How To Get Rid Of Cat Allergies Naturally

5. Moisten your pet’s fur before daily grooming – Again, your cat probably won’t like this, but it’s an effective way to manage indoor allergens. Lightly moistening their skin and then combing through it daily can remove some of the protein produced by your furry friend.

What is the fastest way to get rid of cat allergies?

One way to reduce cat allergies is limiting exposure to cat allergens. This includes cleaning more often and limiting the rooms your cat is allowed in. The best way to get long-term relief is through allergy immunotherapy which retrains your immune system to stop being allergic.

Can cat allergy be cured?

You are here: Home Help and Advice Living with Cat Allergies

by Chris Leitz As the dedicated slave to four cats that suffers from cat allergies, as well as a few other allergies, I sometimes get asked by our co-ordinator to have a chat with people that are interested in adopting a cat but are either suffering from cat allergies themselves or have a family member that is affected, and are therefore understandably weary to take this step.

Contrary to popular belief, cat hair itself is not allergenic. The cause of allergy to cats is a protein called Fel d 1 emanating from sebum found in the sebaceous glands of cats. The protein attaches itself to dried skin, called dander, that flakes off and floats through the air when cats wash themselves.

Although you may never be able to eliminate all your allergy symptoms, following these suggestions can help make living with your cat a more enjoyable experience.

Designate your bedroom as a cat-free zone, (difficult — I know). Begin your program of allergen reduction by washing bedding, curtains and pillows. Better yet, replace them. Use special covers that are designed to prevent allergens from penetrating onto your mattress and pillows. Don’t expect results overnight. Cat allergens are one-sixth the size of pollens, and it may take months to reduce them significantly. Brush your cat outside to prevent loose, allergen-carrying hair from dispersing through your home and wear gloves. Wash your hands when you have touched your cat and don’t rub your eyes. Eliminate allergen traps such as upholstered furniture and rugs. Carpet can accumulate up to 100 times the amount of cat allergens as hardwood flooring. If ripping up the carpet is not an option, have it steam cleaned as often as needed. Vacuuming blows as many allergens through the air as it removes, so when you vacuum, use an allergen-proof vacuum cleaner bag or a vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter. Get some fresh air. Highly insulated homes trap allergens as well as heat, so open the windows to increase the ventilation in your home. Wipe the dander away with a special product such as Petal Cleanse. This is a lotion composed of cleansers and moisturisers. The cleansers remove the dander saliva and urine from the coat, and encapsulate the Fel d1 allergens. The moisturisers condition the coat and skin to further reduce the amount of material shed. Tests have shown that Petal Cleanse alleviated the symptoms of 90% of sufferers. Bathing a cat is often suggested as a way to reduce the dander, but the cat would have to be washed almost daily for this to be effective, which is not practical and far too stressful for both cat and owner. Clean the cat box as soon as possible after the cat has used it. Cat allergen is found in urine and is left in the litter box when your cat makes a deposit. To help prevent allergic reactions to the litter box, use a brand of litter that is less dusty and clumps well, and have someone in the household who is not allergic clean the box ( I love this one). Wash your cat’s bedding regularly. Take your medicine. Over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines, decongestants, eye drops and aerosol inhalers will help reduce the symptoms, although they do not eliminate the allergy. Get tested. An allergy specialist can determine the exact source of your allergic reactions by a simple prick of the skin on your arm or back. Look at the whole picture. Because allergies rarely come individually wrapped, other culprits, such as dust mites and pollen, may be causing reactions, too. According to Allergy UK, an individual rarely has a single allergy. Build up resistance. There is no cure for allergy to cats (yet!), but immunotherapy may help increase your tolerance. Immunotherapy involves getting allergy shots once or twice weekly for up to six months, then monthly boosters for three to five years. Some people develop complete immunity, while others continue to need shots, and still others find no relief at all.

And finally, some interesting facts if you are considering to adopt a cat despite being allergic: Female cats produce a lower level of allergens than males, and neutered males produce a lower level of allergens than full tom cats. In 2000, researchers at the Long Island College Hospital found that cat owners with dark-coloured cats were more likely to report allergy symptoms than those with light-coloured cats.

