5 Best Tips For Managing Allergies To Cats

5 Best Tips For Managing Allergies To Cats

Ach-oo! Do you have a cat allergy? Or perhaps your partner, child or housemate does and you feel that this is preventing you from getting the cute furry pet you have always dreamed of. Allergies to cats do not need to get in the way of your relationship with cuddly felines! Read on to get some hot tips on managing allergies to cats.

What causes allergies to cats?

The answer may surprise you. Many people think that cat allergies are caused by cat fur, but in fact this is not the case. Rather, it is the protein in cats urine saliva and dander (dander is the name for dried flakes of skin) that cause the allergy. The symptoms of cat allergies include an itchy throat, a runny nose, and swollen reddened eyes – not much fun, huh? These symptoms are due to your immune system over-reacting to the aforementioned proteins. If you want the technical name for these proteins, the most common is referred to as ‘Fel d 1’.

Experts estimate that cat allergies are twice as common as allergies to dogs. But, for many people, cats are way more than twice as cute as dogs! What can you do? Well, there are several options for ensuring that those pesky proteins don’t stop you enjoying all of the kitty hugs you want…

Hypoallergenic cats

Yes, you heard right: some cat breeds are considered hypoallergenic. That is because certain breeds of cat simply produce less of those proteins associated with allergies. So, if you have an allergy to regular cats but still want a kitty around the home, you can simply opt for one of these breeds. Luckily, the hypoallergenic cat breeds include some of the most majestic and elegant kitties you have ever seen.

Hypoallergenic cat breeds include: Bengal cats, the Russian Blue, the Oriental Shorthair and the Burmese, Siberian and Balinese cats. If you want a cat that sounds like a dinosaur but is also hypoallergenic then may I recommend the Devon Rex or the Cornish Rex?

If you have a very strong cat allergy, you may still get a slight reaction from these cat breeds, but it will generally be much less strong than the reaction you would get with a cat breed that is not considered hypoallergenic.

Good hygiene

Cat urine is a big source of allergens, so one way to manage your cat allergy is simply to practice good hygiene. Train your kitties to go to the bathroom out in the yard and you won’t have any of that irritating protein hanging around the sandbox. If your cats simply must have a sandbox indoors, get a member of the household who does not suffer from a cat allergy to clean it regularly. Place the sandbox well away from where you humans spend most of your time (for instance in the basement or the spare room).

As all tom cat owners know, as male kittens grow up they start to spray urine wherever they can. Whilst for them this is an important way of marking their territory, for people who suffer from cat allergies it is a nightmare. Having your male kitten neutered as soon as possible (make sure to consult with your veterinarian about what might be an appropriate age) will help to rid them of this habit (often overnight, just like magic!).

Medication

If you need to, you can always have medication on hand for when your cat allergies get bad. Often, these allergies will go in cycles, and you will have long periods of feeling fine before your allergy flares up for a while. As long as you are only using the medication to deal with momentary flare ups (rather than relying on it all the time) it can be an appropriate way to deal with your allergy.

Simply don’t get too close

Keeping your distance from cats is probably the simplest way of managing an allergy to felines. Learn what works for you, and how long you can cuddle with a kitty without starting to sneeze. Or, just wash your hands as soon as you have petted your cat to rid your skin of dander.

So there you have it. Cat allergies can be inconvenient, but if you know how to manage them you can enjoy a rewarding friendship with your furry companion!

Meow for now… Kristian Taylor

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