Allergy Shots, Drops or Tablets for Cat Allergy: What Works
Yes, allergy immunotherapy can reduce a cat allergy, and it is the only treatment that changes the allergy itself rather than masking symptoms. Allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy) have the most evidence for cat allergy, including placebo-controlled trials. Allergy drops (sublingual immunotherapy) are a home option prescribed off-label from FDA-approved cat allergen extract; their evidence for cat is smaller and mixed. There is no FDA-approved sublingual tablet for cat allergy in the US. Either route takes months to start helping and 3 to 5 years for lasting benefit, and people with asthma or a history of severe reactions should see an allergist in person first.
11 peer-reviewed sources
Allergy shots are the best-studied immunotherapy for cat allergy. Allergy drops are an off-label home option made from FDA-approved cat extract, with smaller and mixed evidence. No FDA-approved cat tablet exists in the US. Expect months before relief and a 3 to 5 year course.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Chet Tharpe, M.D. · Last reviewed September 2026
Key facts
Fel d 1 is the major cat allergen: 80–95% of people with cat allergy have IgE to it, and all cats produce it.
In a placebo-controlled trial, cat allergy shots cut symptom scores during cat exposure from 61.6 to 17.1, with no change on placebo.
Evidence for cat allergy drops is smaller and mixed: a 50-person placebo-controlled trial found benefit after one year; an earlier 41-person US trial did not.
There is no FDA-approved sublingual tablet for cat allergy; the approved tablets cover grass, ragweed and dust mite only.
A 2017 pharmacy review concluded that both shots and drops are valuable options for cat allergy, with drops taken at home and carrying a lower risk of severe reactions.
Treating a cat allergy without rehoming your cat
Avoidance is the standard first advice for cat allergy, but it is hard if you live with a cat, and cat allergen clings to furniture, clothes and walls for months. That leaves two approaches: control symptoms with antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays and eye drops for as long as you are exposed, or treat the sensitivity itself with allergen immunotherapy. Symptom medications help you feel better today; only immunotherapy changes the allergy.
Immunotherapy gives your immune system regular, controlled doses of cat allergen (standardized to Fel d 1) so that it gradually reacts less. It comes in two forms for cat. Allergy shots are injections given in a clinic and have the strongest cat-specific evidence. Allergy drops are held under the tongue daily at home; they use the same FDA-approved cat extract, prescribed off-label, and their cat-specific evidence is smaller and mixed. There is no FDA-approved cat tablet in the US. Both approaches are generally safe under clinical supervision and fit different people.
The first step is confirming that cat is really the trigger, with a skin or blood test, because dust mites, pollen or mold often travel with a "cat reaction". If cat exposure affects your breathing, start with an in-person allergist visit.
Shots have the most evidence for cat allergy; drops are a needle-free home option with less cat-specific evidence; no FDA-approved cat tablet exists. Asthma or past severe reactions mean an in-person allergist first.
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Curex allergy drops are taken under the tongue at home daily. Confirm your treatment quote; the company starting price is not a quote for every modality.
Allergy drops are compounded at a specialty pharmacy for each patient, and the FDA does not review compounded products for safety or efficacy.
See if allergy drops are right for youShots vs drops vs tablets for cat allergy
All three are forms of allergen immunotherapy, but only two are available for cat in the US. Compare them by fit: how much evidence you want, whether you can attend a clinic regularly, and your safety profile.
| Treatment | Efficacy | Duration | Cost (5yr) | Convenience | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allergy shots (SCIT) | Strongest cat evidence, including placebo-controlled trials (e.g. Varney 1997) | Build-up for months, then maintenance for 3–5 years | Often partly covered by insurance; copays and clinic visits recur | Regular clinic visits with a 30-minute wait after each injection | Generally safe under supervision; small risk of systemic reactions, so given where they can be treated |
Allergy drops (SLIT) | Smaller, mixed cat evidence (positive: Alvarez-Cuesta 2007; negative: Nelson 1993) | Daily at home; 3–5 years for lasting benefit | Compounded and prescribed off-label, so usually self-pay; often HSA/FSA-eligible | About a minute a day at home, no injections | Side effects are usually mild and local, such as mouth itching; severe reactions are rare |
FDA-approved SLIT tablets | Not available for cat (approved only for grass, ragweed and dust mite) | Not applicable for cat | Not applicable for cat | Not applicable for cat | Not applicable for cat |
- Efficacy
- Strongest cat evidence, including placebo-controlled trials (e.g. Varney 1997)
- Duration
- Build-up for months, then maintenance for 3–5 years
- Cost (5yr)
- Often partly covered by insurance; copays and clinic visits recur
- Convenience
- Regular clinic visits with a 30-minute wait after each injection
- Safety
- Generally safe under supervision; small risk of systemic reactions, so given where they can be treated
- Efficacy
- Smaller, mixed cat evidence (positive: Alvarez-Cuesta 2007; negative: Nelson 1993)
- Duration
- Daily at home; 3–5 years for lasting benefit
- Cost (5yr)
- Compounded and prescribed off-label, so usually self-pay; often HSA/FSA-eligible
- Convenience
- About a minute a day at home, no injections
- Safety
- Side effects are usually mild and local, such as mouth itching; severe reactions are rare
- Efficacy
- Not available for cat (approved only for grass, ragweed and dust mite)
- Duration
- Not applicable for cat
- Cost (5yr)
- Not applicable for cat
- Convenience
- Not applicable for cat
- Safety
- Not applicable for cat
Curex prescribes personalized allergy drops, including cat, after at-home testing and a telemedicine consultation with a licensed clinician. Allergy drops are compounded for each patient and prescribed off-label, made from FDA-approved allergenic extracts. If you have asthma that is not well controlled or a history of severe reactions, see an allergist in person first.