A later study by the Wellington Asthma Research Group found that fur colour had no effect whatsoever on how much allergen a cat produced, so owner perception must be involved. Coping with an allergy to cats is nothing to sneeze at. It’s a commitment. After all, rescues receive cats for this reason every day.

Hopefully, following these tips will make a world of difference to you as a sufferer and you will be able to happily continue to live with your best friend.

Can I live with a cat if I’m allergic?

Choosing a Sneeze-Free Cat – Your fur baby can’t help that she suddenly makes you sneeze, of course. You can, however, lessen your or a family member’s allergic reactions starting with the cat you choose to bring home. While there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat, allergy-prone pet parents may want to adopt a shorthaired cat over a longhaired cat.

Shorthaired cats shed less, which means less cat hair around your home that dander can affix itself to. Hairless cats shed even less than their shorthaired cousins, for obvious reasons. The sphynx is entirely hairless and extremely affectionate. A rarer breed, sphynx are typically quite expensive, and won’t cut down on allergies altogether, since hairless cats still produce saliva and dander.

Other good breeds for people living with cat allergies include the Balinese, Cornish rex, Devon rex and Siberian.

Can you build immunity to cat allergies?

There are several ways to build immunity to cat allergies. Some will naturally develop a tolerance over time. However, most people won’t develop an immunity on their own. Allergy treatments such as immunotherapy can retrain their immune system to tolerate cat dander.

Is there a vaccine for cat allergies?

A recent study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that researchers at HypoPet have made a vaccine that could help people who are allergic to cats. The vaccine, which is called HypoCat, is not for people but for cats. It goes after a certain protein, or allergen called Fel d 1, which cats make.

How many people are allergic to cats?

A recent study investigated whether planet Earth’s only venomous primate could help us understand why so many people are allergic to cats. The researchers believe that cat allergies might be the result of an ancient defense mechanism. In the United States, cat allergies affect an estimated 12.1% of people over the age of 6 years.

1. Symptoms include itchy eyes, a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and wheezing.
2. Most commonly, the allergic reaction to cats is a response to a protein called FEL D1.
3. All cats produce FEL D1 in their saliva and release it from certain glands.
4. They spread this protein all over their body as they lick themselves.

New research by scientists from the University of Queensland in Australia might help explain why this allergy is so prevalent in humans. Their work focuses on one of nature’s most unusual mammals — the slow loris.

Can you make cats less allergic?

Photo by Michael Lawrence Shown here at home with her one-eyed cat, Pecabo, Dr. Christina McRae has seen the toll on cats of allergies. She worked in shelters and saw many cats surrendered by allergic owners. Apart from allergists, small animal veterinarians probably field more questions from allergic cat owners than any other health care practitioners.

Owners want to know whether they can alleviate their own allergies by doing things such as spritzing the fur with a special spray; giving cats low doses of the tranquilizer acepromazine; adding Brewer’s yeast to its food; removing the animal’s anal sacs; buying naturally or specially-bred “hypoallergenic” cats; and more.

Veterinarians often discourage such strategies, which have limited to no proven benefit. While keeping the home clear of fur and dander can help those with mild allergies, there currently is no such thing as allergy-proofing a cat. That could change soon.

Food: Nestlé Purina Pet Care Co. began this month selling a kibble designed to make cats less allergenic. Vaccine: A biotechnology company in Switzerland is working on shots for the cat. Gene editing: A U.S. company based in Virginia is exploring the use of technology known as CRISPR to stop cats from producing a key allergen.

Target: Fel d 1 In people with allergies, the immune system mistakes a foreign substance, sometimes called an antigen, for something harmful, and starts making antibodies to fight it. Those antibodies cause allergy symptoms such as itching, runny nose and watery eyes.

1. The phenomenon is known as the antigen-antibody reaction.
2. Cat allergies are estimated to occur in about 10% of the population worldwide.
3. Treatment options for sufferers include antihistamines, decongestants and nasal steroids.
4. Some endure a battery of injections of small amounts of an allergen for a year or more to train their immune systems to be less sensitive to cats, in a form of immunotherapy or desensitization.

