Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
You may notice a cat allergy based on the timing of your symptoms. Sometimes, getting medical anti-allergy treatment can help. But avoiding the cat may be necessary.
Cat Zheng / Getty Images
You can experience symptoms of a cat allergy right when you enter a room or home where a cat lives. Or the effects can begin after you spend several hours in the area or with the cat.
A cat allergy can produce upper respiratory symptoms or may affect your skin.
Common effects of a cat allergy can include:
Complications
While it is rare, swelling of the face, throat, or any part of the body can develop due to a cat allergy. If you develop swelling or become short of breath, seek medical attention immediately.
Cat Interactions
Cat allergies are more common thandog allergies, but this does not have anything to do with how friendly the cat or the person is.
Cat allergies are not associated with how much you like a cat or how much the cat likes you. Getting along with your cat or a friend’s cat is a completely different issue than having an allergy.
You can develop a psychological aversion to being around a cat if you tend to have allergic symptoms after your cat encounters.
Dander can be present in public places, even where there are no cats—because it can be carried on the clothing of people who have cats and then shed in public places.
Cat dander is a common cause of allergic asthma, and cat owners who are allergic to cats are more prone to the development ofasthma symptoms.
Allergens
Cat allergens are produced in large amounts and are very potent. Cat allergens are partially under hormonal control. They are more prominent in male non-neutered cats.However, female and male neutered cats still produce significant allergen, and people with cat allergies typically notice symptoms around them as well.
Cats generally are not bathed, and they use their own saliva to groom and clean themselves. This can spread the allergen if it is present in the cat’s saliva.
Allergies are a manifestation of the immune system’s overreaction to a non-infectious substance. But you can also get aninfection due to cat exposure, such asringworm, or aninfection due to a cat scratch.
An Overview of Toxoplasmosis
You may be able to tell that you have a cat allergy based on the timing of your symptoms. If you start to cough, sneeze, feel itchy, or develop a rash right after visiting your friend who has a cat, then you might have an allergy to the cat.
Sometimes it can be difficult to know that a cat allergy is causing your symptoms, especially if you live with the cat. While some people are allergic to all cats, you might be allergic to a cat even if you have not had allergies to other cats in the past—this can make the effects hard to figure out.
You may also have a hidden exposure to cat allergens, such as when moving to a new home where a cat used to live.
While it is not common, you could have an allergy to cat food or to material in the cat’s littler box, rather than an allergy to the cat. Keep this in mind when you are observing your reactions and when you get tested.
Medical Evaluation
If you have a rash or persistent upper respiratory symptoms, you should see your healthcare provider.After a history and physical examination, your healthcare provider may do some diagnostic tests. Blood tests can include an IgE level to see if you have an allergic reaction.
Skin Prick Test
You may be advised to have a skin prick test. This would involve your healthcare provider scratching your skin with a small amount of extract containing cat hair or dander. You would then be observed for about half an hour to see if you develop a reaction.
For people with a cat allergy, avoidance of cats is the mainstay of therapy.However, cat owners may not want to part with their pets, despite the symptoms they endure.
Allergy medications may control symptoms, but in many instances, symptoms may persist if the person lives with one or more indoor cats.Allergy shotsmay also be a treatment option for people who are allergic to their own pet cats.
There are some ways to decrease cat allergen exposure for cat owners:
If the above measures do not help to reduce allergic symptoms, you may need to remove your pet cats from your home. This is especially important if you or someone in your home has uncontrolled asthma.
Cat dander will persist for months in the home even if the cat is gone – therefore it is important to clean thoroughly.
A Word From Verywell
You may be disappointed to discover that you have a cat allergy. Parting with a beloved cat can be sad. There have been some cats labelled as hypoallergenic, but people can develop reactions even to these breeds. Researchers continue to explore ways to make cats less allergenic, including vaccinations and certain diets; to date, these have not proven to be effective.
Keep in mind that even if you are allergic to one cat, you might not be allergic to all of them. And many other pets might not trigger an allergy for you—such as dogs, bunnies, birds, and fish.
