Cat allergy

Sophie Matzik is a freelance writer for the medical team.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

Cat allergy (cat hair allergy) is an overreaction of the immune system to certain proteins that are released by cats. These are mainly found in the cat's saliva and urine and from there get into the air. In extreme cases, an untreated cat allergy can lead to bronchial asthma. Read everything you need to know about cat allergies here.

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. J30

Cat allergy: description

A cat allergy is an allergic reaction to certain substances in cats. With their saliva, urine and the secretion of the skin glands they give off a certain protein. These proteins are distributed in the room air via dust particles and cat hair. Even the smallest amounts can irritate mucous membranes and human respiratory tract and trigger allergic reactions.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the cat's hair that causes cat allergies. The term cat hair allergy is therefore not completely medically correct. Nevertheless, the cat allergy is often still referred to as a cat hair allergy in common parlance.

Of the pet hair allergies, cat allergy is the most common. People who have had an allergic reaction to cats usually have a persistent allergy afterwards.

Cats don't all produce the same type of allergen. This protein can be slightly changed in different types of cats. In most cases, people who are allergic to cats are allergic to all types of cats. However, it also happens that, for example, only angora cats trigger reactions.

A cat allergy manifests itself through various symptoms. Cat allergy sufferers suffer from itching or sneezing fits, for example. These complaints are not dangerous, but they are very annoying. If left untreated over a long period of time, asthma can develop in a cat allergy.

The answer to the question "Cat hair allergy - what to do?" Is mostly based on the subjective assessment of those affected. In many cases, a cat allergy causes so little discomfort that a visit to the doctor is not necessary. In some people, the severity of the symptoms increases over time, so that a cat allergy is often not treated until many years after it develops.

Cat allergy: symptoms

You can read everything you need to know about the symptoms of cat allergies under Cat Allergy Symptoms.

Cat allergy: causes and risk factors

Triggers of a cat allergy are actually harmless proteins that are found in saliva, urine, the secretion of the skin and sebum glands and in the tear fluid of cats. Recent studies show that the proteins are probably formed in the animals' skin.

The reason why some suffer from a cat allergy is due to a malfunction of the immune system. In allergy sufferers, the proteins trigger an excessive reaction of the immune system. Such substances are called allergens. Not every person with a cat allergy will react to all types of cats with the same allergy symptoms.

Cats produce different amounts of Fel d 1 depending on their age, sex and breed. This is what the cat allergen is called, after the Latin name for the house cat, Felis domesticus. Certain types of cats also have other Fel d allergens. To date, Fel d allergens from 1 to 7 are known.

Through daily cleaning and licking, the animals distribute the proteins on their fur or through the urine in the litter box. The proteins are distributed in the room air through dust particles that adhere to the proteins, as well as hair and flakes of skin that cats continuously lose. Cat owners in particular have hair or flakes of skin on their animals' clothing and body. In this way, allergens get to places where no cats are at all.

Incidentally, a cat allergy does not only exist against domestic cats. Big cats such as tigers and lions also produce this allergen. People who have a cat allergy can therefore also show symptoms in the zoo or circus.

Cat allergy: examinations and diagnosis

The right person to contact if you suspect a cat allergy is a specialist in allergies (allergist). If you are not sure what the causes of your symptoms are, you can also see your general practitioner first. In any case, the medical history (anamnesis) is taken in an initial interview. You have the opportunity to describe your complaints in detail. The doctor can ask questions such as:

How long have the complaints existed?
Do you have these symptoms predominantly when you are indoors?
Do these complaints only occur in your house or elsewhere?
Do you have pets, and if so, which ones?

If an allergy is suspected, a special allergy test is carried out after taking the medical history. In most cases, the so-called prick test is used. In the prick test, various allergens are dropped on the forearm or back of the person affected. Then the skin underneath is carefully scratched. There are no skin changes in people without an allergy. If there is a cat allergy, the skin under the relevant allergen will redden after about 15 to 20 minutes and swell slightly.

A blood test is then carried out to confirm the diagnosis. The blood is tested for antibodies it contains (enzyme allergy sorbent test). This blood test is somewhat more expensive than other examination methods and is therefore only carried out if the doctor suspects a certain allergen to be the trigger. Other illnesses such as hay fever, asthma or an infection can thus be ruled out.