Ten cat allergens have been identified as causing reactions in humans. The main culprit is a protein called Fel d 1, which is produced by salivary, sebaceous (in the skin), perianal (in the anal sacs) and lacrimal (in the eye) glands. The name is derived from the source organism’s genus name, Fel d for Felis domesticus, and 1 indicating the chronology of its discovery, based on a nomenclature approved by the World Health Organization ⁄ International Union of Immunological Societies.

1. Fel d 1 was registered with WHO/IUIS in 2003.
2. During grooming, cats spread Fel d 1 onto their hair and skin, which they shed along with fur and invisible dander.
3. Because of its small size and low weight, Fel d 1 can float in the air for long periods, and readily adheres to surfaces such as sweaters, blankets and carpeting.

For this reason, some allergists recommend rehoming the pet as the most expedient solution. “Most doctors say, ‘Get rid of the cat,’ ” said Dr. Christina McRae, a veterinarian in Ontario, Canada, who has worked in shelters and seen the outcome firsthand.

You get a lot of animals surrendered because of allergies.” Her clients, however, don’t like giving up their cats. She understands. McRae herself is allergic to cats, lives with a cat and owned a feline practice for 20 years. She’s had allergy shots, and still, at times, turns to antihistamines and nose sprays to quell bad reactions.

She washes her hands frequently and avoids things that trigger her allergy, such as perfume. “It is certainly something that really limits people’s enjoyment of their pet,” she said. Her allergies are less severe these days but at one time, they made her sick more often.

1. Still, she did not give up cats.
2. I always tell people, if I was allergic to my husband, I wouldn’t get rid of him,” she said.
3. McRae recommends to pet owners simple interventions, including avoiding scented litters, and wiping down the cat’s coat regularly.
4. Beyond that, she suggests they see an allergist and not take giving up the cat for an answer.

You shed what you eat Nestlé Purina, one of the largest pet food makers in the world, has for 10 years been investigating ways to reduce allergens in cat hair and dander through the cat’s diet, according to Janette Artea, a public relations representative for the company,

Purina Pro Plan LiveClear diet is the culmination of those efforts. The principle behind the diet, laid out in a paper by researchers at Purina and published last year in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, is to use the antigen-antibody interaction to deactivate some of the Fel d 1 by binding it to antibodies derived from chicken eggs.

According to a monograph by Purina, the approach does not stop the cat from producing Fel d 1. Instead, it transforms the Fel d 1 in saliva into a compound the human immune system doesn’t react to. The key ingredient in LiveClear binds to the Fel d 1 allergen in cats’ saliva in the cat’s mouth as it chews, Artea explained in an email to the VIN News Service.

• It is important to feed LiveClear every day as ‘free choice’ throughout the day, or serve the daily feeding amount split into two to three meals, rather than as just a single feeding only at mealtime, to continue to neutralize the allergen as it is produced,” she explained.
• In a trial involving 11 cats treated with the food, Fel d 1 levels in the saliva of nine decreased by at least 20%.

One cat showed an increase. (By comparison, Fel d 1 levels went up in five controls and down in three.) Is the novel ingredient in the diet safe for cats? To test safety, Purina for six months fed 42 cats differing levels of the antibody proteins, including levels many times greater than the amount in the Pro Plan LiveClear diet.

1. In a paper published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, the authors reported no significant differences between the control and test groups in clinical observations, body weights, food consumption, serum chemistry, hematology, blood coagulation, urinalyses, and mortality and morbidity checks.
2. Some veterinarians and nutritionists question, in general, how much diet safety can be determined from short-term feeding trials.

(The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates pet food, does not require feeding trials at all.) Dr. Hillary Israeli, a small animal veterinarian in Pennsylvania, pointed out that it took a while for potential problems to emerge in grain-free diets.

