11 Tips and Remedies to Reduce Your Cat Allergies

According to a study published by the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, "globally domestic cats (Felis catus) are considered the second most common cause of indoor respiratory allergies and the third most common overall (after pollens and house dust mites)."

As a cat mom and animal shelter volunteer with pet allergies, I can tell you firsthand how detrimental pet allergies are for animal lovers. From as early as I can remember, we've always had cats. I loved them dearly, but playtime with my pets always ended in hives, sneezing fits, and itchy, watery eyes. I am 31 now, and not much has changed. I still have kitties, and I still have cat allergies.

About a year ago, I developed some food allergies, which caused a severe uptick in my pet allergy symptoms, and I got a referral to an allergy specialist.

My allergist's first recommendation was to rehome my pets and quit volunteering at the shelter — two things that bring me so much joy. Binx and Bilbo are like my children, and I could never give them up. She told me that avoidance is always their first course of action but that she respected my decision not to rehome, and we created an alternative game plan centering around supportive meds and immunotherapy instead.

At the shelter, I see the other side of the coin. People often come in to surrender or return pets because of allergies. Not only is this a difficult choice for pet parents, but it is incredibly stressful for pets and adds additional strain on the already overburdened shelter system.

But it doesn't have to be this way. There are ways to manage allergies AND keep your pets (besides just taking antihistamines and grinning and baring it.)

Recent years have seen many scientific advancements that can ensure you can live comfortably without giving up on pet parenthood — From allergen-reducing pet food to special air filters, even a cat allergy vaccine currently undergoing clinical trials! But before we get into how to deal with pet allergies, let's talk a little about how they develop.

Cat allergies, like most allergies, are a case of mistaken identity. When a person inhales, eats, or has skin contact with an innocuous substance like the protein in cat dander, the body will sometimes mistake it for a dangerous foreign body. (Let’s face it—the human body can be dramatic!)

When this happens, the immune system will launch a histamine attack, sending chemical signals throughout the body, causing inflammation and fun symptoms like swelling, hives, and sneezing.

Contrary to popular belief, cat hair and dander aren’t what makes you react — proteins in the cat's saliva and urine are the culprit, namely, the Fel D 1 protein. Fel D 1 is secreted in cats' saliva, and when they groom, this protein coats their hair and dander, and is what makes you sneeze!

How allergies develop is a source of debate among scientists. Some believe exposure to an allergen when you're in an immunocompromised state (like when you have a cold) can trigger an allergy.

Another school of thought says whether or not a child is exposed to allergens early on can trigger allergies, with some speculating that early exposure to allergens can prevent allergies. In contrast, others say early exposure can CAUSE allergies.

The truth is, scientists aren't exactly sure why some people develop allergies and others don't. But we do know that genetics play a pretty significant role in the development of allergies — in fact, kids are 60-80% more likely to have allergies if their mom and dad do.

So, how do you know if you're allergic to cats? The signs of cat allergies look different in all allergy sufferers. Some people experience more of a respiratory reaction (with outward symptoms like sneezing and congestion), whereas others are prone to skin or eye reactions like swelling, itching, redness, and hives.) Here are some tell-tell symptoms of a cat allergy:

• Reactions to a skin-prick test for cat allergens
• Localized swelling when a cat scratches you
• Itchy, watery, irritated, or swollen eyes
• IBS-like symptoms (less common)
• Hives or itching
• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Sneezing

Using an allergy & asthma certified or High-Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) filter in your home is a simple way to keep excess dander from circulating in the air. Cat hair and dander are super lightweight and can linger in the air for quite some time.

These special filters are a tad more expensive than basic ones, but they're able to filter out much smaller particles due to the size of the mesh. (Switching to a HEPA filter for allergies was a game-changer for us!)

Making your bedrooms off limits to Fluffy can reduce your exposure and symptoms, especially when combined with regular cleaning, bathing, and specialty diets.

Did you know that unaltered male cats produce more allergens than their neutered or female counterparts? According to Allergist Dr. Andrew Kim, "Unneutered males, produce more Fel d 1 than female cats. Testosterone increases glandular secretions,"

Getting your furbaby fixed is an easy way to reduce allergens and overpopulation, too!

The single best decision I've ever made for my allergies was switching my cats to an allergen-reducing cat food. At this time, Purina LiveClear is the only cat food on the market that can reduce the amount of active Fel D1 in cat saliva and dander (the protein that triggers most cat allergies.)

This food took a decade of research and create and won the Product of the Year in the cat category in 2021, the year after it hit shelves.

Over the years of research, Purina's team of experts found that when chickens are raised around cats, they produce an antibody that neutralizes the protein people are allergic to. These antibodies are then passed down to their young or unfertilized eggs through the egg yolk.

Scientists discovered that when they used these special egg yolks in cat food, the cats had a reduction in active Fel D1 secretions up to 71%.

The website states that Purina LiveClear is "shown to reduce the major allergen in cat hair and dander by an average of 47% starting in the third week of daily feeding."

I, as well as my family members with allergies, saw a significant improvement in allergy symptoms within the first week and a half of feeding this food. Now, after using this food exclusively for 3 months, I can happily say I no longer react to my cats at all! 

Allergies and carpeted floors do not mix well since allergen particles like cat dander, dust, and yucky mold can get stuck in the fibers.

Unfortunately for us allergy sufferers, carpet is one of the most popular flooring types, and replacing it is expensive and time-consuming. But there are things you can do to reduce your allergen load when living in a carpeted household.

First and foremost, vacuum daily — bonus points if you invest in a HEPA vacuum, which will trap more allergens than a traditional canister vac. When you're done, make sure to empty the canister in an outdoor receptacle (preferably with a dust mask on!)