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sparkes AH.Human allergy to cats: A review of the impact on cat ownership and relinquishment.J Feline Med Surg. 2022;24(1):43-52. doi:10.1177/1098612X211013016American Lung Association.What is pet dander?American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Pet allergies.American Academy of Pediatrics.Cats and Children With Asthma.Satyaraj E, Wedner HJ, Bousquet J.Keep the cat, change the care pathway: A transformational approach to managing Fel d 1, the major cat allergen.Allergy. 2019;74 Suppl 107(Suppl 107):5-17. doi:10.1111/all.14013Hilger C, Kuehn A.Animal Allergens: Common Protein Characteristics Featuring their Allergenicity.Frontiers,2015.Zahradnik E, Raulf M.Animal allergens and their presence in the environment.Front Immunol. 2014;5:76. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2014.00076Simoneti CS, Ferraz E, Menezes MB, Icuma TR, Vianna EO.Cat ownership is associated with increased asthma prevalence and dog ownership with decreased spirometry values.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2018;51(12):e7558. doi:10.1590/1414-431X20187558Konradsen JR, Fujisawa T, Van hage M, et al.Allergy to furry animals: New insights, diagnostic approaches, and challenges.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135(3):616-25. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2014.08.026Bonnet B, Messaoudi K, Jacomet F, et al.An update on molecular cat allergens: Fel d 1 and what else? Chapter 1: Fel d 1, the major cat allergen.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14:14. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0239-8Noel AC, Hu DL.Cats use hollow papillae to wick saliva into fur.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2018;115(49):12377-12382. doi:10.1073/pnas.1809544115Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about diseases that can spread between animals and people.Cleveland Clinic.Cat scratch fever.Mcauley JB.Congenital Toxoplasmosis.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3 Suppl 1:S30-5. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu077Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Pet allergy.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.When to see an allergist.Chan SK, Leung DYM.Dog and Cat Allergies: Current State of Diagnostic Approaches and Challenges.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2018;10(2):97-105. doi:10.4168/aair.2018.10.2.97University of Utah Health Department.How Do Allergy Shots Work?The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.Allergic to your cat? Easy tips to prevent and control your allergy.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.How long does cat dander remain in a home after the cats are gone?Additional ReadingSatyaraj E, Li Q, Sun P, Sherrill S.Anti-Fel d1 immunoglobulin Y antibody-containing egg ingredient lowers allergen levels in cat saliva.J Feline Med Surg. 2019 Jul 16:1098612X19861218. doi: 10.1177/1098612X19861218.Thoms F, Jennings GT, Maudrich M, Vogel M, Haas S, Zeltins A, et al.Immunization of cats to induce neutralizing antibodies against Fel d 1, the major feline allergen in human subjects.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019 Jul;144(1):193-203. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.01.050.
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sparkes AH.Human allergy to cats: A review of the impact on cat ownership and relinquishment.J Feline Med Surg. 2022;24(1):43-52. doi:10.1177/1098612X211013016American Lung Association.What is pet dander?American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Pet allergies.American Academy of Pediatrics.Cats and Children With Asthma.Satyaraj E, Wedner HJ, Bousquet J.Keep the cat, change the care pathway: A transformational approach to managing Fel d 1, the major cat allergen.Allergy. 2019;74 Suppl 107(Suppl 107):5-17. doi:10.1111/all.14013Hilger C, Kuehn A.Animal Allergens: Common Protein Characteristics Featuring their Allergenicity.Frontiers,2015.Zahradnik E, Raulf M.Animal allergens and their presence in the environment.Front Immunol. 2014;5:76. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2014.00076Simoneti CS, Ferraz E, Menezes MB, Icuma TR, Vianna EO.Cat ownership is associated with increased asthma prevalence and dog ownership with decreased spirometry values.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2018;51(12):e7558. doi:10.1590/1414-431X20187558Konradsen JR, Fujisawa T, Van hage M, et al.Allergy to furry animals: New insights, diagnostic approaches, and challenges.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135(3):616-25. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2014.08.026Bonnet B, Messaoudi K, Jacomet F, et al.An update on molecular cat allergens: Fel d 1 and what else? Chapter 1: Fel d 1, the major cat allergen.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14:14. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0239-8Noel AC, Hu DL.Cats use hollow papillae to wick saliva into fur.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2018;115(49):12377-12382. doi:10.1073/pnas.1809544115Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about diseases that can spread between animals and people.Cleveland Clinic.Cat scratch fever.Mcauley JB.Congenital Toxoplasmosis.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3 Suppl 1:S30-5. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu077Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Pet allergy.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.When to see an allergist.Chan SK, Leung DYM.Dog and Cat Allergies: Current State of Diagnostic Approaches and Challenges.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2018;10(2):97-105. doi:10.4168/aair.2018.10.2.97University of Utah Health Department.How Do Allergy Shots Work?The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.Allergic to your cat? Easy tips to prevent and control your allergy.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.How long does cat dander remain in a home after the cats are gone?Additional ReadingSatyaraj E, Li Q, Sun P, Sherrill S.Anti-Fel d1 immunoglobulin Y antibody-containing egg ingredient lowers allergen levels in cat saliva.J Feline Med Surg. 2019 Jul 16:1098612X19861218. doi: 10.1177/1098612X19861218.Thoms F, Jennings GT, Maudrich M, Vogel M, Haas S, Zeltins A, et al.Immunization of cats to induce neutralizing antibodies against Fel d 1, the major feline allergen in human subjects.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019 Jul;144(1):193-203. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.01.050.