Have you tried being in a place with cats, but you are very tired in their presence? You may be suffering from Cat allergy With which it is necessary to stay away from cats completely, learn about the symptoms of this allergy and methods of treatment.

What is an allergy to cats and its causes?

Allergy to cats It is a type of allergy to pets in general, but contrary to what you expect, cat hair and fur are not the cause of this allergy, but what actually causes allergies is the presence of a certain protein in the saliva and urine of cats and their dry dander that is present on the surface of the skin. This protein is what causes you fumbling.

The reason for your exposure to this allergy is your highly sensitive immune system, which treats cat dander and the protein in it as a foreign body that must be fought, such as viruses and bacteria, and thus attacks these proteins as soon as they come into contact with you, causing your allergic reaction to appear.

You should keep in mind that you may not be particularly allergic to cats, but you may develop an allergic reaction in their presence if you are allergic to pollen or allergic to mildew that cat dander can carry.

Cat allergy symptoms

You may be surprised that you may have an allergic reaction even when you are not near cats, because cat dander and their fur can stick to the clothes of people who deal with them, and when you are next to these people, you may have some symptoms, but there are Signs of cat allergy When you are exposed to urine and saliva nearby, which are:

• Swelling and itching appear in the membranes around the nose and eyes.
• Runny nose.
• sneeze.
• The flow of tears.
• Rash on the face, neck and chest.
• Fatigue may persist and a cough may occur with persistent runny nose in the absence of treatment.

Allergens can reach the lungs, causing shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing Asthma crisis Or it may cause asthma in the long term.

Cat allergies are not supposed to cause other symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, chills, or fever, so if you have these symptoms, it could be another health problem.

Is cat allergy dangerous?

Although the risk of cat allergy is rare and does not occur with complications, swelling of the tongue, throat, and mouth may occur in severe cases of allergy that require an emergency visit.

Diagnosis of cat allergy

There are two types of tests that can detect an allergy to cats as follows:

Cat allergy skin test

Where the doctor puts a drop of the allergen in cats on the surface of the skin in the arm or back, then pricks the skin with a thin needle until the skin absorbs the substance, after that the doctor will monitor the skin reaction to this substance for 15 or 20 minutes, if it appears A rash or redness in the test area may confirm the diagnosis, and this rash usually disappears after 30 minutes.

You should know that this test is done using other types of allergens as well, so that the doctor is sure of the type of allergy you have.

blood test

Some people cannot undergo a skin test for one reason or another, so a blood sample is taken to look for antibodies to the allergen in cats.

Cat allergy treatment

After the doctor confirms that you have allergies, the doctor will prescribe some treatments that help get rid of allergy symptoms, including:

Cat allergy medication

Cat allergy

Allergy injections may be a method of treatment, but they are not effective alone and must be taken with other treatments and may be ineffective for some people, and may also last for years until they have an effect, and they should not be given to children under 5 years.

Prevention of cat allergies

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent pet allergies in general, and there are no vaccines, but the best way not to have an allergic reaction is to stay away as much as possible from cats and not deal with them, but if you must be in a place with cats, do the following:

• Never touch, kiss or hug the cat.
• You should be wary of visitors who have a cat, even if they leave it at home, because they may carry the allergen in their clothing.
• If someone in your family has a cat at home, be sure to determine its whereabouts and prevent it from roaming freely in the house.
• The house should always be cleaned regularly from stuck lint and places where cat saliva may be present.
• Keep the house well ventilated.

Despite all this, there is no guarantee that you will not develop an allergy because it may be difficult not to be exposed to cats if they are in the same place, so it is always best not to try to get a cat if you or someone in your family is allergic to it, and if it is If you have any questions about cat allergies, you can consult one of our doctors here.