The Online Allergist

Published on Nov 22, 2011 with 2 comments

Do I have a cat allergy?

The allergens that cause cat allergies are among the strongest allergens on the face of the earth. This fact, combined with the fact that so many children and adults who have cat allergies have cats in their homes, makes for a most challenging situation.  It is very important that cat allergies be diagnosed and that maximum effort is exerted to minimize exposure in the home.  In addition to environmental control measures, some cat allergic symptoms can improve with medications.  Others respond extremely well to cat allergen immunotherapy, a process which desensitizes one to this very bothersome allergen.

Many people know that they have a cat allergy by the fact that their symptoms are precipitated or made worse when exposed to cats. This exposure can occur by breathing cat allergens or having direct contact.  But, for those individuals who cannot correlate their symptoms with exposure, allergy testing to cats is quite easy.  It can be diagnosed by a simple skin test or a blood test.

If someone in your family is allergic to your cat, do not sit idly by.  Be proactive and follow your allergist’s recommendations to totally eliminate exposure to your cat, especially in the bedroom.  If that is not possible, do all you can to reduce exposure to highly allergenic cat allergen in your home.  You can do this by making sure that you have pet allergy control products such as a pet vacuum, pet air purifier, and pet allergy shampoos. By using these products and following the steps outlined in our cat allergy article,  you can create a healthier and allergen-free environment for you and your entire family.

Read More about pet allergies here.