No more sneezing and wheezing

Common Sense Solutions for Your Cat Allergies

There are a lot of people who are allergic to pets, about 5 to 10 percent of the population. Twice as many people are allergic to cats as are allergic to dogs. These allergies can range anywhere from mild to quite severe. My husband is one of them.

What causes cat allergies?

An allergy to cats is caused by the Fel d 1 protein that cats secrete in their saliva and skin and then deposit onto their coat through grooming. When the the skin dries and sloughs off in particles called dander, they contain that protein. It is these particles that get into the guardian’s system and trigger allergy symptoms.

Some say that there are hypoallergenic breeds of cats, which is not necessarily true. It has been seen that certain breeds seem to secrete less of the protein and therefore cause less symptoms. Even the hairless Sphinx is not hypoallergenic. All cats secrete some amount of the protein and all produce dander. And the amount of protein varies from cat to cat, even of the same breed. This approach is purely a trial and error process that could lead to feeling the need to re-home the unfortunate cat.

Fortunately for us cat lovers, there are so many things that can be done to help alleviate cat allergies. No longer do you have to live without the love of a feline companion just because you are allergic. Now there are ever-increasing methods of treating yourself, your home, and your cat. These methods work for shelter cats as well as purebreds so consider adopting from a shelter rather than buying from a breeder. #adoptdontshop

Controlling Cat Allergies

Many people simply take antihistamines, decongestants or nasal steroids to deal with the problem. If the allergies are mild, this is probably a workable solution for the long term. Combined with frequent hand washing, laundering of bedding on a regular basis, and a good air filtration system, this could alleviate most symptoms.

Another way to control the severity of allergies is to treat the cat through their diet. The first thing to remember is that a healthy cat will shed less. If the cat is healthy, the skin will be soft and supple and less prone to drying. This is the one of our primary methods of reducing my husband’s reactions to the Gingersnap Gang’s dander. As always it is a combination of several methods that are effective in the long run.

We feed with primarily good-quality canned food with a premium dry food for between canned food feedings. Dry food contains more fillers and preservatives that can irritate your cat’s skin. Canned food also provides much needed moisture. Cats have evolved to distrust standing water and get most of their liquid from the meat they eat. You can also get your cat a fountain that keeps water moving and encourages them to drink more.

The Ginger Boys get a daily multivitamin with Omega 3s in it for coat health. This is their “jackpot” treat. No matter where they are in the house, if you call out “Vitamins,” they will come running. In addition to reducing the shedding of dander particles, this keeps their coat soft and glossy.

Regular brushing and special pet wipes are another strategy that helps to reduce dander in the environment. When you brush your cat you are controlling the shedding process and can dispose of the shed hair safely. Anti-allergen wipes are becoming easier to find and are much easier than trying to bathe the cat with anti-allergen shampoo. Whatever method you choose, I recommend starting when the cat is a kitten so they will become accustomed to it more easily.

Eliminating Cat Allergies

Finally the key thing we do is to give all four cats “Ace Allergy Drops”, which is an extremely low dose of the oral tranquilizer Acepromazine. At such a low dose it does not affect the cat and is safe enough to be given over their lifespan. We learned about this from Jackson Galaxy’s website and asked our vet, who had used it in a previous practice. It is an inexpensive solution to the issue.

On the horizon are other tactics such as a vaccine that can be given to cats that reduces the secretion of the allergen and also a food additive that can be added to food when it is manufactured. We will continue to watch for more developments in this area.

For now we are happy to report that by using this combination of tactics, not only can he live with them, the Gang’s Daddy can hold and hug them. We are 100% cat allergy free!