Decrease Your Cat Allergy Symptoms

If you start to sneeze, develop teary eyes, a runny nose and a headache every time you get near your cat you might be having an allergic reaction. Cat allergens from the saliva and dander have to be airborne in order for you to breathe them in and then have an allergic reaction. Since they are airborne, they can circulate everywhere in your house and on you. Have yourself tested so you can be sure your symptoms are coming from your cat. Allergists can perform a scratch test on your skin that can reveal 70-80 possible allergens. Allergies to a pet can begin at any age. Many people that have pet allergies may have allergies to other things like molds or pollen. Allergies also tend to run in families.

Most people do not want to give up their cat unless they absolutely have to. If the symptoms are mild, you probably will be able to keep your cat. There are ways to decrease the unpleasant symptoms of the allergy.

Start by not letting your cats sleep with you anymore. In fact, keep them out of your bedroom completely. Wash your bedclothes in a hot water temperature of 140-degrees. This will eliminate any allergens while you are trying to get your symptoms under control.

Try to keep your cat confined to one area of the house until you have been treated and feel better. This might be difficult but it may be the only solution if you have severe allergies. A room you don't use could be a good area to keep your cat in temporarily. Make sure you put toys, food and water in the room. A room with windows with wide panes may be a good idea so they can sit and look outside. Have someone without allergies take your cat outside for a while every day.

Cats should be bathed regularly to control the quantity of allergens that are released. A good micro fiber cloth will also work. You can rub down their coat to eliminate any obvious dander. There are shampoos for pets that work to reduce the airborne allergens. Always wash your hands after touching your cat. There are medications that can be taken such as antihistamines, eye drops and nasal sprays. Allergy desensitization shots are another treatment option. The shots make the person immune to the allergies. Small amounts of allergens are injected at first and than slowly increased. Make an appointment with a holistic healthcare practitioner if you want a more natural way to control your symptoms. Nutritional supplements and herbs may decrease an allergic response. Your cat should also eat a healthy diet with omega-3 fatty acids. Cats produce less dander if they are healthy.

If for some reason you don't respond to any of the treatments then you might have to give up your pet. Of course, you want them to have a good home. Ask family members or friends if they would take your cat. Rescue groups are also good to call to help you find a place where your pet will receive excellent care.

Solve Your Cats Health Problems and Allergies, and Save Money, Too!

All pet owners know that health care for your cat can be the most expensive part of pet ownership. Vet bills are never cheap, and pets have a knack for getting sick right when we can never afford it. Thankfully, while emergencies and accidents will always happen, by investing in your cats' health with a strong preventative health program, as well as proper diet and effective nutritional supplements, you can ward off one of the most destructive and disruptive medical problem in cats- allergies.

Allergies and Cats- a Destructive Cycle

A great many cat owners are familiar with the painful and disruptive effects of feline allergies. Chronically irritated or itchy skin, chronic sneezing, wheezing and coughing, runny eyes and nose, chronic vomiting and diarrhea and even self-mutilation are just some of the symptoms of allergies in cats.

Just as in humans, an allergic reaction in cats occurs when the immune system begins to overreact to a seemingly normal substance or material. Often times, a cat can become allergic to a substance suddenly, after being exposed to it with no problems for months or even years prior.

Flea and Skin Allergies

Flea allergies are one of the most common types of allergies in cats. In "normal" cats, fleas and flea bites may cause minor irritation and itching, which often will resolve quickly once the fleas are removed. Cats with flea-bite allergies have a much stronger reaction, with intense itching causing hair loss and open sores- even from just one flea bite.

The typical signs of flea-bite allergies in cats are the presence of fleas, intense itching, and sores and scabs on the skin. These sores, caused by repeated itching and chewing, can lead to a skin infection.

If you take your cat to the vet, typically it will be treated with anti-inflammatory medication (steroids) and antibiotics for several weeks. While this route may solve the immediate problem of the skin infection, it does nothing for the underlying cause- the fleas and the allergies- leaving your cat open to future allergies and repeated courses of unhealthy steroids and antibiotics, both of which can contribute to a weakened immune system, and therefore increasing the occurrence of allergies.

The other choice is to use natural alternatives such as herbal anti-inflammatory and a soil-based probiotic. And while these are both highly effective and non-toxic, instead of treating skin allergies and the resulting skin infections after they occur, you can prevent severe allergic flea reactions in your cat by removing the source of the allergies (fleas), and by preventing your cats' immune system from overreacting.
Prevention requires proper supplementation to improve the quality of your cat's immune system.

