Cats are more commonly kept as pets in most of the houses. But for some people these cats can turn out to be allergic. Cat allergy is more common with people than dog allergy.
Cat allergy is generic, if a family member is allergic then he/she mite also suffer from cat allergy.
Usually people think that cat allergy is occurred because of its fur or hair but that’s not true. It is the saliva, urine and dander (dead skin) that causes cat allergy. If a person who has sensitive immune system comes in contact with allergens like cat’s dander or dead skin flakes, allergen from salivary glands, allergen from cats urine then they are more likely to be effected by cat allergies.
A person need not necessarily own a cat in order to be exposed to its allergy, allergen from cats dander are air borne, it can even travel on peoples clothes and cause allergy.
Common Cat Allergy Symptoms
- Coughing and wheezing.
- Sneezing and running nose.
- Rash on chest and face
- Chest tightness
- Watery, red and itchy eyes.
- Breathing problem.
- Redness of skin where the cat have bitten or licked
Cat allergy symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on an individual’s sensitivity and the level of exposure to allergen. The most common cat allergy symptoms are swelling and itching of the areas around the eyes and nose, usually leading to eye inflammation and a stuffy nose. The skin around a cat scratch may become red.
Some people may develop a rash on their face, neck, or upper chest as these areas are usually open and comes in contact with cats while playing with them.
In case of a severely allergic person, if allergen from cat’s dander gets into their lungs it can cause coughing, wheezing, breathing problem. Cat allergies can also lead to chronic asthma.