How You and Your Feline Can Cope With Cat Alergies

When most people think of cat allergies or allergies to other animals, they think of the fur that flies everywhere as the cats or dogs shed. The real allergy danger, however, is not from the fur itself, but from the particles of skin or saliva that might be clinging to those free hairs. Cat allergies are actually caused by an allergic reaction to a cat glycoprotein known as Fel d 1.

The reactions to Fel d 1 vary in range and severity, but tend to include symptoms like coughing and wheezing, a tightening of the chest, itching, rashes, watery eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing, and similar typical symptoms of cat allergies. You might be tempted, but shaving your cat bald will not get rid of the dander in the air that is actually causing you to suffer.

For some people with severe cat allergies, the only solution is to get rid of the offending substance in the air by getting rid of the animals that cause the allergies in the first place. For many of us, however, our cats are a beloved part of our lives or the lives of those who are close to us, and getting rid of the cat is simply not an option.

This means that dealing with our cat allergies becomes a priority in the lives of many people all over the world. One way to cope is to avoid contact as much as possible with the offending animal. You might not be able to escape the house in which the cat lives, but you can manage your cat allergies by avoiding touching the cat, and by washing your hands after you have made contact. Be extra careful not to touch your face until you've cleaned your hands or you could be transferring the allergens right into your most sensitive areas!

Allergens can also accumulate in the house, so if you have cat allergies, then the best strategy is to stay away from textiles! Leather furniture and hardwood floors in the home versus cloth couches and carpets can provide fewer places for allergens to hide out when you are trying to keep the home clean. We know it is difficult, but try to keep any cats off of beds and other places where your face comes into close contact, and minimize or remove drapes entirely.

Barring the cat from your room can help if you suffer from cat allergies, as can barring the cat from the house altogether, allowing your (fixed, please) cat to become an outdoors animal. If you are still having problems with your cat allergies, check with your doctor. You may have been misdiagnosed, or you may simply need more aggressive treatment. In those cases, a shot given periodically can help you to reduce your reactions.

No matter how you choose to cope with your cat allergies, keep in mind that they can be made worse by exposure to other things to which you are allergic. Adding one more thing to the mix means that your reactions will be that much worse.