The so-called provocation test is often used in the past, but is rarely used today. In the provocation test, the allergen is introduced directly into the nose to trigger the suspected allergic reaction.The provocation test is relatively dangerous because the severity of the allergy cannot be estimated beforehand and is therefore only carried out under strict supervision.

Allergy diary

In some cases, the doctor cannot make a suspected diagnosis at the first interview. Then a second appointment will be made a few months apart. During these months, the doctor will ask you to keep some kind of diary of your symptoms. In it you should state:

Type, severity and duration of the complaints
Time of day they performed
Taking medication
nourishment
activities
Environmental influences

By evaluating the allergy diary, the doctor receives more specific information about the cause of the allergy. In uncertain cases, skin tests and blood tests are only carried out after a second consultation with the doctor.

The question “Cat allergy - what to do?” Also depends on the severity of the symptoms and any other additional triggers that may be present. In most cases, the severity of the symptoms can be determined based on the medical history and the allergy test. The type of therapy will then be determined depending on how much you feel impaired by the allergy in your everyday life.

Cat allergy: treatment

The question "What to do if you are allergic to cats" is not something that pet owners like to ask. Because the first rule for treating a cat allergy is simple: treating a cat allergy means avoiding the trigger - even if this is difficult, in most cases the cat has to be given away.

If the cat is out of the house, upholstered furniture, carpets and all surfaces must be cleaned thoroughly. Nevertheless, it can happen that allergens are still in the apartment many months later. However, you can come into contact with allergens anywhere outside the home, for example through other cat owners. Particularly in the case of a severe cat allergy, the answer to the question "What can be done about a cat allergy?" Must definitely start medical treatment.

Cat allergy: treatment by the doctor

A cat allergy can have different types of symptoms. Sometimes the skin is affected, and a cat allergy can cause rashes, itching and reddening of the skin. In mild cases, these complaints can simply be treated with special creams. These contain substances such as dexpanthenol, urea or aloe vera, which soothe skin irritations.

Various medications can also be used to treat acute symptoms of cat allergy. Antihistamines, for example, reduce the body's sensitivity to histamine or inhibit the release of histamine. These include, for example, active ingredients such as cetirizine, fexofenadine or loratadine.

For allergic rhinitis with swollen mucous membranes and shortness of breath, solutions for inhalation with beta2-sympathomimetics such as salbutamol are recommended. These free the bronchi and make breathing easier. Decongestant nasal sprays also help. However, these should not be used for longer than a week, otherwise the body will get used to these substances.

Medicines used to treat cat allergies can be taken both after symptoms appear and for prevention. For example, if a visit to the home of a pet owner is planned, antihistamines can help prevent an allergic reaction in advance.

Cat allergy: desensitization

Desensitization (also called hyposensitization) against cats is recommended for allergy sufferers who either deal with cats at work or suffer from contact with the allergen despite medication. Desensitization is possible with different types of allergies. It is intended to reduce the sensitivity of allergy sufferers to allergens. The allergy sufferer is confronted with ever higher doses of the allergen over a period of several months. After desensitization, contact with allergens should only trigger minor reactions.

Cat allergy - what helps with a slight allergy?

If you have only moderate symptoms of a cat allergy and you cannot imagine doing without your pet, you can try to keep the concentration of allergens in the household as low as possible. To do this, ventilate as often as possible. Vacuum up upholstered furniture and carpets regularly and collect as few dust traps as possible (pillows, upholstered furniture, carpets, soft toys) in your apartment.

You can also set up special room air filters (available from hardware stores, for example). If possible, try to at least keep your cat out of the bedroom and always wash your hands after direct contact with your cat. In addition, the cat should be brushed regularly by someone who is not allergic to cats - preferably outdoors and not in the apartment. However, if the symptoms worsen, the cat should be given up.

Cat allergy: disease course and prognosis

The course and prognosis of cat hair allergies are primarily based on the behavior of those affected. Failure to avoid an allergen (in this case the cat) can make the cat allergy worse. Under certain circumstances, bronchial asthma can develop over a long period of time in an untreated cat allergy (so-called change of floor). Those affected suffer from this for a lifetime.

Contact with cat allergens cannot always be reliably avoided. In the case of mild allergies, it is often enough to reduce it. However, in the event of severe reactions, you should definitely have the cat allergy treated by a doctor. Then there is usually a good prognosis. Excessive exposure to cats should be avoided if possible, even after treatment of a cat allergy.

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