Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsRashSeeking CareCauses and Risk FactorsTestingTreatmentAllergy ShotsReducing ExposureLiving With a Cat
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Rash
Seeking Care
Causes and Risk Factors
Testing
Treatment
Allergy Shots
Reducing Exposure
Living With a Cat
Cats are one of the most popular household pets, but between 5% and 20% of people have some degree of cat allergy.Cat allergy symptoms and severity can vary based on your sensitivity, the amount of cat allergens around you, and whether you’re exposed to cats regularly.
Many people with cat allergies can own cats and manage low-level symptoms like mild stuffiness and watery eyes. However, others may experience more severe, unmanageable symptoms, and they probably shouldn’t own a cat. In rare cases, some people develop extreme allergic reactions to cats, like severe difficulty breathing, which might require immediate medical care.
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Common Symptoms
These symptoms are collectively known as “allergic rhinitis” and are similar to some people’s symptoms of other allergens, likepollenordust mites.
People regularly exposed to cats tend to have more chronic—though sometimes milder—symptoms. Some very sensitive people might react to a transported allergen (e.g., the clothes of someone who lives with a cat).
Special Considerations in Babies and Toddlers
The most common cat allergy symptoms in babies and toddlers are similar to those in adults. However, small children can’t communicate clearly, so it may be harder to know what is going on.
You might notice a child rubbing their nose often, and their eyes might look puffy. Sometimes, a very young child will have feeding difficulties due to allergies, or they might have more difficulty sleeping.
Cat Allergy Rash
Some people allergic to cats gethives(urticaria)—itchy raised areas, which might appear in streaks or patches. Hives appear reddish in people with fairer skin. People with darker skin tones may experience raised hives and darker, lighter, or the same as your regular skin tone.
Cat allergies may exacerbate eczema, though this is not proven. Scientists don’t think cat allergies directlycauseeczema (atopic dermatitis) symptoms such as dry, itchy, raw, cracked skin that can ooze or bleed when scratched. However, triggers such as cat dander mightworsenallergy symptoms.
Allergic Asthma and Cat AllergiesSome, but not all, people who have asthma find thatcat allergens can trigger asthma symptoms. In these people, exposure to cat allergens can trigger an asthma attack, causing symptoms like chest tightness and wheezing.
Allergic Asthma and Cat Allergies
Some, but not all, people who have asthma find thatcat allergens can trigger asthma symptoms. In these people, exposure to cat allergens can trigger an asthma attack, causing symptoms like chest tightness and wheezing.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Care
You don’t need to go to the emergency room for hives alone. However, in rare cases, they can occur alongside anaphylaxis (a potentially life-threatening reaction). Those most at risk foranaphylaxisare people with a cat allergy but little exposure to cats who suddenly are around many cat allergens.
If you are having any difficulty breathing or any other potentially life-threatening symptoms, like swelling, nausea, or lightheadedness, administer epinephrine via anepi-penand seek emergency medical care.
Cats produce several different allergens, and some people react to one or more of them. One of the most important allergens isFel d1,which more than 80% of people allergic to cats respond to. Male and unneutered cats may produce more of this allergen than female or male neutered cats.
In general, allergic diseases tend to run in families, partially due to genetic factors. So, you’re at higher risk of a cat allergy if someone in your family has allergies.
Additionally, you may be more likely to develop a cat allergy if you already have another allergy (e.g., to another animal, pollen, or a specific food) or if you’ve had symptoms of atopic dermatitis or allergic asthma. You might be more at risk if you acquire a cat as an adult but weren’t around them as a child.
Skin or Blood Allergy Testing
If you think you might be allergic to your cat, talk to a healthcare provider about your symptoms. You might want to get a referral to an allergist (allergy specialist) for more detailedallergy testing. They will test for your response to common allergens like animal dander, mold, dust, and pollen.
One testing option is a skin prick test, where the tester places small amounts of allergen at different points on your back. Then, the skin is slightly “pricked” or scrapped so the allergen can enter. Fifteen minutes later, the provider checks your skin for signs of an allergic response.
The other testing option is a “specific IgE test” for cat allergy. The provider will take a blood sample to a lab for analysis. Your allergist can tell you if you are likely allergic to cats based on the results.
How to Control Your Symptoms
Plain nasal salt rinses can help clear away mucus. You can take medications to help you control your symptoms, although they can’t eliminate or prevent them. The following are some over-the-counter (OTC) options:
Singulair(montelukast) is an oral prescription medication that may help prevent allergic symptoms.
Work with a healthcare provider to determine the best medication combination for you. People with allergic asthma or atopic dermatitis related to allergies may need other options.
Are Allergy Shots Right for You?
If your allergy symptoms are moderate to severe and negatively interfere with your life, you may want to considerallergy shots.
Unlike the treatment options above, which only treat symptoms, allergy shots attempt to re-educate your immune system over time so it won’t overreact to cat allergens. In most people, symptoms decrease or resolve completely after their course of allergy shots, sometimes permanently.
