Cat Dander Allergen Facts, Symptoms, and Treatment
Learn more about common allergic diseases, symptoms, management paradigms, and testing considerations.
Is your patient a candidate for specific IgE testing?
Get detailed information on whole allergens and allergen components.
Ready to test a patient?
Access videos and webinars delivered by key experts in the field of allergy.
Learn more about common allergic diseases, symptoms, management paradigms, and testing considerations.
Is your patient a candidate for specific IgE testing?
Get detailed information on whole allergens and allergen components.
Ready to test a patient?
Access videos and webinars delivered by key experts in the field of allergy.
Up to 60 percent of European and U.S. households contain pets, and cats and dogs are the two most popular varieties.1 Unfortunately, allergies to cats affect 7 to 25 percent of the population.2 These allergic individuals, then, are sensitized to one or more allergens that are present in cat saliva, urine, and dander. However, these allergens often stick to animal hair and dander and are easily dispersed; plus, they can become airborne and linger suspended in air.1,3 Those allergic to cat allergens may experience symptoms when allergens are inhaled (either via direct or indirect contact with a cat) and when allergenic proteins are delivered via cat bite.1 Regardless of hypoallergenic claims, all cats produce a key allergic protein, with males having a higher concentration.4
While cat allergens are present in the animal's saliva, urine, and dander, they can become airborne and linger suspended in air for long periods.1,3 Plus, they can end up in myriad environments including those with or without cats, such as schools, day-care centers, households, and transportation facilities.1 These allergens also can cling to many surfaces, such as bedding, clothing, and upholstered furniture, making them ubiquitous.1,7 And unfortunately, cat allergens can cause year-round symptoms and may remain in an environment for months without degrading.4
Some people with a cat allergy may also experience symptoms when exposed to dander, saliva, and urine from other mammalian animals, such as dogs, guinea pigs, horses, pigs, chickens, sheep, goats, rabbits, and hamsters. In addition, ingestion of foods such as milk, eggs, beef, and pork (as seen in pork-cat syndrome) may also elicit symptoms. This is called cross-reactivity and occurs when your body's immune system identifies the proteins, or components, in different substances as being structurally similar or biologically related, thus triggering a response.1
Knowing the proteins, or components, within each allergen that are triggering your symptoms can help guide your management plan. With that in mind, and based on your symptom history, your healthcare provider may suggest something called a specific IgE component test, which can help reveal the risk profile you belong to. Results from this test can also help your healthcare provider decide if immunotherapy may reduce your symptoms.1
Already have your specific IgE component test results?
Your component test results will include the name of the components (a series of letters and numbers). Your healthcare provider will likely review the results with you, but here you'll find an at-a-glance breakdown you can use as a reference. Simply match the component names to the list below to see what they mean in terms of symptom management.1,8
rFel d 1
rFel d 2, rFel d 4
rFel d 7
Test results should be interpreted by your healthcare provider in the context of your clinical history. Final diagnosis and decision on further management is made by your healthcare provider.
*These products may not be approved for clinical use in your country. Please work with your healthcare provider to understand availability.
If you are allergic to cats, your healthcare provider may recommend a plan that includes the following.1,3,5,7-9,10
The best way to reduce exposure is to keep cats out of your home and to avoid visiting environments with cats. However, if you can't bear to give up an existing pet, the following strategies may help reduce allergen exposure.
Your healthcare provider may direct you to employ one of the following therapies to improve your allergy symptoms:
If you're with someone who's having an allergic reaction and shows signs of shock, act fast. Look for pale, cool, and clammy skin; a weak, rapid pulse; trouble breathing; confusion; and loss of consciousness. Do the following immediately:
Symptoms of cat allergy can include:5
If you have asthma, you may also experience symptoms such as:5
In addition, some people may also experience symptoms of allergic dermatitis after direct contact with a cat. These symptoms may include:5
Although most pet-allergy symptoms occur within minutes of exposure, symptoms in some allergic individuals build over time and become most severe eight to 12 hours later.6
Together with your symptom history, skin-prick testing or specific IgE blood testing can help determine if you are allergic to a particular allergen. If you are diagnosed with an allergy, your healthcare provider will work with you to create a management plan.
*These products may not be approved for clinical use in your country. Please work with your healthcare provider to understand availability.
Sensitization to furry animals is common and a risk factor for the development of allergic rhinitis and asthma.1 In fact, high levels of IgE for cat, dog, and horse allergen components are markers for severe asthma. Sensitization to all three animals at the same time is also a risk marker of severe asthma.1,8 Also note that some animal bites are capable of producing anaphylaxis, but it's unusual for a cat bite to evoke this reaction.1