Oil based nutrients, common in the human natural health spectrum as fatty acid supplements are equally vital to feline health, and especially in the case of skin and coat problems. A proper lipid supplementation, based from one of the most potent antioxidants known to science, Krill Oil, as well as other essential lipids can help to supplement your cats' immune system, reduce the severity of allergic reactions, improve the condition of your cat's skin and reduce healing times.

Food Allergies

Food allergies in cats are one of the most frustrating allergies to deal with. Many times a cat may develop a food sensitivity or allergy to a type of food despite being fed, even though your cat may have eaten that same food for many years with no problems. Further complicating the diagnosis of food allergies are the myriad of ingredients that typically make up most of today's commercial cat foods.

Cats typically manifest food allergies in two different ways- chronic digestive problems (i.e. vomiting and diarrhea that occur more than 3 times a week) and through skin allergies, such as itching, scratching and losing hair.

Cats can be allergic to any component in their food. The more common cause of food allergies in cats is the highly processed, grain based nature of commercial cat food. It is the protein in these grains that cause allergies in the form of skin rashes, digestive problems, and even problems with stiff joints and arthritis.

Feeding the Way Nature Intended

Cats are carnivores by nature. Their systems require meat. In order to be healthy, cats must eat a diet that mimics the one they would eat in the wild- namely whole prey. In the wild, cats eat virtually the entire content of their caught prey. Their protein comes from the bulk of the kill, most of their water intake comes directly from the water in the body of the kill, and the only grain they ingest is that which is in the stomach of their prey.

Unfortunately, commercial cat foods do not place the same emphasis on pure protein that the cat needs to survive, substituting low levels of grains and carbohydrates. Meat by-products (the parts of the animal unfit for human consumption), rendered meat, plant matter and carbohydrates, are the staples and fillers of commercial cat foods. They have very little nutritional benefit to cats, and, in fact, cause a myriad of their own health problems as a result.

The natural prey of cats consists of at least 65% water, and historically cats evolved from the desert, where they had to rely on their prey as a primary source of water. Cats do not naturally drink much supplemental water, yet by feeding dry food to cats with negligible water content, it requires cats to increase their water consumption, or else become chronically dehydrated.

Cats typically manifest food allergies in two ways- chronic digestive problems (such as chronic diarrhea and vomiting) and skin problems, such as chronic itching, recurring skin infections, yeast infections and ear infections. All of these symptoms of allergies are uncomfortable and damaging to your cat's health, and typically require repeated courses of steroids, antibiotics and other medications. Unfortunately, by continuing to feed the same food, the causative factor of the allergy-food that is nutritionally indigestible and virtually "foreign" to the cats system-the allergies will continue to reoccur.

Instead of creating a revolving door of allergy symptoms, vet visits, medications and cost, preventing allergies through a proper diet and nutritional supplementation is the more cost effective, and more importantly, the much more healthy alternative for your cat.

Home and commercially prepared raw diets seek to mimic the cats' natural diet- wild prey-, by eliminating the foreign carbohydrates and grains that are the causes of so many food allergies. This alone will go a long way to restoring his or her health. Be mindful that raw meat, fowl, or fish is not sufficient by itself.

In addition to feeding your cat a nutritionally sound Raw Diet, proper supplementation insures that all of your cat's nutritional, probiotic, vitamin, mineral and fatty acid requirements are being met, and properly assimilated by the body.

Cats and Asthma

Of all the types of allergies in cats, asthma can be the most heartbreaking to watch your cat endure- and in severe cases, it can even be deadly.

As in humans, asthma attacks in cats are caused by an allergic reaction of the respiratory tract to particulates in the air. The precipitating cause stimulates the mucosal lining of the throat and airway to secrete mucous and swell, leading to difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing. In severe cases, the breathing difficulties can lead to respiratory distress, an abdominal effort to breath, and the swelling may become so severe that the airway becomes totally obstructed, leading to death.

Typically, treatment of cats with chronic asthma is managed through long-term steroid therapy, to suppress the immune system and prevent airway swelling. Unfortunately, steroids only mask the symptoms; long-term use atrophies your cats' natural immune response. Many health problems are directly related to the long-term steroid use.

