Articles: Cat Allergy Symptoms and Dealing with a Cat Allergy
Cat Allergy SymptomsBy Sven Ullmann
Cat allergy symptoms afflict many people. Sufferers are in real trouble if they happen to own a cat. This might not make sense to the ordinary person but to a cat lover it does. The symptoms may developed long after they have acquired their furry companion so getting rid of the rascal my simply not be an option. So for many cat lovers and owners living with cat allergies is a real problem that they have to live with.
Allergies in general are still not completely understood by the medical community. Inroads have been made but the fact remains that not enough knowledge has been gained on allergies to completely eliminate them. Some of the best experts on allergies in the medical community are themselves allergy sufferers. This in itself has allowed them to make the observations necessary to gain a better understanding of allergy symptoms.
Cat allergy symptoms can manifest themselves in many forms. They can appear singularly or in combination. They can come and go for no apparent reason. So you may have been mistaking your symptoms for a lingering cold and or a sore throat that comes and goes. A rash that sometimes responds to topical treatment and sometimes doesn't. Sneezing fits that you blame on dust or pollen allergies.
Some of the symptoms are clogged and ringing ears. Sneezing fits. Red and watering eyes. Burning eyes. Skin rashes. Cold-like symptoms. Sore throat. Sound familiar? If you are a cat owner and you have these symptoms on a regular basis that you may be suffering from cat allergies. You can however take steps to reduce your suffering and still keep your beloved friend.
Until recently the actual cause of the allergy symptoms was a mystery. People thought they knew but in the end no one really knew for sure what in fact was on the cat that was causing the suffering. Hair?small skin flakes? The cat box? It turns out it is the cats saliva that is the culprit. By licking its hair, which is a cats favorite past time, your cat is spreading the stuff that is the root of your suffering.
The best method of determining if you are suffering from cat allergies is to remove your cat from the house for about two weeks and vacuum and clean anything your cat is in contact with and see if the symptoms disappear or are lessened. Not doing a thorough cleaning defeats the purpose of this test. This is a common test for most allergy sufferers. Remove the suspect material and see if it goes away.
Assuming that you have made a determination that you are in fact suffering from cat allergies then the next question is what to do about it. The easiest and most complete solution short of finding your cat a new home is to make it an outside cat. This might seem like a great sacrifice to yourself but your cat may love it once it has adjusted. A cat door can be installed on a side room or garage so it can still come in from the weather.
Other solutions can be had but they are not as completely as effective as putting your cat outside. Vacuuming and cleaning your house more often helps. It's a lot more work for yourself but the allergen can be removed. Receiving medical treatment for your allergies can be effective if you respond positively to the treatment. Limiting your cats access to your whole house particularly your bedroom is a must.
About the Author: Article by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health - information on health for you and your family. Read more about cat allergy symptoms.
Source: www.isnare.com
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Dealing With A Cat AllergyBy Steve Johnson
You are suspecting that you just might be allergic to your cat but there is no way that Fluffy is going to be moving out of your house. What to do? Dealing with a cat allergy can be accomplished with a little diligence.
Finding out you are allergic to your cat can be heart breaking. There are a variety of symptoms that can occur such as sneezing, itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sinus infection, headache, and a host of other mild to moderate symptoms that if you are determined enough you can likely find some relief from and still keep Fluffy. But there are also situations that are severe and even life threatening which means you will have to find your cat a new home. Lets assume your cat allergy is one you can live with. So what to do?
Let's first have a look at some of the other symptoms that can be related to a cat allergy. The list is long - besides the symptoms already mentioned other symptoms include eye infections, redness, swelling, itching, post nasal drip, hives, rashes, itchy skin, plugged or poping ears, hoarseness, and coughing. There may also be shortness of breath, wheezing, reoccurring bronchitis which increases during tasks such as grooming or cleaning the litter box.
They may also increase when vacuuming or dusting which stirs up the dander. And often overlooked is that the allergy is actually not with the cat but with the perfumes used in cat products such as the litter. The cat allergy is caused buy allergens commonly the sebum produced by your cat. So it's not the actual cat hair that causes the allergy but rather a protein that is in the dander and the tiny particles are easily moved around.
So how do you deal with a cat allergy? There are several things you can try. HEPA filters are a great place to start. HEPA filters situated in each room of your home as well as a vacuum with a HEPA filter will certainly help reduce the allergens.
Having your cat neutered or spayed can help your cat allergy because it reduces the sebum level that is produced. Replace carpets with flooring can make a big difference because carpet traps not only cat dander but dust mites, and a host of other allergy causing things.
Bathe your cat regularly and cover your pillows and mattress with tight casings that can help. We spend half of our life sleeping so it makes sense to also keep the cat out of the bedroom. And of course you can also have the allergy shots that are designed to desensitize you.
But wait! There are some natural remedies for dealing with a cat allergy and some are very effective. Seek out the help of a naturopath or do some research online. You can find several products that might be beneficial.
First of all it is a well known fact that allergies including your cat allergy are a result of an immune system that is misfiring, so building your immune system and doing natural things to help bring your body into balance can also be very helpful.
Don't ignore the simple fixes when you are dealing with a cat allergy. Do it right and Fluffy will spend the rest of her days with you in a life of luxury!
About the Author: Get all the latest information about Allergies from the only true source at http://www.1allergyinformation.com Be sure to check out our cat allergy pages.
Source: www.isnare.com
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