Itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing after ten minutes on a friend’s sofa. Lots of people who love cats are allergic to them. Allergies to cats and dogs affect 10 to 20% of people worldwide, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Many of them live with cats anyway. Here’s what causes the allergy, and what actually helps.
The short version
- The allergy is to a protein in cat saliva and skin, not to fur.
- No cat is truly allergy-free, whatever the breed.
- Spend real time with a cat before you take it home.
- Keep the bedroom cat-free, run a HEPA filter, and wash your hands.
- See a doctor. If you have asthma, don’t take chances.
It’s not the fur
The main cat allergen is a protein called Fel d 1. It’s made mostly in the skin and saliva. When a cat licks itself clean, it spreads the protein over its coat. The fur and dead skin flakes, called dander, then carry it onto sofas, clothes and into the air.
The protein is tiny, and it travels. It settles on carpets, cushions and clothes, which is why you can sneeze in a house where the cat is out of sight.
Is there a hypoallergenic cat?
No. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says plainly that a truly non-allergic cat does not exist. Short hair or no hair doesn’t help much, because the protein comes from skin and saliva.
Cats do vary, though, even two from the same litter. Small studies have found that male cats make more of the protein than females, and that levels fall after a male cat is neutered. So a neutered cat, male or female, may be easier to live with than an unneutered tom. It’s a tendency, not a promise.
Before you adopt
Spend time with the cat you’re thinking of taking home, not just any cat. Visit more than once, sit with it, stroke it, and see how you feel over the next day. AAFA suggests fostering first to test your reaction. A rescue will usually understand.
Allergies can be stronger with some cats than others, so how you react to a friend’s cat doesn’t settle it either way.
Living with a cat when you’re allergic
- Keep the bedroom cat-free. You spend a third of your life there. AAFA advises keeping pets and their bedding out of rooms where people sleep.
- Run a HEPA air cleaner. HEPA is a type of fine filter that traps tiny particles. Run it for several hours a day, especially in the bedroom.
- Vacuum with a HEPA filter, and dust with a damp cloth. Dry dusting throws the allergen back into the air.
- Wash your hands after stroking the cat, and before you touch your face.
- Wash the cat’s bedding often, and your own cushions and throws.
- Let someone else do the brushing, ideally outside. Brushing sends allergen into the air.
- Hard floors over carpet, where you have the choice. They hold less.
Bathing the cat helps only briefly. Washing does lower the allergen on the coat, but it builds up again, and Mount Sinai says it would take washing twice a week to keep it down. Most cats hate it.
Cat food that lowers the allergen
Purina sells a cat food called Pro Plan LiveClear. It contains an antibody from eggs that binds to Fel d 1 in the cat’s mouth, so less active allergen ends up on the coat.
In the published study, 105 cats ate it for ten weeks. The active allergen on their hair fell by 47% on average, with individual cats ranging from 33% to 71%. Two things to know: the study was run by Purina’s own scientists, and it measured allergen on the cats, not symptoms in people. It may help as one measure among several. It isn’t a cure.
See a doctor
A doctor or allergist can confirm it’s really the cat you’re reacting to, and not dust or pollen. They can suggest medicines to ease symptoms. For people who don’t get enough relief, allergy shots, called immunotherapy, can slowly train the body to react less. They take a long time and regular visits.
If you have asthma, take this seriously. A cat allergy can trigger an asthma attack, sometimes within 15 to 30 minutes. Talk to your doctor before bringing a cat home, and never ignore wheezing or tightness in your chest.
Questions people ask
Are there hypoallergenic cats?
No. Every cat makes the main allergen, Fel d 1, in its skin and saliva. Some cats make less than others, and studies suggest unneutered males make the most.
Can you live with a cat if you’re allergic?
Many people do, with a cat-free bedroom, a HEPA air cleaner, regular cleaning and handwashing, and help from a doctor. Spend time with the cat before adopting, and speak to a doctor first if you have asthma.
Can you grow out of a cat allergy?
Some people find their symptoms change over time, but you can’t count on it. Allergy shots are the treatment that aims to reduce the allergy itself. Ask a doctor or allergist.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have allergy symptoms or asthma, speak to a doctor or allergist.
Can’t have a cat at home? You can still get to know the cats on your street. Snap them, name them, and collect them in your CatDex.
