Symptoms and Causes

Many people are allergic to cats. Symptoms can include:

  • Coughing, wheezing, chest tightening - symptoms of asthma;
  • Watering, itchy, puffy eyes;
  • Sore and / or scratchy throat;
  • Hayfever - congested or runny nose, sneezing;
  • Itchy skin, ezcema

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the cat's hair which causes the allergic reaction. The problem is a sensitivity to the cat glycoprotein Fel d1, which is secreted by the cat's sebaceous glands (in the skin) and in the saliva. Due to grooming, the allergens in the saliva end up on the hair. Similarly, for people allergic to dogs, the reaction is to the dog glycoprotein Can f1 (most commonly found in the saliva & the urine). The allergens are also found in the dander (materials shed from various animals, similar to dandruff or pet pollen - e.g. dead skin, hair, feathers) of both cats & dogs.

Allergen production tends to increase as the pet ages & so while kittens and puppies might not cause a reaction, adult cats and dogs might.

Many people who are allergic to cats become, over time, immune to allergic symptoms from their own cats, however, they may still have allergic reactions to other cats.

So what is the solution?

Regularly brushing your cat will reduce the amount of loose fur in the air.

Allergies are cumulative - that is to say that every allergen e.g. dust, pollen, mould - will add to the reaction. Thus reducing other allergens in your house can help reduce the cumulative total & hence possibly reduce the reaction to below your personal threshold.

For a lot of people, regular hay fever medication medication or over-the-counter antihistamines do the trick. Specific illnesses caused by allergies such as asthma and eczema may require other treatments.

Another option is a product made by Bio-Life UK Ltd called "Petal Cleanse/C for cats" (they also make "Petal Cleanse/D for dogs"). This is a lotion comprising a unique blend of cleansers and moisturisers. The cleansers gently remove the dander and saliva from the coat, eradicating the Fel d1 allergens. The moisturisers condition the coat and skin to further reduce the amount of material shed (dander).

It is simple to use & only needs to be applied to the pet once per week.

Petal CleanseTM claims to give immediate relief to contact dermatitis and eczema caused by pet allergy; for asthma sufferers it can take up to 3 weeks to relieve the symptoms - this is because it takes time to reduce the build-up of airborne allergens in the home environment.

We have heard from many people who have found Petal CleanseTM to be highly effective.

The manufacturer says that in trials carried out in the UK, over 90% of the people suffering only from pet allergies benefited from using Petal CleanseTM. In addition, individuals also suffering from other allergies said that they had been able to reduce their other medication use by up to a half.

Bio-Europe UK Ltd points out that if the allergy symptoms have not been relieved after 3 Petal CleanseTM treatments, sufferers should consult their GP or an Allergy Specialist because this may indicate that the cause of their symptoms is not pet-related.

The manufacturers say that Petal CleanseTM is safe for cats and dogs and in fact, the only side effect you might observe is that your cat (or dog) has a shinier coat and beautifully conditioned skin!

Breakthrough for Children

Asthma Specialists estimate that 40% of asthmatic children are allergic to pets; in these circumstances Petal CleanseTM is potentially a major breakthrough. Note: do NOT alter the medications prescribed by your doctor or GP without their specific consent!

Further information on Petal CleanseTM:

Petal CleanseTM is made by Bio-Life Europe Ltd - visit their website www.bio-life.co.uk. Petal CleanseTM is not expensive & is sold by various online shops e.g.www.petremedies.co.uk

Alternatively, you can order directly from Bio-Life Europle Ltd on their Allergy Helpline, Tel No. 01608 686626 (Open 8am to 8pm, 7 days per week).