You may think nothing makes a sweeter holiday gift than a tiny kitten, tumbling over itself as it plays or purrs on your lap. But before you choose between tabby or calico, consider your family’s allergy and asthma history.
Cat dander is a potent allergen, and people who already have environmental or pet allergies personally — or have a family history of environmental or pet allergies — are at increased risk of developing an allergy to cats. If that’s you, the more time you spend around a cat, especially in close quarters like your home, the more likely you are to develop an allergy to it.
The allergen is so sticky it travels with you, too. You can pick it up just being around a cat owner. Researchers have found traces of cat allergen in homes that have never had a cat — and even on remote islands without cats. For this reason, allergists treat cat allergens as a normal part of house dust.
Every person’s immune system is different, however — even within families. What a parent or child is allergic to — how and when they develop an allergy and what their symptoms are — may be very different from others.
What about babies? Does early exposure to pets help or hinder allergies? Research results are mixed, largely because immune systems respond differently to a wide range of biological and environmental factors. But most studies show early cat allergen exposure will worsen allergies, as opposed to dogs.
[See: Is it Healthy to Sleep With Your Pets?]
Here’s what you need to know about cat allergy:
— It’s not just about the fur — animal allergen proteins are found in skin flakes, urine and saliva. That means there are no hypoallergenic cats — even the odd-looking hairless sphinx ones.
— Cat allergens are small enough to invade the tiniest airways of the lungs, which is what makes them so dangerous to those with asthma or other respiratory diseases.
— Cat allergens are very sticky and easily carried on people’s clothes. This can be a problem in schools and other places where children are in close contact with each other. It also means that simply keeping a cat out of your bedroom won’t solve the problem, as the allergens can be carried in on clothes and blankets.
— Cat allergens have been found in homes that have never had a cat, so many allergists treat it as common house dust.
— Cat allergy symptoms include runny nose and congestion; itchy, watery eyes; and cough. Some patients get skin rashes. Symptoms may appear as soon as you are near a cat, or emerge hours after exposure. Those with asthma and cat allergy risk triggering an asthma flare.
— Try to control symptoms with nasal washes, antihistamines, eye drops or a corticosteroid nasal spray. Talk with your doctor if you know you’re going to be temporarily exposed to a friend or relative’s cat; it may be helpful to take allergy medications in advance.
— Allergy shots (immunotherapy) are quite successful at treating and curing pet allergy, but it takes a few years to reach maximum response.
[See: 8 Surprising Facts About Asthma and Seasonal Allergies.]
How to reduce cat allergens in your home:
— Keep the cat out of the bedroom and off upholstered furniture as much as possible. Change into and wear pajamas only inside the bedroom to avoid carrying allergens from the family room into your bed.
— Wash your hands after touching the cat. Washing the cat may not be worth the trauma; research is mixed.
— Select throw rugs that can be washed in hot water, and launder them regularly.
— Vacuum frequently. Use a HEPA-filtered vacuum on furniture and floors and HEPA air cleaner in the bedroom. Be aware that the sticky proteins are difficult to remove entirely.
— Give the litter-box cleaning chore to someone without allergy.
— Encase your mattress and pillows with allergy-proof covers to protect you from cat allergens that may already have gotten into bedding.
[See: How to Survive Ragweed Allergy Season.]
Some allergen-reducing techniques are worth trying if you already have a cat and can’t bear to give it away — but the easiest way to avoid cat allergy is not to get one in the first place.
Purvi Parikh, MD, is an allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network, the leading nonprofit patient education organization for people with allergies, asthma and related conditions. She practices in New York City at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Murray Hill and New York University School of Medicine. She sits on the Board of Directors for the advocacy council of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).
More from U.S. News
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7 Ways Pets Can Make You Healthier
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Cat Allergy: What to Consider Before Bringing a Kitten Home for the Holidays originally appeared on usnews.com
