Cat Allergies? Some Things Which Might Help

Having a cat allergy can be extremely heartbreaking to a cat lover. Sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, sinus pain, hives, and other symptoms can be very mild and annoying or severe and life threatening. In actuality, if the symptoms are very severe and the cause is researched and it is found to be cats, locating the cat a new place to live just might turn out to be the best solution. However if the symptoms are mild, there is cause for hope. There are methods to at least minimize the pain of cat allergies and live with a cat, and immunotherapy offers desensitization from an allergen.

Symptoms of allergies can take on various forms. There are many common nose symptoms including itching, sneezing and congestion. Eye symptoms can include redness, itching, swelling and watering. Throat symptoms include post-nasal drip, itching or hoarseness and the need to clear the throat often. Skin symptoms can involve an itchy rash or hives. Ear symptoms can include itching, plugging or popping in the ear. More serious symptoms involve the lungs. Symptoms with the lungs can include hacking, wheezing, tightness in the chest, bouts with bronchitis and shortness of breath.

Cat allergen, the allergy causing stuff from cats, is not cat hair, but rather a protein present in the cat dander and saliva. These allergens become airborne as microscopic particles, which when breathed into the nose or lungs can produce allergic reactions.

The main reason why folks can acquire a new pet and not develop any of these symptoms until much later is because of the time required to produce these antibodies. It can take anywhere from three weeks to three years for a person's body to build up enough of the exact antibody so that an allergen can cross-link two identical antigens. This cross-linkage is the signal to mast cells to spill their contents, resulting in the typical allergy symptoms.

Immunotherapy is the usual and very effective way to get around a cat allergy. Immunotherapy gradually makes a person more resistant to the allergens. The goal of immunotherapy is to increase a person's tolerance ten times. This is one of the most effective remedies as it treats the root cause and doesn't just hide the symptoms.

It is unsafe and heartless for any indoor cat to be turned out. As well as the diseases and illnesses that can be caught out of doors, the indoor cat has no experience fending for itself outdoors and so is often unable to protect against cars, animals, and other hazards or to effectively search for food. Hence rescue groups have been formed to take care of cats if someone suffering from allergy has to turn it out of his house.