See if allergy drops are right for youFrequently asked questions
Do allergy shots work for cat allergies?
Yes, for many people. Allergy shots are the most studied form of immunotherapy for cat allergy. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 28 cat-allergic adults, symptom scores during cat exposure fell from 61.6 to 17.1 in the treated group, with no change on placebo (Varney et al., Clin Exp Allergy 1997). The US allergen immunotherapy practice parameter states that immunotherapy has been shown to be effective for cat. Shots are given in a clinic, starting with a build-up phase of weekly or more frequent injections, then maintenance injections every few weeks for 3 to 5 years.
Is there such a thing as a cat allergy shot for humans?
Yes. A "cat allergy shot" is allergen immunotherapy with standardized cat extract (measured by its main allergen, Fel d 1), given as injections under the skin by an allergist. It is not a vaccine and not a one-off injection; it is a series of gradually increasing doses followed by several years of maintenance. It is different from the cat allergy vaccines being studied for cats themselves, which aim to reduce the allergen a cat produces.
Can allergy drops help my cat allergy so I can keep my cat?
They can, for some people, but set expectations carefully. Allergy drops use the same FDA-approved cat allergen extract as shots, held under the tongue daily at home. A placebo-controlled trial of 50 people found that cat drops reduced symptoms during cat exposure after one year (Alvarez-Cuesta et al., Allergy 2007), while an earlier US trial of 41 people using a short high-dose course found no benefit over placebo (Nelson et al., JACI 1993). Drops fit people who want a needle-free home routine and accept that the cat-specific evidence is smaller than for shots. Most people also combine treatment with practical steps such as keeping the cat out of the bedroom and using a HEPA filter.
Is there an FDA-approved cat allergy tablet?
No. The FDA-approved sublingual immunotherapy tablets in the US cover grass pollen (Grastek, Oralair), short ragweed (Ragwitek) and house dust mite (Odactra). None covers cat. Cat immunotherapy under the tongue therefore uses cat allergen extract prescribed off-label, which US practice parameters describe as a decision at the prescriber's discretion. Off-label does not mean unsafe or experimental, but it does mean insurance usually does not cover the drops.
How long until immunotherapy helps a cat allergy?
Months, not weeks. With shots, many people notice improvement once they reach their maintenance dose, often within the first year. With drops, many people notice easing within 3 to 6 months, and benefit keeps building over the first two years. For results that last after treatment stops, guidelines recommend 3 to 5 years.
Who should see an allergist in person first?
See an allergist in person before starting home immunotherapy if you have asthma that is not well controlled, if cat exposure makes you wheeze, cough or feel short of breath, if you have ever had anaphylaxis or a severe allergic reaction, or if you have a food or drug allergy, are pregnant, or are arranging treatment for a young child. An allergist can check your lung function, confirm the allergy with skin or blood testing, and decide whether shots in a supervised clinic are the safer choice. Anyone who has trouble breathing around a cat should seek care promptly.
Are some cats hypoallergenic?
No cat is truly hypoallergenic. All cats produce Fel d 1, the main cat allergen, which comes mostly from skin glands and is spread through saliva and dander. Some cats produce less than others, and male cats tend to produce more, but people with a real cat allergy can still react to any breed.
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Straight answers about the company, the evidence, what patients report, and what it costs — including the parts that are not flattering.
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Curex allergy drops are a personalized sublingual extract, prescribed by a board-certified allergist and shipped to your door — taken daily at home with no needles and no routine clinic visits. Confirm your current treatment quote. HSA/FSA eligible.
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Allergy drops are compounded at a specialty pharmacy for each patient, and the FDA does not review compounded products for safety or efficacy.
- 1Clark J, White ND. Immunotherapy for cat allergies: a potential strategy to scratch back. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2017;11(4):310-313. PMID 30202348.
- 2Varney VA, Edwards J, Tabbah K, et al. Clinical efficacy of specific immunotherapy to cat dander: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Clin Exp Allergy. 1997;27(8):860-867. PMID 9291281.
- 3Ewbank PA, Murray J, Sanders K, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled immunotherapy dose-response study with standardized cat extract. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;111(1):155-161. PMID 12532112.
- 4Alvarez-Cuesta E, et al. Sublingual immunotherapy with a standardized cat dander extract: evaluation of efficacy in a double blind placebo controlled study. Allergy. 2007;62(7):810-817. PMID 17573730.
- 5Nelson HS, Oppenheimer J, Vatsia GA, Buchmeier A. A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of sublingual immunotherapy with standardized cat extract. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1993;92(2):229-236. PMID 8349933.
- 6Abramson MJ, Puy RM, Weiner JM. Injection allergen immunotherapy for asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(8):CD001186. PMID 20687065.
- 7Cox L, Nelson H, Lockey R, et al. Allergen immunotherapy: a practice parameter third update. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;127(1 Suppl):S1-55. PMID 21122901.
- 8Greenhawt M, Oppenheimer J, Nelson M, et al. Sublingual immunotherapy: a focused allergen immunotherapy practice parameter update. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2017;118(3):276-282. PMID 28284533.
- 9Bonnet B, 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. PMID 29643919.
- 10U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Allergen extract sublingual tablets (Grastek, Oralair, Odactra, Ragwitek).
- 11American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Pet allergies. ACAAI.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about a medical condition. Content reviewed by board-certified allergists at Curex.
Allergy drops are compounded at a specialty pharmacy for each patient, and the FDA does not review compounded products for safety or efficacy.
The only FDA-approved sublingual immunotherapy products are tablets — Grastek, Oralair, Ragwitek, and Odactra — which are different from Curex drops.