2006-09-21 19:56:22 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
An allergic reaction is when your immune system reacts to foreign proteins in your body. Cats shed proteins in their saliva and skin cells (dander). The immune system sees them as infectious material and launches a response.
A new theory has that since we all became germaphobes that use "antibacterial" everything, the immune systems of little kids haven't developed correctly and turns on itself. Doctors think that's why there are so many more kids with allergies than there were before a few years ago. It also explains the rise in the deadly allergies. Peanuts were not death sentences for allergic kids until recently, and that allergy is on the rise.
2006-09-21 20:10:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was diagnosed with fairly severe cat allergies before I was 4 years old. They made my family give away the 3 cats we had at the time. When I didn't get any better at all, they figured out that it was because I was out playing with all the neighborhood cats whenever I could. My mom decided, "well, if she's going to be miserable anyway....she's gonna at least get to have a cat of her own to do it." I've been owned by cats ever since, and then went on to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine anyway.
Go figure.
2006-09-21 21:07:01 · answer #2 · answered by A Veterinarian 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am allergic to cats. My vet says it is in part the "dander" (skin oil) on the cat's fur and in part the cat's saliva. Shorthaired dogs affect me the same way.
He did say, it sounds stupid, but if you live with a cat all the time your system gets used to it. I found this to be true unless I touched the cat and then rubbed my eyes, or if he scratched me, which he seldom did.
I adopted a rescue cat and lived with him for 10 yrs (no one owns a cat!) until his death and we got along fine as long as I kept my hands off my eyes! I miss him terribly.
2006-09-21 20:44:07 · answer #3 · answered by anna 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure... But a dog I lived next to years ago was allergic to itself........it had to wear a t-shirt all the time... So I guess its possible for a dog to be allergic to a cat.
2016-03-27 01:55:10 · answer #4 · answered by Debra 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are allergic to a substance in the cats' saliva, and since the cats lick themselves that goes on theri hairs, which float in the air and they inhale them, so the substance gets in their system. However, it can be cured by allergiologists (they sort of make you immune to the substance, like a vaccine).
2006-09-21 20:00:23 · answer #5 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is the dander that ppl are allergic to. If you really want to get a cat, you can get hairless ones .. sorry cant think of the proper name for them.
2006-09-21 20:52:58 · answer #6 · answered by Feline Female 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I'm not allergic to cats, I think some of them are allergic to them, because of their fur, or something.
2006-09-21 20:21:58 · answer #7 · answered by MICKEY MOUSE 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I'm allergic and I hate that. I think kitties are so cute and I've tried to have one, but had to get rid of it the dander and the fur just caused my throat to close off, my eyes to swell shut, coughing, sneezing, it wasn't worth it.
2006-09-21 20:06:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
some people are allergic to dogs.....or birds. It cant be the saliva or fur then, can it?(bird saliva and fur? I doubt it)
Im thinkin its the dander.
2006-09-21 20:34:46 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard it is the cat's saliva and their "dust" dandruff attached to hairs floating in the air and coming in contact with you.
2006-09-21 20:04:28 · answer #10 · answered by Angelfood 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