Allergy to cats is a chronic disease in which there is an excessive reaction of the body's immune system to biological substances released by cats in the process of vital activity. These substances are proteins contained in saliva, dead skin cells and feces of domestic pets.
Taking care of themselves, cats lick the wool, thereby distributing the secreted protein to all the hairs. Therefore, contrary to the widespread misconception, some people have allergic reactions not to the fur of cats, but to the substances that are present on it.
Proteins, produced by the body of cats, are quite strong allergens. Their particles are several times smaller than grains, easily transported through the air and settle on any objects. Therefore, "infected" is almost everything that is in the house, where there is a cat.
Are there hypoallergenic cats?
Unfortunately, all cats can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people, regardless of their sex, age, breed, and the presence and length of the coat.
However, it is established that cats secrete and spread significantly fewer allergens than cats. Kittens are also less common than adults. As studies have shown, regardless of the breed and sex of the cat, allergic reactions occur more often on dark-haired animals.
Signs of allergy to cats
Symptoms of allergy to the fur of cats in different people are expressed in varying degrees and can be light or heavy. Depending on the amount of allergen and the general condition of a person, allergic reactions to cats can be as follows:
- coryza;
- nasal congestion;
- inflammation of the nasal mucosa and oropharynx;
- sneezing ;
- tear;
- conjunctivitis;
- photosensitivity;
- itchy skin rashes;
- swelling and redness of the skin and mucous membranes;
- cough;
- bronchospasm;
- suffocation.
Symptoms of allergies to cats may appear immediately after "communicating" with a cat or a few hours after that.
How to identify allergies to cats?
Sometimes signs of allergy to cats are confused with the symptoms of other diseases, but in case of an allergic reaction the symptoms quickly begin to disappear after the contact with the allergen has been eliminated. In addition, to confirm the diagnosis, you can pass an analysis-test for allergies to cats. In clinics, you will be offered to perform a skin allergic test (prick-test method or scarification test) or to give blood for the detection of specific IgE antibodies to the feline allergen.
To date, more tests and tests are considered blood tests. They are performed quite quickly - in
Allergy test for cats at home
There is also a variant of testing for allergy to cats for self-running home. This is an express test for allergodiagnostics for cats, which can be purchased at a pharmacy.
The test kit includes a special lancet, with which it is necessary to pierce the finger (after preliminary disinfection) and collect a few drops of blood into the pipette, also included in the assay kit.
Then some blood is placed in the vial with a test solution, and after 15 minutes the result will be ready (the presence of immunoglobulin E, specific for the epithelium of cats, is determined in the blood).