For years, parents believed that young children living with cats and dogs at home were at
greater risk of becoming allergic later in life. Not so, say scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases. In a study of more than 450 children, those with two or more cats and/or dogs during their first
year of life were half as likely to have allergic sensitivity at age 6 or 7 as were children who had no pets. They
also were less likely to be sensitive to dust mites, ragweed and grass. When kids inhale or come in contact with substances in pets'
saliva and stool, their immune systems are activated to resist a host of common allergy triggers. This may explain why those who grow up in
fastidiously clean homes develop more allergies.
The bad news is that thousands of cats become homeless each year when their families give them up due to allergies. Allergies are the #1 reason
given by people who return an adopted cat to Cat Haven – sometimes years later due to an addition to the family who exhibits signs of allergies.
If you or a member of your family has allergy problems, the cause may be your cat; however, there are many things you come in contact with that could also be the source of the problem.
These may include household dust and molds, feathers, cigarette smoke, pesticide spray, household cleaners etc. Therefore, don’t give up your cat so quickly. It is important
to find a good doctor who will look for the causes of the allergy and not automatically advise “getting rid of the cat” as the first step.
In the case of pet allergy, the hair isn’t the cause, it is the cat’s dander (dandruff) and saliva (which is transferred to the fur during grooming).
Once you determine the cat is one of the causes of the allergy problem, there are steps that can be taken to allow the cat to retain its place in your household and heart - if you can
minimize the non-cat allergens in the air you breathe and control the cat-oriented allergens, your body may be able to tolerate the presence of a cat:
Keep your home as clean of allergens as you can, with an emphasis on the bedroom areas, where much of the family’s time is spent. Consider not allowing the cat in the bedrooms.
Clean or change air conditioning filters on a regular basis. Use air purifiers.
Minimize the use of rugs and fabrics in the home - washable surfaces such as tile or wood floors and venetian blinds are easier to keep allergen-free.
Use special non-allergenic pillows.
Use unscented clay litter instead of scented litter and pour litter slowly into the pan to keep dust at a minimum. If possible, have someone in the household without allergies do the vacuuming
and litter box cleaning. If this is not an option, wear a pollen mask, which can be obtained from a local drug store.
The cat should be combed/brushed daily to control shedding. A coat conditioner should be added to its food to help prevent dry skin and reduce shedding. Coat conditioners can be
purchased from pet supply stores or your veterinarian.
Bathe your cat about every six weeks. Use a veterinarian-approved shampoo and rinse the cat very well. Towel off the excess water when the pet is in the tub or sink. Then saturate the coat
with a solution that is one part fabric softener, such as Downy, and at least four parts water. Work it into the coat and do not rinse off. This solution coats the hair and skin, and keeps the
dander down. You can also put a light coating of Downy fabric softener on the cat daily. Apply a small amount of a Downy to a wet cloth and rub it over the cat.
Prescription drugs and homeopathic remedies have had varying degrees of success for people suffering from allergies. Please ask your doctor about prescription drugs for pet allergies.
Very often, people build up a “resistance” to their own pets and find that their allergy problems decrease as time passes. While you are working at
cleaning the air in your home environment, your body is probably also working toward an adjustment. If you are willing to invest some time and effort, it may be possible to avoid the trauma of
giving up a beloved pet due to family members suffering from allergies.
Some of this information comes from the Cat Care Society website, which used The Associated Humane Societies, Inc. and Cat Fancy as references.
