People with cat allergies are really allergic to proteins in the cat s saliva urine and dander dried flakes of skin.
Cat dander allergy.
Cat allergies are roughly twice as common as dog allergies according to the asthma and allergy foundation of america aafa.
Any animal with fur can be a source of pet allergy but pet allergies are most commonly associated with cats and dogs.
Although allergies cause only about five to 10 percent of chronic hives cases they are almost always associated with pet dander and more often with cat dander.
Most often pet allergy is triggered by exposure to the dead flakes of skin dander a pet sheds.
Like most allergies cat allergies manifest in different ways for different people barrack said.
How do these tiny proteins cause such a big allergic reaction in the body.
According to the asthma and allergy foundation of america anywhere from 15 to 30 percent of people with allergies have reactions to pets like cats and dogs with cat sensitivities almost twice as common as those to dogs.
If you have a pet allergy the best strategy is to avoid or reduce exposure to the animal as much as possible.
Skin rash or hives.
With dogs the trouble making proteins are can f 1 and can f 2 which are produced by dogs salivary glands.
For some an allergy to cat dander can cause itchy watery eyes nasal congestion and coughing while it may cause shortness of breath similar to asthma a skin rash or hives in others.
Common signs of a cat allergy usually follow shortly after you come in contact with cat dander saliva or urine.
Minor skin rashes may be associated with dander falling on the skin saliva deposited by a cat licking the skin or even through inhaling the dander.
How to treat cat allergies.