5 Little Known Facts About Cat Allergies

Pet owners are a one-of-a-kind breed. We love our fur babies as much as we do the human members of our family.

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But what if you’re one of the millions of Americans allergic to cats? Are you doomed to settle for scrolling through cat videos to get your feline fix? Or are allergy medications and avoidance enough to keep the sneezing, coughing and other symptoms at bay?

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Patients who suffer from pet allergies don’t necessarily need to keep all cats at a distance to get symptom relief. After all, what’s the point of even owning a cat if you can’t allow them to dominate a Vitamix box in your kitchen from time to time? 

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Find out everything you never knew about your cat allergies — including which triggers are actually causing your sniffles, if your cat is even triggering your allergies in the first place and how to treat the cause of your allergies (and not just the symptoms).

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1. Cat fur isn’t what’s causing your symptoms

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If your first step to fixing your cat allergies is to Google “hypoallergenic cat,” you may want to save yourself the deep dive into the complex world of hairless pets. 

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It’s a popular misconception that cat allergies are triggered by animal fur. But the cat fur (or hair) isn’t what you’re allergic to.

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Cats produce a protein called Fel d1, which is what triggers allergies. This protein is found in cat saliva, skin, fur and glands.  

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This means that all those fancy hypoallergenic pets for sale online might not be the cat’s pajamas after all.

2. Cat allergies are often more severe in the winter

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Depending on where you live. 

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If you live in a climate that gets cold in the winter (cold enough to close windows and doors and turn off fans and air conditioners), you may find your cat allergy symptoms start to intensify.

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That’s because we’re more likely to keep fans circulating or open windows to enjoy cool breezes in the warmer months. Pet allergens are more likely to get trapped indoors when homes aren’t properly ventilated. 

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If your cat allergy symptoms worsen in the winter, you may want to keep air circulating with an air purifier equipped with a HEPA-approved filter. 

3. Cat allergies can affect asthma and eczema too

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Cat allergies are linked to both asthma and eczema. People who suffer from pet allergies are also more likely to have asthma or eczema, too. 

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Your cat allergies can actually trigger and exacerbate asthma and eczema symptoms, too. Eczema, allergy and asthma symptoms can then feel like a never-ending cycle. If you have a cat and chronic eczema and asthma that doesn’t seem to get better with usual therapies, this could be due to chronic exposure to cat allergen in the home. 

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Curex helps you manage the symptoms of all three atopic conditions (while treating their cause). Receive a personalized treatment plan that includes access to a smart inhaler and to low-cost allergy and eczema prescriptions and delivery. 

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4. You may not be allergic to your cat

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Understanding your allergies is a complicated process, and cat dander is only just one possible culprit. 

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If you experience allergy symptoms every time you’re around a cat, there’s a good chance you may be allergic. But if you’ve never been tested for allergies, your self-diagnosis is simply an educated guess.

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There are dozens of common indoor and outdoor allergens. If you start sneezing and coughing whenever you’re near a cat, the feline could be the culprit — or it could be something else. 

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Other common indoor allergens include dust mites and mold. If the cat in question is an indoor/outdoor cat, it could be tracking outdoor allergens, such as pollen, around the home, triggering symptoms. 

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Bypass the guessing game with Curex’s at-home self-testing kit or concierge testing service.

The concierge testing service sends a clinician to your home or office to perform a blood draw. Results are available in three to five days. 

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Or, order an at-home self-test kit if you’re comfortable collecting a blood drop sample with a lancet yourself.   

5. There’s a vaccine for cat allergies

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If your allergy test shows you’re allergic to cats, there are ways to treat both the cause of your allergies as well as symptoms (without avoiding Whiskers altogether).

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Allergy medication has also been shown to be effective in treating cat allergy symptoms. 

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Antihistamines (such as oral tablets, eye drops and nasal sprays) and steroid nasal sprays are available both over the counter and by prescription and can be taken before exposure to cats. 

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Curex offers personalized allergy control treatment plans that include access to low-cost prescriptions and delivery for as little as $20 a month. Allergy control plans include a consultation with an allergy specialist; feel free to talk or text with your clinician as needed.

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If you’re looking for a longer-term solution that treats the cause of allergies and not just the symptoms, immunotherapy may be a great option for you!  

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Allergy immunotherapy offers long-lasting results by slowly modifying your body’s immune response to allergens, making your body more tolerant over time.

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In the U.S., allergy immunotherapy has been typically given as allergy shots by a medical professional (such as an allergist).  

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Sublingual immunotherapy (under-the-tongue) has been used for decades in Europe and is becoming increasingly more common stateside — thanks to its convenience (doses may be self-administered at home) and safety (there’s less risk of anaphylaxis with under-the-tongue immunotherapy). 

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Curex offers under-the-tongue at-home therapy that provides long-term relief. Many patients report a decrease in symptoms within six months of starting treatment. 

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Receive a personalized treatment and action plan that includes allergy testing, immunotherapy medication and access to low-cost prescriptions and delivery. Fix your cat allergies and get back to spending time with your furry friends again.