It is no secret that pet allergies and cat allergy in particular are common in the United States. We are a pet loving nation with approximately 73 million dogs and 90 million cats in the United States according to the 2005 - 2006 American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) survey of pet owners.
With such a large number of pets in our homes, it is no wonder that pet allergy is a common problem. But how often is kitty blamed and removed from the family without a proper trial, including evidence? Stop into any animal shelter and you will find many animals that came from loving homes all because a doctor said they must go.
It is true that cats secrete a glycoprotein, Fel d 1, in their saliva and urine. Small amounts also come from the sebaceous glands. When the cat grooms, the saliva adheres to the fur and skin (dander) of the animal. This then flakes off and becomes airborne. It may be quickly inhaled, or it may stick to any of a number of fibers in the house. Carpets, upholstered furniture, and bedding are the most common places for the allergen to hide. Then, as the inhabitants (two and four-legged) move about the house, they will eventually cause the settled allergen to become airborne, where it is inhaled.
In an allergic person, the immune system is not functioning correctly. The body misidentifies the Fel d 1 protein as something else and calls the immune system into action. The body produces a human immunoglobulin (IgE) that binds to the surface and causes the release of histamine. The result is red, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, stuffiness or conversely a runny nose. The skin may be involved with the onset of hives, rash, or eczema. Not fun, no matter the culprit.
Proper diagnosis of pet allergy should include not only family history, history of symptoms and exposure but either a skin prick test or if the skin is in poor condition due to allergy a RAST (radioallergosorbent) test. Either of these methods will identify for certain if kitty is the offender. Many times, it turns out that kitty is not guilty as charged but instead it is the notorious household dust mite that is the offender. Do not accept a diagnosis of animal allergy that is not preceded by a positive result on either of these two tests. This is the only hard evidence available to date.
If kitty is indeed found guilty, the sentence doesn't necessarily have to include banishment for life. The key to controlling all allergic reactions is to reduce or eliminate exposure to the allergen. Since the cat allergen is a protein, it can be denatured. Denaturing is where a protein is altered so that it can no longer carry out its function at the cellular level. This happens through exposure to heat, acids, or alkali. Cooking an egg is a great example of this denaturing process in action. When you crack open a chicken egg, you see the "white" which is made up of protein. It is a thin, clear liquid. Drop it on a hot frying pan and the white becomes opaque and strands form. The protein has been denatured by heat, and I'll take mine sunny-side up with lots of black pepper.
It would not be practical or pleasant to drop kitty's saliva in the frying pan, but the same result can be achieved with certain plant-based acids and alkalis. Two companies have had success in creating denaturing agents powerful enough to neutralize the protein, but safe enough to use on kitty. The Allerpet Corporation makes 3 formulas of denaturing agents for animals. The Allerpet/C formula is specific for the Fel d 1 protein and is mild enough to be used on furred animals as small as a rabbit. Weekly application not only neutralizes any present protein, but residual action will take care of subsequent grooming by the cat. The formula must be applied weekly to be effective. The Alkaline Labs have created two sprays that can be used on furniture, carpets, drapes, and other fibers in the house. The ADS solution uses tannic acid as the denaturing agent. The downside to tannic acid is that it can stain or discolor white fabrics. Fortunately, they have recently released the ADMS spray that uses a different denaturing agent. The ADMS spray will not stain or discolor fabrics. The allergic person will also benefit from keeping the cat out of the bedroom and running a good quality HEPA filter. Some great strategies for coping with cat allergy are contained at http://allergystore.com/cat_allergies.htm.
Cheryl Krause - CEO and President of Cee DeeKay, Inc.
Cheryl has owned and operated the Allergy Store in Plantation Florida for the past 10 years. My goal is to help allergy, asthma sufferers as well as those who just want a healthier place to live and work.
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