In addition to the cost of veterinary visits associated with treating asthma flare ups and medication to treat it, chronic steroid use can lead to other health problems such as liver dysfunction and even failure, kidney failure, chronic dehydration and lessen the body's ability to fight viruses, bacteria, simple infections and even cancer.

By treating the underlying cause of your cat's asthma, you can prevent the life-long cycle of steroid administration, continuing respiratory problems and more severe health problems down the road.

As asthma, at its core, is an allergy caused by a heightened immune system, every effort must be made to remove potential allergens from the cats' environment. Changing your asthmatic cat's food to a Raw Diet can help to eliminate further allergens from your cat's system, giving the immune system less irritants to react to. In addition, by proving a carefully balanced probiotic, vitamin, mineral, lipid (oil) and amino-acid supplements to your cat, you are insuring that your cat's body utilizes the full potential of the raw diet.

In addition, the powerful anti-oxidant effects of soil-based probiotics, fatty acids, vital lipids and essential enzymes are scientifically proven to naturally reduce inflammation.

Moreover, they support and create a healthy immune system capable of dealing with emerging health crises, while preventing the terrible immune system overreactions that cause asthma attacks.

Save Money... and Save Your Cat

Conventionally speaking, allergies in cats are expensive to treat. Modern medicine has yet to provide us with a cure to allergies. Instead, veterinary medicine often provides little more than a "band aid" for treating your cat's allergies. Failure to address the actual cause- a dysfunctional immune system reacting to the unnatural way that domestic cats have been fed and kept leads to repeated courses of medications that can do more harm than good.

By addressing the core of your pet's health through a proper diet, as nature intended, and supplementing and supporting the immune system, you can save your cat years of suffering from allergies, create a healthier cat from the inside out, and save money on repeated treatments that don't work, and cause more problems than they solve.

Cat Litter - How to Tell If You Are Allergic to Cat Litter and What You Can Do to Stop the Allergy

Both cats and people can be allergic to cat litter. However, this allergy is often overlooked and misdiagnosed. If you have had persistent allergy symptoms and have been unable to identify a cause, then consider the possibility that you may be allergic to the litter that your cat is using. Fortunately, if this is the case, the issue is easy to treat.

Symptoms to cat litter allergies is the same as any other allergies. You can be sneezing, have a running nose and red itchy eyes. The same goes for your cat. One thing for sure is that these symptoms tend to get worse whenever you are around your kitty's litter or your cat as it may be having some of the litter on its body. If that is so, then chances are, you are allergic to the kitty litter that you are using and not other allergies.

By far, the most common types of irritants found in itters are clay-based and silica dust. Make sure these are not found within the kitty litter you are currently using by checking the labels on the litterbags. If so, simply switch to another and you would likely see an immediate improvement in your symptoms.

However, there are people who are allergic even to non-dusty cat litter and if so, then avoid getting too close to the litter boxes in your house. Isolate the little box in a confined area where you would less likely be going. Also as cats is likely to have some cat litter dust on their body, it's best that you avoid rubbing your nose against its fur or shower your cat more often to keep him free from litter dust as much as possible.

Preparing for Cedar Fever by Understanding the Symptoms

Every year, allergy sufferers throughout the country breathe a collective sigh of relief as the winter cold begins to set in. The winter months bring a reprieve from the bombardment of pollen that lasts from March through September all around the US. However, if you happen to live in Central Texas, or other parts of the Midwest, the relief is short-lived as Cedar fever soon comes out in full force!

Cedar fever tends to cause even more pain that the typical spring and fall allergy seasons. This is because cedar pollinates during the winter months, and many people regularly misidentify the real cause of their suffering as being a common winter cold. Most newcomers to Central Texas cities such as Austin, Dallas, or San Antonio tend to make this mistake during their first cedar season. Eventually they catch on as the locals can constantly be heard talking about the pain that the cedar pollen is inflicting on their senses.

As we mentioned, the symptoms of cedar fever are often misidentified as a common cold, which leads sufferers to wait even long until seeking treatment. Therefore, understanding the symptoms are going to make your search for a treatment much easier.

Cedar Fever Symptoms

• Runny Nose


• Stuffy Nose


• Itchy Eyes


• Sneezing


• Lasts many weeks, up to 6 or longer

Cold Symptoms

• Although the symptoms of a cold are going to be very similar, they differ in a few key ways. Use these differences to help determine what you are actually suffering from.


