Cat dander allergy is a common problem in modern society. Cat dander is dead skin cells and it comes from one of the most beautiful, graceful, and elegant creatures on the planet, the house cat. Cats are easy to care for and provide companionship to millions of people. They keep themselves clean and are usually not aggressive. It is a shame that so many people are allergic to them. That is over 50 million people are allergic to cats. And cat dander is a major cause, although it is the oil from the cat’s skin, urine, and saliva that clings to the hair and skin that is the real allergen.
The problem is when oil, urine, or most notably saliva is deposited on the hair and skin it dries and flakes off into the sir. Therefore, the allergen becomes airborne while attached to the dander, flies everywhere, and it is easily breathed in by the allergy sufferer. It is like a direct transmission from the cat to the human sufferer.
Airborne allergens are the most difficult allergens to avoid as any sufferer of cat dander allergy well knows. Cat dander is everywhere in the house where the cat dwells. If you live in the same house as a cat, it is virtually impossible not to breathe in the allergen. So, the only way to lessen the possibility of suffering from cat dander allergy without taking medication is to avoid the allergen by getting rid of the cat. That may improve the situation, however that may only be a first measure, as cat dander can be in everything inside and outside the home, as well as found everywhere in a neighbourhood where a cat is in residence. Tests have shown that cat danger allergen has even been found in Antarctica, a place where cats are not in residence.
A cat dander allergy can be triggered by your friends that own a cat and visit your home. A study has shown that a major cause of dander allergy is cat dander found on chesterfields and stuffed chairs of non-cat owners.
But don’t give up. First, most with a dander allergy have few symptoms when they are near their pet. In fact, many people believe they have a slight cold when actually they suffer from an allergy. So, while you may think that it is best to get rid of your cat if you discover you or a family member has a cat dander allergy, the reality is that our cats and dogs are like family members. It is much more practical and kind to keep the cat and learn how to better manage your allergy so that you, your family and the house cat can live happily together with a minimum of discomfort and bother.
Note that most people allergic to cat dander are allergic to other things as well, while four out of five people allergic to animals are also specifically allergic to cats. Also note that some breeds of cat provide much more cat dander allergy than other breeds. So, things are relative.