Symptoms and Causes associated with Cat allergies

Identifying the cause of your allergy becomes very difficult when an animal shares your home. Generally any house contains lots of other allergens, like dust mites, damp areas in house, indoor plants which could also cause similar symptoms. Additionally, if you come across the pet dander it’s important to see a doctor to confirm a pet allergy.Almost one third of Americans who have allergies to cats and dogs are twice as many people have cat allergies compared to dog allergies.

It can be disappointing to know that the cat you love is not suitable for your health well-being. Many people choose to bear symptoms rather than leaving the pet. So, it is important that you take actions to minimize the problems of allergy.

Causes

Genetics is one of the factors in developing the allergies, i.e. if your parents or grandparents who are also allergic, then you are more likely to experience them.The immune system in your body makes antibodies to react to substances that might be danger to your body, like bacteria and viruses. The immune system of the person having allergies mistakes an allergen for something unsafe and starts making antibodies to fight it. This results into allergy symptoms like itchiness,skin rashes, runny nose, and asthma.

More specifically, in the case of cat allergies, the various body parts like cat’s dander /dead skin, fur, saliva, and even their urine can cause allergy. Breathing or touching these allergens can cause an allergy. Such allergen particles can be settled carried on clothes, settle in home furniture, and circulate in the air.

Symptoms

1. The above discussed allergens can cause swelling and itching of the membranes surrounding your eyes and nose. This may result into eye inflammation and a stuffy nose.

2. Sometimes a rash may develop on their face, neck, or upper chest in response to the allergen.

3. Fatigue is an ongoing cough due to postnasal drip.

4. If the cat allergens get into the lungs of allergic person, they can combine with antibodies and include coughing, difficulty breathing, and wheezing.

5. Acute asthma attack can occur and lead to chronic asthma.

Up to 30% of people having asthma are prone to severe attack after coming into contact with a cat. You need to discuss this with your doctor. However, fevers, chills, nausea, or vomiting like symptoms should be considered as other illness rather than allergies.

How to diagnose cat allergies
There are two methods of testing an allergy associated with cats, and they are skin testing and blood tests.

Moreover, there exist two types of skin allergy tests, one is skin prick test and other is intradermal skin test. Both the tests give speedy results and are less costly than blood tests.Consult a health expert about which test is best for you before deciding the final test method. Skin testing is usually done by an allergist due to the possibility of severe reactions during testing.