However, allergy shots typically require many in-office appointments, which can be time-consuming and expensive, so you should consider what makes sense for you.
Reduce Your Exposure to Cats
Reducing your exposure to cat allergens is one of the simplest ways to reduce your symptoms.
If a friend or relative has a cat, avoid spending time at their house. When traveling, choose lodging that is always pet-free. If you spend time in a house with someone’s cat, shower and change your clothes when you get home.
Some people decide not to own a cat, or they might choose to rehome their animal if it is causing a lot of problems. However, symptoms might not decrease for several months. If you have multiple cats, keeping just one might help you reduce symptoms.
Even if you have a cat that you decide to keep, reducing your exposure to the animal may help. Aim to keep cats out of the room where you sleep and limit their access to other rooms, especially carpeted ones. Limit how much you touch your cat, and wash your hands afterward if you do.
Additional Tips for Living With a Cat
For many, their cats are part of the family, and rehoming them isn’t an option. By taking additional steps to lower pet allergens, you may be able to reduce your symptoms.
Summary
Cat allergies are prevalent and cause symptoms like red and watery eyes, stuffy nose, post-nasal drip, and sneezing as your body’s immune system overreacts to one or more allergens found in your cat’s dander, saliva, or urine. An allergist can diagnose a cat allergy with a blood or skin prick test.
Over-the-counter medications can help reduce symptoms, but they are imperfect and don’t treat the root cause. You can also reduce the amount of cat allergens in your environment, even if you don’t want to rehome your cat. For a more long-term solution, some people with more severe symptoms might consider a course of allergy shots.
8 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.Dávila I, Domínguez-Ortega J, Navarro-Pulido A, et al.Consensus document on dog and cat allergy.Allergy. 2018;73(6):1206-1222. doi:10.1111/all.13391Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Pet allergy.Seidman MD, Gurgel RK, Lin SY, et al.Clinical practice guideline: allergic rhinitis executive summary.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;152(2):197-206. doi:10.1177/0194599814562166Pflipsen MC, Vega Colon KM.Anaphylaxis: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(6):355-362.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Eczema.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergic asthma.Sparkes AH.Human allergy to cats: a review for veterinarians on prevalence, causes, symptoms and control.J Feline Med Surg. 2022;24(1):31-42. doi:10.1177/1098612X211036793Ortiz RA, Barnes KC.Genetics of allergic diseases.Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2015;35(1):19-44. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2014.09.014
8 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.Dávila I, Domínguez-Ortega J, Navarro-Pulido A, et al.Consensus document on dog and cat allergy.Allergy. 2018;73(6):1206-1222. doi:10.1111/all.13391Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Pet allergy.Seidman MD, Gurgel RK, Lin SY, et al.Clinical practice guideline: allergic rhinitis executive summary.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;152(2):197-206. doi:10.1177/0194599814562166Pflipsen MC, Vega Colon KM.Anaphylaxis: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(6):355-362.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Eczema.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergic asthma.Sparkes AH.Human allergy to cats: a review for veterinarians on prevalence, causes, symptoms and control.J Feline Med Surg. 2022;24(1):31-42. doi:10.1177/1098612X211036793Ortiz RA, Barnes KC.Genetics of allergic diseases.Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2015;35(1):19-44. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2014.09.014
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.
Dávila I, Domínguez-Ortega J, Navarro-Pulido A, et al.Consensus document on dog and cat allergy.Allergy. 2018;73(6):1206-1222. doi:10.1111/all.13391Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Pet allergy.Seidman MD, Gurgel RK, Lin SY, et al.Clinical practice guideline: allergic rhinitis executive summary.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;152(2):197-206. doi:10.1177/0194599814562166Pflipsen MC, Vega Colon KM.Anaphylaxis: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(6):355-362.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Eczema.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergic asthma.Sparkes AH.Human allergy to cats: a review for veterinarians on prevalence, causes, symptoms and control.J Feline Med Surg. 2022;24(1):31-42. doi:10.1177/1098612X211036793Ortiz RA, Barnes KC.Genetics of allergic diseases.Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2015;35(1):19-44. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2014.09.014
Dávila I, Domínguez-Ortega J, Navarro-Pulido A, et al.Consensus document on dog and cat allergy.Allergy. 2018;73(6):1206-1222. doi:10.1111/all.13391
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Pet allergy.
Seidman MD, Gurgel RK, Lin SY, et al.Clinical practice guideline: allergic rhinitis executive summary.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;152(2):197-206. doi:10.1177/0194599814562166
Pflipsen MC, Vega Colon KM.Anaphylaxis: recognition and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;102(6):355-362.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Eczema.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergic asthma.
Sparkes AH.Human allergy to cats: a review for veterinarians on prevalence, causes, symptoms and control.J Feline Med Surg. 2022;24(1):31-42. doi:10.1177/1098612X211036793
Ortiz RA, Barnes KC.Genetics of allergic diseases.Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2015;35(1):19-44. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2014.09.014
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