Let’s face it: cats are adorable, fluffy little creatures that can bring immense joy to our lives. But sometimes, they also come with a side of sneezes and itchy eyes.
Yes, I’m talking about cat allergies! If you’re one of the many people who love their feline friends but find yourself battling the sniffles, don’t worry.
We’re diving deep into understanding cat allergies—what causes them and how to manage them effectively.
1. What Causes Cat Allergies?
By the way, have you ever wondered why some people can cuddle with cats all day while others start sounding like a congested foghorn after just five minutes?
It turns out that cat allergies are primarily caused by proteins found in cat saliva, skin, and urine. When your kitty grooms itself (which is basically an Olympic sport for cats), those proteins get transferred onto its fur.
And guess what? When the fur sheds or gets airborne, it can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Honestly, I think it’s fascinating how something so tiny can cause such big reactions! These allergens can linger in the air for quite a while, making life miserable for allergy sufferers.
Interestingly enough, even if you don’t own a cat but visit someone who does—or even walk past a cat on the street—you could still be affected by these pesky proteins.
Now let’s not forget about dander! This fine dust made up of dead skin cells is another major culprit behind cat allergies.
For those of us who might be wondering if we can escape this dilemma by getting a hairless breed—think again! Even Sphynx cats produce allergens; they just do it without all that fur flying around.
2. Symptoms of Cat Allergies
Since now we understand what makes one allergic to some substances, let us come to the signs and symptoms because it says a lot about love for a pet when one goes through itchy eyes with a runny nose.
The major features include sneezing, coughing, nasal obstruction, and itching and watering of the eyes. With exposure to the pet, some individuals may also have skin rash or hives.
All in all, these issues can be as bothersome as feeling one’s nose is stuffed up to cause breathing difficulties similar to sucking on a straw – which is definitely questionable as one seeks to cuddle with one’s cat during when watching a movie.
Strangely enough, many people are completely unaware that they are allergic until they’ve spent a few days around a cat or two.
It’s quite ironic how someone can be having a cheerful day out with their latest find and come back to remove all the tissues after literally overdosing on anti-histamines because it seems like they’re best friends now.
On that note – if you look forward to getting tested for allergies because you think you may never had been before then, getting a check up from an allergist may bring new material for your over dramatic autobiography.
They will more likely help determine whether the significant distress and uncomfort caused to you was because of the furry animals or merely because there was pollen or mites in your house because you can never have one allergy which is why I have 5.
3. How To Deal with Cat Allergies
In relation to the last topic, we’ve looked at the cause of the allergy and the impact caused by it, the big question now is: how can this allergy be dealt with? First of all – the positive side is that there exist ways to avoid encountering an allergy while keeping Mr. Whiskers in your house.
To be fair the reciprocation might require some changes on your part (do not sweat, it will be worth it!). Start by temporarily relocating your pets in a space, away from the house, where they are banned from sharing with you — bedrooms or even lounges where you do quite a bit of resting.
On the other hand, pet owners will argue that their beloved pets do an amazing job putting fur everywhere! Cutting back the hair that circulates in the home and covering the floors and chairs by going for routine hair removal appointments might help. To be quite frank, it is also a great way to bond. During these sessions brushes which aid in lowering dander might be useful.
Also think about acquiring high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters at your residence, these amazing inventions help a lot by removing allergens from the air and in return allows you to enjoy the company of your cat without having to deal with a stuffed nose.
4. Permanent Solutions
In the end, let’s tackle permanent solutions because there are those ready to contend with the symptoms of cat allergies but do not want to be forlorn when it comes to friends for instance there are burgeoning markets for hypoallergenic cat breeds, which are purported to be less allergy inducing because they are not traditional felines however there are no guarantees too.
Some people by the way successfully battle it out as well through waiting and taking prescribed immunotherapy from their doctors.
This is why Kavitha compared it to training yourself not to laugh at the same joke after hearing it post numerous times, the reason why so is because the purpose is to reduce the overall response of an individual towards an allergen by gradually making him/her used to the particular allergen.
Among the medically available today that might help include medications that deal with allergy symptoms, you could also look into lifestyle alterations like frequent washing hands after touching pets followed by daily cleaning of areas that you occupy.
Last but not the least: the art of finding love for our kitties unconditionally whilst managing sadness caused by allergies is about patience, however do not lose heart as it is all worth every ounce of pain in the neck when you get to cuddle together and watch Netflix all day under the warmest thick blanket watching your favorite shows.
Suggested Resources:
Understanding Cat Allergies
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-allergies
Cat Allergy Treatment Options
https://www.healthline.com/health/cat-allergy-treatment
How To Live with a Cat Allergy
https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/how-live-cat-allergy