Allergies And Discomforts

Cat allergies can be extremely extremely nerve racking to a cat lover. Sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, sinus pain, skin rash, and other symptoms can be very mild and annoying or extreme and life threatening. In actuality, if the symptoms are extreme and the cause is researched and it is found to be cats, locating the cat a new home could turn out to be the only solution. However if the symptoms are moderate, there is hope. There are methods to at least minimize the pain of cat allergies and live with a cat, and immunotherapy offers desensitization from an allergen.

Symptoms of allergies can take on a number of forms. There are many common nose 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. More serious symptoms involve the lungs. Symptoms with the lungs can include hacking, wheezing, tightness in the chest, bouts with bronchitis and a shortness of breath.

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

The reason why folks can get a new pet and not develop any of these symptoms until much later is due to the amount of time needed to produce these antibodies. It can take from three weeks to three years for the body to build up sufficient amounts of the specific antibody so that an allergen can cross-link two identical antigens. This cross-linkage is the signal to mast cells to spill their contents, resulting in the typical allergy symptoms.

Immunotherapy is the usual and very effective method to get around a cat allergy. Immunotherapy gradually makes a person more and more resistant to the allergens. The goal of immunotherapy is to increase a person's tolerance by at least ten times. This is one of the most effective remedies as it treats the root cause and doesn't just hide the symptoms.

It is a moral crime 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 is often unable to defend against cars, animals, and other hazards or to effectively search for food. Hence rescue groups have been formed to take care of cats if someone suffering from allergy has to turn it out of his house.