Speaking of bedding, you'll want to wash it regularly, along with your blankets and curtains. Even if you don't let your cats around these fabrics, the dander and hair can float through the air and become trapped in the fibers.

Don't underestimate the power of a steam cleaner! Steam cleaning can reach embedded hair and dander deep into the fibers that regular vacuuming can miss. Steam cleaning is a great way to clean and refresh your sofas and sectionals, as well!

Get into the habit of bathing and grooming your cat regularly — or even better — have it done by a professional! You would be amazed at how much of a difference a good brushing and a bath can make for allergy symptoms.

I understand that bathing an uncooperative cat isn't the easiest feat, but luckily, there are products on the market that will get the job done without water (or the claw marks that come with it!)

Neither of my cats are particularly fond of baths, so we have an arsenal of cat wipes, allergen-reducing cleansing foams, and dry shampoos. Purina LiveClear makes an excellent cleansing foam specifically designed to reduce the protein in dander that triggers allergies!

There are many supportive meds that you can get over the counter to treat allergy symptoms, but it's important to always talk to your doctor before you try a new medication.

Antihistamines (especially non-drowsy, second-generation antihistamines like Zyrtec and Claritin) are great daily medications to help manage allergies.

Benedryl is one of the most potent and fast-acting antihistamines you can get over the counter, but it can cause extreme drowsiness, so most people reserve it for severe reactions.

Over-the-counter decongestants can help with the stuffiness cat allergies can sometimes bring. As for those itchy eyes, try allergy-relieving eye drops like Pataday — I keep a bottle in my purse!

Immunotherapy can be a great long-term cat allergy treatment option for allergy sufferers. Usually, this takes the form of allergy shots, where an allergist formulates a serum based on your allergy profile and injects increasingly larger concentrations of serum into your skin until your body develops immunity to your triggers.

The serum is individually tailored to the patient's allergens and contains small doses of the things they're allergic to, like cat dander, pollen, mold, and so on.

Unfortunately, this is a long process that takes between 3 to 5 years on average. At my allergy clinic, patients must come in for shots at least once a week, but some patients come as many as 3 times a week to help them reach their maintenance dose and immunotherapy goals faster.

To qualify for allergy shots, you must have an allergy prick test to confirm your allergies and a consultation with an allergist to determine if immunotherapy is right for you. There are certain medications like beta-blockers that can put you at higher risk for adverse reactions with immunotherapy, so make sure you're open with your doctor about any medications you're on.

If you have cat allergies, allergy shots might be worth a shot!

Diet can have a significant impact on environmental and pet allergies. Some foods like tomatoes and bananas are considered histamine liberators and can cause people to react more severely to their triggers. People with severe allergies may want to avoid histamine liberators and high-histamine foods like fermented foods, cheeses, and alcoholic beverages. One of the simplest remedies for cat allergies is to supplement your diet with anti-inflammatory foods and antioxidants to reduce your immune response.

Some examples of things you can add to your diet to help combat the symptoms of cat allergies include:

• Echinacea supplements
• Bee Pollen
• Walnuts
• Tumeric
• Salmon
• Onions
• Ginger
• Honey
• Citrus

Can you develop an allergy to cats even if you've had them your whole life?

Yes, allergies can develop at any point in life, even into your senior years! Often, they come on without any warning!

Does having a cat allergy mean I have to rehome my cat?

NO! Many people mistakenly assume because they have a mild or moderate cat allergy, they will have to rehome their pets.

Some allergists will suggest this to help with avoidance, but there are plenty of other ways to combat and manage pet allergies. Moreover, people with cat allergies who rehome their pets can still have symptoms for up to 6 months after rehoming since dander can stick around for a long time! Many people with cat allergies live happy, healthy lives with cats in their homes. I am one of them!

Can people with cat allergies have an anaphylactic reaction to cats?

While it is very rare, there is a chance people with cat allergies could develop a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. If you have symptoms of anaphylaxis, call 911 and use an epi-pen if you have it.

What are the symptoms of a life-threatening pet allergy?

Symptoms of a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction include:

• Swelling of the mouth, throat, or tongue
• Abnormally weak or fast pulse
• Loss of consciousness
• Breathing difficulties
• Low blood pressure
• Upset stomach
• Dizziness

If you have any of these symptoms, get to an ER immediately, and use an Epi-pen if you have one.

Is there a cat allergy vaccine?

As of now, there are no FDA-approved vaccines to prevent or treat cat allergies, but cat lovers will be delighted to know one is currently undergoing human clinical trials! Depending on the outcome of these trials, a cat allergy vaccine may be in our near future!

Immunotherapy, aka allergy shots, is widely available in the states but isn't technically a vaccine. Unlike a vaccine, these are given weekly in increasing doses to get the body accustomed to the allergen gradually.

Can you stop being allergic to cats?

Yes! You absolutely can stop being allergic to cats. Some children outgrow their allergies naturally. Adults with cat allergies can also become accustomed to cat allergens naturally or develop immunity through immunotherapy (aka allergy shots.)

Having a cat allergy as a cat lover is super frustrating, but it isn't the be-all end-all — nor does it mean you have to give up your furbabies! Some ways you can manage your allergies include regular deep cleaning, starting your cat on allergen-reducing cat food like Purina LiveClear, weekly grooming, and adding immune-boosting foods and supplements to your diet.

In the meantime, over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants, and allergy-relieving eye drops can help keep symptoms at bay. If you're interested in a long-term solution, allergy shots can help you build immunity, but these can take up to 5 years to take full effect.

There is currently a cat allergy vaccine undergoing human clinical trials, which is a promising advancement for us allergy sufferers. Who knows, maybe in a few years, cat allergies will be a thing of the past!

Don't get discouraged. It may take a bit of diligence, but you and your kitty can have your happy ever after — allergies and all!