Cats: Allergies And Discomforts Due To Cats

Cat allergies can be extremely heartbreaking to a cat lover. Wheezing, tearing eyes, runny nose, sinus pain, hives, and other symptoms can be very mild and a pain or very severe and threatening to ones life. In reality, if the symptoms are very severe and the reason is tested and it is found to be cats, locating the cat a new place to live just might turn out to be the only resolution. However if the symptoms are mild, there is hope. There are processes to at least offset the discomforts of cat allergies and live with a cat, and immunotherapy offers desensitization from an allergen.

Various symptoms of allergies can take on various forms. There are many common nasal 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. There can be more serious symptoms which involve the lungs. Symptoms with the lungs can include hacking, wheezing, chest tightness, bouts with bronchitis and a shortness of breath.

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

The main reason why folks can acquire a new pet and not experience any of these symptoms until much later is due to the time needed to produce these antibodies. It can be 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, which results in typical allergy symptoms.

An allergy desensitization regimen is the usual and very effective method 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-fold. This is one of the most effective remedies because it treats the cause and doesn't just mask the symptoms.

It is unsafe and heartless for any indoor cat to be put out. In addition to the diseases and illnesses that can be caught out of doors, the indoor cat has no experience fending for itself outdoors and so many times it is unable to defend against cars, animals, and other hazards or to effectively search for food.