Cat Allergy, What To Do?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Allergy to cats: what to do?

Content:

• 1) Identify the source of the allergy
• 2) Be observant
• 3) minimize contact with the animal
• 4) Isolate the sleeping area
• 5) Water procedures
• 6) Daily wet cleaning of the room
• 7) take care of your immunity
• 8) General recommendations

How many negative emotions can this short word - allergy - hide for many people! In addition to unpleasant signs of allergies (runny nose, skin rashes, suffocation, etc.), the question of how to “eliminate” the allergen arises. And very often the green-eyed cat Murka or the gray-tailed cat Vasily, beloved by all family members, turns out to be an allergen. What to do in this situation? To give the cat / cat into the wrong hands? Put to sleep? Drive out into the street? But a cat is our friend, and often a family member. Unfortunately, at the very first visit to the doctor (which, of course, is necessary in this situation), his first decision will still be to urgently get rid of the allergen. Below are the recommendations, following which you may avoid the situation in which you will say goodbye to your pet forever because of your cat allergy. So:

1) Identify the source of the allergy

Analyze the situation carefully and rule out other possible causes of allergy symptoms. First of all, you need to check if the pet has an infectious and invasive disease common to humans and animals. For example, diseases such as mycoplasmosis, chlamydia or toxoplasmosis can be masked under allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. Itching and redness of the skin can be caused by a fungal infection (lichen) or a tick-borne infestation (scabies).

2) Be observant

The most important thing when trying to make life easier for an allergic person on your own is monitoring his well-being, the body's reactions to the changes that you make in order to reduce contact with allergens to a minimum. In any case, take any primary allergy symptoms very seriously.

Remember that allergies are caused not so much by the fur of the animal as by its saliva, dandruff, urine, etc. You should also know that the cause of an allergic disease can be not only the animals themselves, but also their food, litter for the toilet, pet cosmetics, toys, etc. other accessories (therefore, store food and fillers in closed containers, and wash toys at least once a week and put them in a box).

3) minimize contact with the animal

Allergy sufferers should avoid long-term close contact with an animal: ironing less often and do not pick it up, do not bring it to your face. After communicating with an animal or with its accessories, you need to wash your hands and, if possible, change clothes.

4) Isolate the sleeping area

Do not allow (or forbid) your cat to sleep on an allergic bed, even with a blanket. Close the bedroom door. Let the access be, if not completely closed, then at least severely limited. Close the door at least for the night. Many cats love, taking advantage of the fact that everyone is asleep, to bypass "hard-to-reach" or "forbidden" places during the day. Therefore, very often you can find wool on the dressing table, TV, bedside table, wardrobe …

When the door is closed, there should be no gaps in the room, otherwise any draft will fill the air with allergens. The room should use modern, powerful and high quality air purifiers. There should not be a cat in your room, ideally, if you have a very strong allergy, you should give it to relatives.

If possible, cover your mattresses and pillows with an airtight cover.

5) Water procedures

It is common knowledge that cats spend a lot of time grooming. At the same time, they leave a large amount of allergenic saliva on their cover, the hairs of which are carried throughout the apartment.

Bathe your cat at least twice a week. Naturally, it is better to entrust this procedure to other family members who do not suffer from allergies. In this case, you can use either special anti-allergenic shampoos, or just clean water. It is also necessary to scratch the pet daily with a special brush moistened with water.

6) Daily wet cleaning of the room

In addition to daily wet cleaning, it is necessary to do cleaning with a vacuum cleaner with high-purity filters every 2-3 days. Now on sale there are air purifiers, ozonizers and ionizers, which greatly reduce the number of allergens in the air and eliminate the smell of a cat, smoke from the kitchen, etc.

Books must be vacuumed and shelves must be fitted with doors or glass.

Thoroughly clean upholstered furniture or, if funds permit, replace it with leather.

7) take care of your immunity

Get tempered, eat well, get rid of bad habits - in general, lead a healthy lifestyle and improve immunity. If this does not get rid of your allergies, it will at least ease its manifestations.

8) General recommendations

Replace carpets and carpets with linoleum or wood floors. If this is not possible, they must be brushed every three days.

Interestingly, cats spread significantly fewer allergens than cats, and the younger the kitten, the fewer allergens from it. Studies have shown that, regardless of the breed or sex of the cat, many more people have allergic reactions to dark-colored or patterned cats than to light-colored cats. It should also be borne in mind that castrated cats and spayed cats are less allergic than full-fledged ones.

If the above methods did not help you in any way and you feel worse and worse, do not delay: go to an allergist and get tested.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).