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sparkes AH.Human allergy to cats: A review of the impact on cat ownership and relinquishment.J Feline Med Surg. 2022;24(1):43-52. doi:10.1177/1098612X211013016American Lung Association.What is pet dander?American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Pet allergies.American Academy of Pediatrics.Cats and Children With Asthma.Satyaraj E, Wedner HJ, Bousquet J.Keep the cat, change the care pathway: A transformational approach to managing Fel d 1, the major cat allergen.Allergy. 2019;74 Suppl 107(Suppl 107):5-17. doi:10.1111/all.14013Hilger C, Kuehn A.Animal Allergens: Common Protein Characteristics Featuring their Allergenicity.Frontiers,2015.Zahradnik E, Raulf M.Animal allergens and their presence in the environment.Front Immunol. 2014;5:76. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2014.00076Simoneti CS, Ferraz E, Menezes MB, Icuma TR, Vianna EO.Cat ownership is associated with increased asthma prevalence and dog ownership with decreased spirometry values.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2018;51(12):e7558. doi:10.1590/1414-431X20187558Konradsen JR, Fujisawa T, Van hage M, et al.Allergy to furry animals: New insights, diagnostic approaches, and challenges.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135(3):616-25. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2014.08.026Bonnet B, Messaoudi K, Jacomet F, et al.An update on molecular cat allergens: Fel d 1 and what else? Chapter 1: Fel d 1, the major cat allergen.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14:14. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0239-8Noel AC, Hu DL.Cats use hollow papillae to wick saliva into fur.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2018;115(49):12377-12382. doi:10.1073/pnas.1809544115Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about diseases that can spread between animals and people.Cleveland Clinic.Cat scratch fever.Mcauley JB.Congenital Toxoplasmosis.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3 Suppl 1:S30-5. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu077Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Pet allergy.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.When to see an allergist.Chan SK, Leung DYM.Dog and Cat Allergies: Current State of Diagnostic Approaches and Challenges.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2018;10(2):97-105. doi:10.4168/aair.2018.10.2.97University of Utah Health Department.How Do Allergy Shots Work?The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.Allergic to your cat? Easy tips to prevent and control your allergy.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.How long does cat dander remain in a home after the cats are gone?
Sparkes AH.Human allergy to cats: A review of the impact on cat ownership and relinquishment.J Feline Med Surg. 2022;24(1):43-52. doi:10.1177/1098612X211013016
American Lung Association.What is pet dander?
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Pet allergies.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Cats and Children With Asthma.
Satyaraj E, Wedner HJ, Bousquet J.Keep the cat, change the care pathway: A transformational approach to managing Fel d 1, the major cat allergen.Allergy. 2019;74 Suppl 107(Suppl 107):5-17. doi:10.1111/all.14013
Hilger C, Kuehn A.Animal Allergens: Common Protein Characteristics Featuring their Allergenicity.Frontiers,2015.
Zahradnik E, Raulf M.Animal allergens and their presence in the environment.Front Immunol. 2014;5:76. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2014.00076
Simoneti CS, Ferraz E, Menezes MB, Icuma TR, Vianna EO.Cat ownership is associated with increased asthma prevalence and dog ownership with decreased spirometry values.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2018;51(12):e7558. doi:10.1590/1414-431X20187558
Konradsen JR, Fujisawa T, Van hage M, et al.Allergy to furry animals: New insights, diagnostic approaches, and challenges.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135(3):616-25. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2014.08.026
Bonnet B, Messaoudi K, Jacomet F, et al.An update on molecular cat allergens: Fel d 1 and what else? Chapter 1: Fel d 1, the major cat allergen.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14:14. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0239-8
Noel AC, Hu DL.Cats use hollow papillae to wick saliva into fur.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2018;115(49):12377-12382. doi:10.1073/pnas.1809544115
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about diseases that can spread between animals and people.
Cleveland Clinic.Cat scratch fever.
Mcauley JB.Congenital Toxoplasmosis.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3 Suppl 1:S30-5. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu077
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Pet allergy.
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.When to see an allergist.
Chan SK, Leung DYM.Dog and Cat Allergies: Current State of Diagnostic Approaches and Challenges.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2018;10(2):97-105. doi:10.4168/aair.2018.10.2.97
University of Utah Health Department.How Do Allergy Shots Work?
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.Allergic to your cat? Easy tips to prevent and control your allergy.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.How long does cat dander remain in a home after the cats are gone?
Satyaraj E, Li Q, Sun P, Sherrill S.Anti-Fel d1 immunoglobulin Y antibody-containing egg ingredient lowers allergen levels in cat saliva.J Feline Med Surg. 2019 Jul 16:1098612X19861218. doi: 10.1177/1098612X19861218.Thoms F, Jennings GT, Maudrich M, Vogel M, Haas S, Zeltins A, et al.Immunization of cats to induce neutralizing antibodies against Fel d 1, the major feline allergen in human subjects.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019 Jul;144(1):193-203. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.01.050.
Satyaraj E, Li Q, Sun P, Sherrill S.Anti-Fel d1 immunoglobulin Y antibody-containing egg ingredient lowers allergen levels in cat saliva.J Feline Med Surg. 2019 Jul 16:1098612X19861218. doi: 10.1177/1098612X19861218.
Thoms F, Jennings GT, Maudrich M, Vogel M, Haas S, Zeltins A, et al.Immunization of cats to induce neutralizing antibodies against Fel d 1, the major feline allergen in human subjects.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019 Jul;144(1):193-203. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.01.050.
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