Cat Allergy — a fairly common phenomenon.
According to statistics, cats cause people to have allergic reactions more often than any other animals. Most people mistakenly believe that direct allergen is cat hair, but it is not so.
What, in fact, is allergic to cats?
In reality, allergic reactions in humans provokes a specific type of protein produced by the cat’s body. Together with saliva, this protein is distributed throughout the body of the animal during washing (and cats are known to wash very often). In contact with the human skin in most cases, this protein is destroyed by the immune system, however, people with allergies, as you know, her work is disturbed and starts a reaction with release of histamine — that is, in fact, called allergic.
How does Allergy to cats?
As many may have noticed, most types of allergies have similar symptoms, namely:
– lacrimation and redness of the eye;
– skin rash;
– sneezing;
– nasal congestion / allergic rhinitis;
is a dry cough.
Cat Allergy is no exception. These symptoms familiar to anyone with allergies to cats. In addition, it is worth noting that some people also experiencing shortness of breath. It was found that people with asthma experience a worsening of condition through contact with cats.
You’re allergic to?
Before giving your pet “in good hands”, make sure, is it true You are allergic to the cat. If You are plagued by the above symptoms, consult your doctor-allergist. By far the most accurate method of diagnosis of allergic diseases is a method of skin Allergy tests. You will also need to take a blood test on the subject of the increased amount of eosinophils.
How to get rid of allergies to cats?
Of course, the most effective way to get rid of allergies to cats — give Your pet (friends/relatives/just good people). But what if the love of the cat is too strong? You can try to fight allergies. Here are some simple tips that will help You to get along with the cat if You have allergies.
As often as possible hold wet cleaning in the apartment and not allow the accumulation of wool. Yes, even though the wool is, as we already know, is not an allergen, it accumulates the same allergenic protein.
Do not come into close contact with the animal, keep your distance. Yes, it can be hard if you stay in the same apartment, but it is possible to try.
Isolate the bedroom from the cats. Try to maximally protect the sleeper from falling hair.
After contact with a cat, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Often bathe your dog (but possibly leave it to other family members). Frequent water treatments, though not like cats, but will help remove excess protein in the animal’s coat and get rid of the shedding coat.
Get rid of carpets. Carpets and other “dust collectors” great accumulate pet hair, which is pretty hard to clean.
What else can you do?
To facilitate the running of any allergies and eliminate unpleasant symptoms is usually prescribed to take antihistamines. To date, the pharmaceutical market is quite a lot of them, and choose to help the doctor. It is not necessary to self-medicate, consult with a specialist. In some cases, prescribe and stronger drugs on the basis of corticosteroids, however, leave this question to the doctors.
Remember that there are breeds of cats that do not cause allergies. Even those that do not have hair, still emit a protein that is the allergen. Some scholars, however, believe that cats with the color white are less “allergenic”. As the famous cartoon cat “let’s live together”, that is, not to chase cats on the street, but not suffer from the symptoms of allergies.
