What Is Cat Dander Allergy

Learn how to get rid of pet dander.

Dog tag ff artinya. Manav segal an allergist and immunologist practicing at chestnut hill allergy asthma associates explains that family history genes and the age of exposure to dander are both contributing factors in developing a cat allergy. For people with allergies the dander from cats dogs rabbits ferrets and small rodents is a problem. The most frequent allergy symptoms caused by cat dander are.

Cat dander may stick easily to clothes rugs or couches and may resist for up to 6 months in a household even after the cat is gone. In some cases cat dander can cause asthma episodes and even. How to treat cat allergies.

The allergens associated with cat dander are different than those find their way onto dog dander. Cat allergies are roughly twice as common as dog allergies according to the asthma and allergy foundation of america aafa. While all cats produce dander not all humans are allergic to cat dander.

With dogs the trouble making proteins are can f 1 and can f 2 which are produced by dogs salivary glands. Dander refers to the minute particles of dead skin that are constantly being shed from your cat and other mammals. The actual cause of allergies is a protein known as fel d1 which stands for felis domesticus 1 which is produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin and is also present in your cats saliva and to a lesser degree in the urine.

Skin rashes sneezing itchy eyes itchy skin and runny nose. 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. Pet dander is very tiny particles of skin that had been shed from animals with fur or feathers.

Most often pet allergy is triggered by exposure to the dead flakes of skin dander a pet sheds. 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. 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. Any animal with fur can be a source of pet allergy but pet allergies are most commonly associated with cats and dogs. 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.

Common signs of a cat allergy usually follow shortly after you come in contact with cat dander saliva or urine. Cat dander allergy symptoms. People with cat allergies are really allergic to proteins in the cats saliva urine and dander dried flakes of skin.