: if yous or a family fellow member has cat allergies, y'all shouldn't accept a cat in the domicile.

Of course, such harsh advice may not be piece of cake to follow. What if your kids have already fallen in love with a kitten? What if you intended to never, always part with your cat? If the cat has to stay, at that place are other things y'all can endeavour.

• Continue your altitude. Limit exposure to the cat. Certainly, another family member should accept responsibility for the cat's care and practise things similar cleaning the litter box.
• Restrict the true cat to certain sections of the house. Don't allow your cat to roam free. Go along the cat out of your bedroom at all times.
• Keep the true cat outdoors as much as possible. That's how some people get around their cat allergies. Yet, brand sure your cat is safe exterior.
• Clean rigorously and ofttimes. True cat dander gets everywhere. So you demand to sweep and mop the floors, vacuum the rugs, and make clean furniture regularly. Make sure to get a vacuum with a HEPA filter, because regular filters may non be fine plenty to grab allergens. Get rid of carpets and drapes that can trap dander.
• Clear the air. A fundamental air cleaner -- besides as filters on the vents themselves -- can help prevent cat dander from circulating through the house.
• Consider bathing your cat on a regular basis. Experts aren't certain if bathing actually helps reduce the amount of allergen. But if it doesn't traumatize the cat besides badly, yous could try it and run across if it reduces symptoms.

While these techniques might help, they may not be enough. As hard equally it might be, if keeping your cat is putting your health -- or a family member's health -- at risk, you take to consider giving it up.

Whatever you do, don't assume that you can only wait information technology out, that true cat allergies will naturally go better over time. They might very well get worse. Out-of-control allergies can exercise more than brand life miserable -- they tin increase the adventure of asthma, which is a serious disease.

And so don't ignore the signs of cat allergies. Instead, see a doctor. Together, you lot can figure out the best style to tackle the trouble.

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Source: https://www.webmd.com/allergies/cat-allergies

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