• Colds tend to last less than 2 weeks, anything longer is likely allergies.


• Colds cause headaches, and other aches and pains.


• In rare instances, colds can cause a fever, whereas allergies never will.

Cedar Fever Treatment

Once you've identified that your allergy symptoms are in fact cedar fever, and not something else, then you can focus on treating them in a number of different ways. Because cedar fever is a pollen allergy, it can be treated the same way as other types of seasonal allergies, such as antihistamines, allergy shots, or immunotherapy.

However, the number one recommended treatment is avoidance. By avoiding the pollen, you can prevent your symptoms from occurring altogether. Avoidance means staying indoors when pollen levels are high, and running an air purifier when indoors both at home or work.

However, this is not always practical, so antihistamines are helpful to have on hand during the peak cedar pollen months of January and February.

For additional information on allergy treatment methods for including a comprehensive list of allergen avoidance techniques, see our Hay Fever Relief website listed below.

Allergy to Alcohol - Do You Get Red Faced When Drinking Alcohol?

Do you also suffer from allergy to alcohol (red face, red patches on neck, chest, arms, legs, rapid heartbeat, nausea, intense sensation of congestion and bloating, dizziness) like I did?

I use to suffer myself. All my friends would laugh at my face and joke about it (blushing related jokes), but I was always sick and had a hangover even if i drank a little bit the night before. My hangovers were way worse than they should have been. I then stumbled across a web site which explained everything to me.

The reason for my sickly symptoms when I drank alcohol was...

Some of the symptoms of a hangover are caused by the effect of un metabolized acetaldehyde in the blood stream, which occurs when the livers ability to process the alcohol is overloaded. You see most people produce a chemical called aldehyde dehydrogenase which aids the body in the process of digestion and eliminate of alcohol and its byproducts. In people who suffer from these symptoms the symptoms occur because of a deficiency of the aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme in your digestive system, making alcohol toxic to your body. The key to eliminating the symptoms is to stop the build-up of acetaldehyde.

What I found I was able to successfully do to end the alcohol allergy misery.

You will be happy to hear that we can now breath a sigh of relief because there are products available that can be used to treat the symptoms of the Asian Flush and alcohol red face reaction disorder extremely effectively.

The real alcohol allergy cure and alcohol red face reaction is one that attacks the symptoms of the alcohol red face reaction from the root of their cause all the way to the treatment of the actual symptoms themselves.

Mold Allergy - Symptoms and Treatment for Mold Allergies

Just like any other allergies, an allergic reaction to mold spores can range from mild irritation to extremely damaging and even harmful or fatal to your health. There are a medical treatments that are available and will overcome the different symptoms of the mold allergy. But the best thing to do, instead of dealing with the actual allergy itself, is to find the cause of the mold. Once you find the presence of the mold you can eliminate it which will also eliminate any mold allergy that could come from it.

Just like pollen, mold spores are the cause allergic reactions in people who are susceptible, or have allergies. If a person with an allergy to mold is exposed to too much of this fungus, they will have an adverse reaction. Somebody that is known to have allergies from mold will suffer as the mold gradually builds up and is released into the immediate vicinity.

Depending on whether you are indoors or outdoors will also depend on the type of mold that you see. And the symptoms of mold allergies are very similar to the symptoms of other allergies. The most common types of symptoms from a mold allergy are wheezing, itching around the eyes, a runny nose, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, and even rash or hives. Some people find that they are very restless for long periods of times, feel weak for no apparent reason, and are affected by sinus problems. The most serious type of symptoms that are related to an allergy from mold are asthma symptoms, which can lead to long-term breathing problems.

The most common places that mold growth is found is usually in the bathroom, the basement, in closets or storerooms, and around garbage cans. You can usually find them around washing and drying machines as well. Any area that is often damp, wet or has water is basically a place where mold can grow. The easiest way to treat somebody with an allergy from mold is finding the source of the mold itself. Areas that can be cleaned regularly are places like bathroom tiles and the shower. You can use exhaust fans, or dehumidifiers in areas that are often moist. This will keep the humidity to a point that is low enough that mold will not be able to grow.

These are just a few steps that you can take to reduce the possibility of a mold allergy and prevent mold growth from happening in the first place.

Gluten Allergy - What Happens When You Are Allergic to Gluten?

Here are the 7 gluten-free basics to get you started....

