Pet lovers all over the world enjoy the companionship provided by feline pets. These wonderful animals provide warmth and friendship to their owners all the time. However, cat allergy is one unpleasant condition that can happen when cats are kept as pets. Cats always prowl around the house especially at night when they’re hunting but they often find a special spot to stay. For some individuals, even a short exposure to cats can trigger allergic reaction from mild to severeCat allergy is a type of allergic reaction to cats who have allergens in their bodies aside from dander.
In fact, cats have as much as 5 allergens secreted through their sebaceous glands and Fel d 4, found in their saliva.A person with cat allergy reacts to these allergens by showing symptoms such as red itchy eyes, coughing, itching, nasal congestion, rash, sneezing ,tightening of chest, swollen feet and hands and more. Some inidviduals are plain sensitive to cats even if the cats are just merely around them.
A smart way to prevent cat allergy is to simply keep other pets aside from cats. Washing one’s hands after holding or touching a cat is also recommended for reducing allergy. Never touch cat’s eyes or mouth since these secrete allergens.The home can possibly increase cat allergy incidence especially if there are carpets, rugs and draperies that trap cat dander. Try to vacuum, use an air filter that has HEPA or simply not use heavy fabrics or materials inside the house.Never let the cats go inside the bedroom or other rooms where they can hang around for hours. Another ideal way to lessen cat allergy would be to groom your cats and provide them quality cat food so their coat won’t shed too much dander. A well-groomed cat is not just healthy and clean, cat allergy is also managed.
Cat allergy is actually manageable once a person takes antihistamines as soon as allergy starts. Also, cat owners can have shots known as immunotherapy which can prevent cat allergy for good. Some cat websites advise cat lovers to only keep short-haired cats so less hair and dander is produced in the air. Taking care of cats as pets is not really a problem even if humans have cat allergy. The important thing is knowing how to handle the pet properly so both owner and pet are protected.