Ask your doctor if they make sense for you. Unfortunately, there's no way to prevent an allergy. Some studies have shown that exposure to pets as a young child seems to reduce the risk of developing pet allergies later. On the other hand, a child who already has allergic tendencies may get worse with exposure to a pet.
Some people are lucky enough that they eventually develop an immunity to cat allergies. While this is certainly possible, allergic reactions may also worsen with more exposure. It's also possible that someone who has never suffered an allergy to cats before can develop one.
If you are allergic to cats and decide to get one, then you'll be happy to learn most people tend to build up a tolerance to these allergens over time. There are also specific regimens allergic people can follow, as well as medication to help alleviate their symptoms.
Outgrowing allergies to animals is possible but not probable. Also, even those allergies can go away; they can come back again later in life. Keeping pets will not help to acclimate to allergies either. For some people, allergy symptoms can be worse in some seasons, especially in the heat when animals shed more.
There is no cure for allergy to cats (yet!), but immunotherapy may help increase your tolerance. Immunotherapy involves getting allergy shots once or twice weekly for up to six months, then monthly boosters for three to five years.
Although cat allergy symptoms may never go away completely, they are manageable. Remember this basic fact about cat allergens. They need to be airborne and you need to breathe them in for you to have an allergic reaction to them.
Immunotherapy is delivered through a series of allergy shots. One to 2 weekly shots expose you to very small doses of the allergen, in this case, the animal protein that causes an allergic reaction. The dose is gradually increased, usually during a 4- to 6-month period.
It's possible for your allergies to worsen with time, especially if you're allergic to cats. When you do see your allergist, you should discuss your symptoms, including when they began and when they seemed to get worse.
It is estimated that globally around 10-20% of human adults are allergic to cats (a figure that has been increasing), that cat allergy among humans is second only to house dust mite as a cause of indoor respiratory allergy, and that around 20-30% of patients with respiratory allergy are allergic to cats.
You Can Develop Cat Allergies as an Adult
Often, this means you are allergic to your cat's dander. But sometimes, an outdoor cat that brings in pollen or mold on her fur can cause an allergic reaction too. Only a doctor can tell you for certain what the source of your allergy is.
High-shedding cat breeds tend to be worse for people with allergies because the allergens get trapped in their coats and spread wherever they lose their fur. Some of these high-shedders include the Persian, Maine coon, Norwegian forest cat, Himalayan, Manx, and Cymric.
The symptoms of cat allergy usually do not appear immediately. Rhinitis (runny nose and congestion) seldom becomes severe before 15-30 minutes, and asthma symptoms begin after 30 minutes. Symptoms may not occur until there have been several days of cumulative exposure.
Baking Soda: Man's True Best Friend. Baking soda is a fantastic neutralizer, which is why it's top of the list for how to get rid of pet odor. Ever had anyone recommend you leave baking soda in the fridge to eat up weird smells? The same concept applies outside of the fridge, too!
If cats do not receive their shots during kittenhood, they will most likely contract feline calicivirus, rabies, feline distemper, feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline leukemia, chlamydia, and kennel cough.
Cats can develop a number of illnesses if they don't have their shots, but feline leukemia is one of the worst. This illness is a top cause of feline death with a fatality rate of nearly 90%. Feline immunodeficiency virus, also known as cat AIDS, is a serious, lifelong illness transmitted by unvaccinated cats.
Research shows that cat immunotherapy can reduce symptoms in many people, and that the results last. But some people react to the injections, while others quit because of the inconvenience of as many as 80 injections in all.
Do air purifier work for pet allergies? The answer is a resounding yes! Isn't it time you and your loved ones enjoy breathing clean air that's virtually pet allergen-free. Feeding on dead human skin cells found in dust, dust mites are not parasites, meaning they do not bite, sting or burrow into our bodies.
Untreated allergies can get worse, with more severe allergy attacks occurring over time. These frequent or prolonged allergic reactions can also weaken your immune system and set you up for dangerous complications, such as bacterial or fungal infections in the sinuses, lungs, ears or skin.
If you do own a cat when you're allergic, it can still affect your ability to form a close bond with your pet, as you try to maintain a safe distance to keep the sneezing at bay. However, a cat allergy doesn't necessarily mean you can't get a cat.
The amount of allergens that cats produce doesn't differ from breed to breed, but does differ among individual cats. Cain says that male cats tend to produce more allergens than females.
The short answer to that question is yes. While having allergies doesn't cause you to come down with a cold or the flu, the treatment of your allergies is a factor in your vulnerability to other illnesses.
Can you get rid of pet allergies? You can't get rid of pet allergies. However, you can take OTC antihistamine pills, nasal corticosteroids and nasal antihistamines to treat your symptoms. For some people, allergy shots (immunotherapy) offer a long-term solution to managing pet allergies.
The Rarest (And Strangest) Allergies
Water: Medically known as aquagenic urticaria, patients with a water allergy develop painful hives and rashes when their skin is exposed to water. An allergic reaction will develop regardless of the water temperature, and even when the water is purified.