ALLERGIES TO CATS

For people who experience allergic reactions to their pets, understanding why
the body's immune system causes the sneezing, watery eyes, and itching
provide tips that may lessen or even avoid the discomfort many pet owners feel.
According to Dr. Karen Campbell, a small animal veterinarian at the
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Urbana, the bad news
is that some people are genetically predisposed to develop allergies.
Familial atopy, says Dr. Campbell, is the tendency to develop allergies
inherited from one's parents. With this condition, antibodies are made that
bind to mast cells in the person's airway. When the right stimulus comes
along (what scientists call an antigen, or more specifically, an allergen),
it binds to the antibody, telling the mast cell to dump its contents, causing
the asthmatic attack. A similar process occurs in the skin of some
individuals, producing redness and itching.
The reason why people can acquire a new pet and not experience any of these
symptoms until much later is due to the time required to produce these
antibodies. Dr. Campbell says it can take anywhere from three weeks to three
years for the body to build up enough of the exact same antibody so that an
allergen can cross-link two identical antigens. This cross-linkage is the
signal to mast cells to spill their contents.
While all this may seem discouraging, the good news is that some people can
develop a lack of reactivity to the allergen following continued exposure, or
through allergen immunotherapy (desensitization).
People are not allergic to their pet per se, but to products of their pet.
These include dander, hair or skin proteins, fur, saliva, blood, and even
urine from rodents. In order to determine what exactly a person is allergic
to, Dr. Campbell advises pet owners to see an allergy specialist. These
allergists will perform prick, scratch, or intradermal skin tests that
examine reactivity to as many as 70-80 possible allergens.
Once the person knows what he or she is allergic to, a specific plan of
action can prevent the need to get rid of a pet, if the pet is indeed the
cause of the reaction.

 

If you are allergic to cats, dogs, or other animals, you may

be able to get your allergies under control with little effort!


Dander (old skin scales which are constantly shed) is usually the main cause of

allergic problems. Dander collects in the carpets, upholstered furniture and bedding.

It is a myth that shorthaired animals or specific breeds will not cause allergic reactions.
First, make sure it's really your animal you're allergic to. Researchers at the

University of British Columbia found that only one-half to two-thirds of children

who tested positive for allergies to dogs or cats were actually allergic to them.
The main reservoirs of cat allergens are carpets, drapes, upholstered furniture,

mattresses, walls, and ceilings, which catch dust and dander. Buy inexpensive vinyl

encasing for mattress and box springs, and minimize upholstered furniture.

Wash walls, ceilings, blankets, curtains, and throw pillows regularly.
Carpets hold 100 times more allergen than non-porous flooring. Consider

replacing carpets with something else (tile, wood, linoleum, or scatter rugs

that can be taken up and washed), especially in rooms you spend a lot of

time in, such as the bedroom. If you must have carpets, spray them with a

product containing nontoxic tannic acid, which helps combat the effects of cat allergens.
Increase your vacuum cleaner's filtration abilities by using special filter replacement

bags that help trap particles. Or look for a vacuum cleaner that has a high allergen

containment rating. A vacuum cleaner with a high energy particulate air (HEPA)

filter is the best kind to prevent indoor allergens.
Declare your bedroom off limits to animals by closing the door at all times.

Provide them with their own comfortable beds and blankets instead.
After petting your animal, wash your hands before touching your eyes or face.
If possible, have non-allergic people groom and bathe the animal and clean the

litter box. Grooming should be done in a well-ventilated area, like a patio or

screened porch.
Beware of dusty or deodorized cat litter, which can be as allergenic as the cat.
An air purifier will help rid the air of allergens. Look for a HEPA (high-efficiency

particulate air) filter room air cleaner, which removes almost 100 percent of

small allergenic particles. Free-standing cleaners are better than the small,

table-top filters. Remember to replace the filters often.
Keep ducts, furnaces, and air conditioner filters clean.
Deinsulate your house. Researchers found that a "two-cat super-insulated

home--one with every crack closed tight and windows triple-glazed in the

name of energy efficiency--had nearly 40 times more cat allergen by weight

than an ordinary two-cat home." Circulate air in the house by opening windows

every day.
Healthy animals produce less dander. Feed them a high-quality diet twice a day.
Be thorough in cleaning: Search out dust, mold, animal hair. People are rarely

allergic to just animals; if you're allergic to an animal, you're probably also

allergic to other substances like dust, pollens, or mold. By decreasing other

irritants, you'll reduce your overall symptoms.
Avoid tobacco smoke, automobile exhaust, and other irritants that can

inflame your airways.
New medications can make living with allergies and animals much more comfortable.

There are a wide variety of nasal sprays, antihistamines, decongestants,

and inhalers that can help control allergy symptoms.

Your allergist can help you choose the right medication for you.
New immunotherapy or allergy shots are more effective than ever. Studies show

that immunotherapy can now be effective in about 80 percent of cases.

(Immunotherapy induces a tolerance to cat allergen by gradually increasing the dose.)

Talk to your doctor for more information.
Certain nutritional supplements and herbs can also minimize an allergic response,

among them: vitamins A, B6, C, and E; quercetin, a bioflavonoid; flax seed oil,

which contains omega-3 fatty acids; MSM (methylsulfonylmethane); and gingko.

(13) Check with a holistic health care practitioner for specifics.
Study reveals that exposure to 2 or more dogs or cats in the first year of life

may reduce subsequent risk of allergic sensitization to multiple allergens during

childhood. (Journal of the American Medical Association)

Resources:
Sources of allergy control devices and supplies:
Allergy Control Products
800-422-DUST
Bio-Tech HealthSystems
800-621-5545
National Allergy Supply
800-522-1448