What is the real cause of cat allergies?

Question

i LOVE cats, but i'm ridiculously allergic to them. my nose gets stuffy, i cant stop sneezing, and my eyes itch and are totally bloodshot when i start rubbing them. what is the REAL cause of cat allergies though? i take allergy medication, but sometimes it doesnt even help. i'm similarly the same way around dogs, but not nearly as badly as i am with cats...any genuine information?

Answer 1

pet dander?

Answer 2

As with most animal allergies the allergen is usually the cat dander, or shed skin cells it is an allergic reaction to cat glycoprotein Fel d 1 secreted by the cat's sebaceous glands on to the skin. Unfortunately, for significant allergies, antihistamines alone are often insufficient. Desensitisation is back on the table again these days and may be considered in specialist hands. It vanished as a management for years due to the risks of death due to anaphalaxis. The alternative is to use preventative eye drops and nasal spays or simply avoidance.

Answer 3

I always thought that people were allergic to a cat's dander (skin cells and hair).

I am only allergic to certain cats. I have a cat at home and I am fine with him but one of my friends cats makes me itchy and sneezy and have a really runny nose. I think its his flea collar.

Answer 4

The real cause of cat allergies can be one of two sources: dander or saliva. I myself am allergic to cats, but own one. Be sure you wash your hands immediately after petting any cat and never touch your eyes until you have done so. Cat dander can stay in carpet for up to 20 days after removing the animal from the area and the dander can stay in the air for hours.  It is important to keep your cat from your bedroom and vacuum regularly. Get a HEPA air purifier and keep a clean home. If antihistamines are not enough, your doctor can try some nasal sprays. If they are bad enough, you may want to consider allergy testing and allergy shots.

Answer 5

Cat allergies are cause but a substance inside the cat's saliva. Since cats clean themselves with their tongues, their fur and skin can greatly affect a person's response to their allergen. You're probably more sensitive to this substance then the allergen in dog saliva, since they do not l**k/wash themselves.