Charity Issues Allergy Advice

     08 Nov 12

Cats Protection is marking Indoor Allergy Week (12-18 November) by providing tips for sufferers with the aim of helping to ease the UK’s unwanted cat problem.

While there have been conflicting studies as to whether owning a cat helps or hinders those prone to allergies, the charity is keen to stress that all is not lost if you suffer a reaction to your cat and there are plenty of means of reducing the triggers.

Cats Protection, which takes in and rehomes unwanted cats, receives hundreds of calls a year from owners wanting to give up their cat due to allergies. For this reason, Cats Protection recommends that cat owners try a few simple measures to control their symptoms including:

  • have hardwood floors, instead of carpets and blinds instead of curtains
  • avoid woollen clothing
  • designate some areas as cat-free zones, particularly bedrooms
  • open the windows for at least one hour every day and move the litter tray and cat bed away from air vents
  • regularly clean rooms where the cat sleeps – vacuumed rooms should be allowed to settle for 10 minutes as vacuuming stirs up allergens. Air filters may also help
  • fit plastic covers over cushions and mattresses
  • groom your cat daily, outdoors, and wipe him with a damp cloth
  • wash your hands immediately after petting a cat and do not rub eyes
  • wash your cat’s bed regularly
  • use conditioning products such as Petalcleanse on your cat to reduce the amount of allergen released into the environment
  • keep your cat in optimum health, with good parasite control, and seek veterinary advice in particular for any conditions that cause him to groom or scratch more frequently
  • use medications such as anti-histamine tablets or nasal spray yourself, as advised by your doctor

“Ironically it’s cats’ fastidious cleanliness that may be implicated in the majority of human allergic reactions to cats,” said Beth Skillings, Cats Protection’s Clinical Veterinary Officer. “People generally assume the cat’s hair is the problem but that is not strictly speaking the case – rather it’s proteins which are spread through the coat by the cat grooming itself. They then may become airborne when the cat scratches or is stroked. Certain cats seem to be better than others for allergy sufferers – trial and error is the only way to tell.”

As the charity is full to bursting with unwanted cats, Cats Protection advises owners discuss allergy testing with a doctor before taking any drastic action to relinquish their pet, as dust mites are by far the most common trigger for house-born allergies. Asthma sufferers may want to discuss allergy testing with their doctor before acquiring a cat.

For more information on cats and allergies, or if to find out more about adopting a cat, visit www.cats.org.uk or call the national helpline on 03000 121212