Spring is here, and while many people suffer from seasonal allergies, others can blame their allergies on the family pet. Felis domesticus, a small member of the cat family (Felidae), has lived in association with man for thousands of years. Around five thousand years ago small, wild felines were domesticated in various parts of the world. However, it was in Egypt where cats came to the attention of what was then the civilized world.
It is not clear when cats became connected to human maladies; however, clear evidence has now emerged that cats play a significant role in the causation of allergic diseases like asthma and hay fever. Even so, the cat is still a popular pet: about 28% of households in the United States have at least one cat.
An allergy to cats is rather common. About 28% of allergic patients show clinically apparent sensitivities to cats. It is still unclear how early life exposure to a cat is related to the risk of developing allergy-related diseases like asthma. However, there is a large amount of evidence that cat allergy is a definite risk factor for development of asthma both in childhood and adulthood.
The cat allergen (the particle responsible for allergic reactions) is a very small particle (less than 2.5 micron in diameter) that comes primarily from saliva and skin secretions of a cat. It is lightweight and stays airborne (like pollens) for long time. In addition, it is a negatively charged particle which allows it to stick to clothes, furniture, etc. and travel to different places like schools, businesses, and even the neighbor’s house.
Diagnosis of cat-induced asthma is quite easy when the person develops sneezing, itching, congestion and breathing difficulty within minutes after being in an environment with a cat. But in most cases the history is less dramatic. Asthmatic patients with a cat at home usually have symptoms that are more chronic and cannot be related directly to cat exposure. In addition, asthmatics have a tendency to develop multiple allergies at the same time, rendering interpretation of symptoms of a cat allergy even more difficult. However, a physician can diagnose and document a cat allergy by doing a simple office based test – often referred as skin test.
Once the diagnosis of cat-induced asthma is established, therapeutic options generally fall into three basic categories:
- Careful avoidance practices to eliminate or reduce the exposure to cat allergen.
- Use of medications.
- Allergy shots to reduce symptoms by modulating the immune response to the cat allergen.
For those who love their cats but are allergic, there is good news. It is possible to breed a genetically engineered cat that does not produce significant cat allergens. In fact, such cats are now available (for those who can afford it). However, physician’s still do not consider this a therapy! To find out more information about cat allergies, contact Hannibal Regional Medical Group at 573-629-3450.