1. What actually is gluten? I hear about it all the time and I have no idea!

Gluten is a natural forming protein found in grains. It is specifically found in wheat, oats, barley, and rye. Millet and corn are also showing up in tests as containing high levels of gluten (damn those tasty corn chips!).

Gluten can also be hidden in pre-prepared foods like soups, sauces, marinades, dairy products, and tinned goods. This is because derivatives of wheat are used as a cheap way to thicken food. Instead of boiling those tomatoes to make a rich, thick sauce, just throw in a bit of gluten and it'll thicken up nice and good!

2. What's the difference between gluten intolerant and celiac disease? I'm confused!

Yes, you're not alone. You and the majority of the population are pretty confused about the difference.

If you're 'gluten intolerant' that means you have an inability to tolerate gluten. Your symptoms may or may not be severe and you can get a range of reactions (varying in intensity) when ingesting gluten. You may not even be aware you are gluten intolerant.

If you're diagnosed as 'celiac' then you have an allergic reaction to gluten and your immune system will click in (it's basically saying "out with you damn gluten!"). Your symptoms will happen within 30 minutes to 3 hours of ingesting gluten. Being celiac will mean your symptoms will be a lot more dramatic and you definitely need medical guidance. You will definitely be aware something is dramatically wrong.

3. Someone told me I might be sensitive to gluten. How can I tell?

Well the list of symptoms is very broad but some of the major ones include digestive problems, diarrhea/constipation, weight gain/loss (unfortunately I suffer more from the gain!!), lung problems such as asthma, headaches, joint problems, depression, inability to concentrate, and fatigue. Different people respond differently. Of course these things can also be symbolic of many other physical problems, so do check with your doctor.

You can also try taking gluten out, wait a couple of weeks, then attempt to eat something with gluten in it. The symptoms can return within a couple of hours.

4. Should I care if I'm reacting to gluten? It all seems a bit hard!

Reacting to gluten can lead to major health problems, including diseases such as cancer, asthma, thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chron's disease. If you keep consuming gluten it's basically going to affect the tissue in your body and make you sick. It's not sounding pretty is it?

So in short, yes you should care! If you want to maintain your long-term health and are experiencing symptoms, go see a doctor and share your concerns.

5. Help!! I've just been diagnosed and need to go gluten-free. I just don't know what to eat now!

The simplest gluten-free diet is meat (unprocessed), fish, eggs, vegetables and fruit. You can add in some nuts (as long as they're not flavoured) and legumes like chickpeas and lentils. That's pretty easy isn't it? Just be sure you have your own chopping board and cooking implements. Use scrummy taste sensations like fresh herbs (or dried), spices, tamari (that's wheat-free soya sauce), tahini (that's made from sesame seeds and tastes a bit peanutty), rosewater, a dash of nice oil and so on to spice up your meals. Try out some ways to prepare raw food.

Here's an simple and comprehensive list of foods to avoid: Foods containing gluten

Don't be scared. Get creative! Fresh is always best. Use this as an opportunity to extend your diet and add some exciting new delights to your culinary repertoire.

6. How do I find 'hidden' gluten in food? It seems a bit confusing!

The first thing I recommend you do is learn how to read food labels (that's the list of contents you'll find on the back of prepared foods). My best advice is if in doubt about an ingredient, consider it 'persona non grata' (that's means put the packet down gently and step away slowly....).

Here are some hidden ingredients that you may not realise contain gluten and you'll need to avoid them. If in DOUBT, leave it OUT:

• Thickners (anything numbered 1400-1450)


• Maltodextrin


• Soya sauce


• Vinegar (unless it says white, balsamic or cider)


• Cornstarch.

7. This whole gluten intolerance thing seems like a fad! How come everyone seems to have suddenly started becoming gluten-free?

OK I'm going to step out on a limb here but after 8 years I'm sensing a pattern. My belief is that our Western diets are FILLED with gluten in recent years. From our breakfast cereals, to our high bread consumption (having toast for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch?), the increase in our consumption of pasta and noodles, to the amount of museli bars and muffins we consume, that's just the start! Add into the mix the amount of processed and flavoured food we eat, and you'd be hard-pushed to escape gluten in anything you eat if you're not monitoring your diet.

I think everyone would benefit from lessening their level of processed food and getting back to the joy of cooking from scratch. It's healthier and cheaper!