The FDA announced last year it was looking into a possible connection between grain-free diets and a heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, in dogs. Asked about the new diet from Purina, Israeli said, “There’s nobody who currently has a cat who has an urgent medical need to use this food. Why would you want your cat to be the test market?” No formal studies have been done to examine whether cat-allergic people living with cats fed the LiveClear diet experienced a corresponding reduction of symptoms.

“Purina’s research and development primarily focused on the pet food ingredient in cat food and its benefits to the cat,” Artea said. “We’ve also received positive, anecdotal feedback from consumers who have tested the product by feeding it to their pets.” How any intervention focused on deactivating or eliminating Fel d 1 will affect human allergies is an open question.

1. Dr. Jack Becker, an allergist in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, said, “At the moment, I don’t have a test to tell the patient how they would do,” he said.
2. When he tests for cat allergies, Fel d 1 is just one of multiple Fel d allergens in the test.
3. Some will do better; some will have fewer symptoms; and some it won’t help at all, Becker said.

In addition, if you take Fel d 1 out of the home, a person could develop another sensitivity to another cat allergen in its place. “We aren’t smart enough yet to know why someone becomes allergic to any particular allergen, so we can’t predict if eliminating one allergen just won’t be replaced with another, ” he said.

1. Purina began selling the LiveClear diet through veterinary clinics, pet specialty and online retailers last week.
2. It’s not cheap.
3. The suggested retail price is $7.68/pound.
4. For comparison, the suggested retail price of Purina Pro Plan Savor diet is $4.28/pound.
5. A twist on a vaccine HypoPet AG, a Swiss biotechnology company, aims to flip the treatment script.

The company spun off from the University of Zurich seven years ago to develop a vaccine for cats. If successful, it could offer an alternative to an extended course of desensitizing shots for allergic owners. As in the new Purina diet, the vaccine dubbed HypoCat uses the antigen-antibody interaction to neutralize Fel d 1.

1. Whereas the diet incorporates antibody proteins derived from chicken eggs, the vaccine aims to stimulate the cat to produce its own antibodies.
2. According to a paper published last year in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the vaccine consists of recombinant Fel d 1 and a proprietary virus-like plant particle derived from the cucumber mosaic virus that contains inactivated tetanus toxin.

The toxin is an immunogenic molecule that stimulates a long-lasting immune response to Fel d 1. In four studies involving 54 cats, the vaccine induced anti-Fel d 1 antibodies. The paper’s authors reported a reduction in the cats’ allergen levels and reduced allergenicity in the cats’ tears.

They said the vaccine was “well tolerated and had no overt toxic effect.” They also said that in the future, they would not use an adjuvant, a substance added to vaccines to boost immune response. Some veterinarians avoid adjuvanted vaccines in cats due to concerns about injection-site sarcomas. HypoPet also has completed a field study following 10 cat-allergic owners living with vaccinated cats for between six months and one year.

The results, published in the journal Viruses, reported that pet owners with cats that had received three HypoCat vaccines (given in three-week intervals) noticed a reduction in their allergic symptoms and were able to spend more time with their cats before the onset of symptoms.

HypoPet CEO and COO Gary Jennings described the study as exploratory and promising. The important correlation, he said, is that when the cat’s antibody titers were up, the human’s symptoms were down. The promising result may not be enough to persuade all pet owners — and their veterinarians — to order the treatment.

If the vaccine is safe for cats and reduces allergic reactions for humans, McRae wonders if owners will want to subject their cat to shots for what is essentially a human health condition. “Most people don’t even want to take their cat to the vet,” she said.

HypoCat is being developed through a collaboration with Benchmark Holdings, a veterinary biotechnology company in the United Kingdom, and researchers at HypoPet, the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre in Riga, and the veterinary school and genomics center at the University of Zurich. Speaking from Zurich today, Jennings said the COVID-19 pandemic is causing indefinite delays in the development of the vaccine.

But, he added, future studies would include focusing on the benefits of the vaccine to the cat. “One can postulate many advantages” to cat health of reducing its allergenicity, he said. As an example, he said, it could mean “spending more time with your cat, you are better able to monitor its health status.” Other possibilities he listed: It could lead to regular teeth-brushing for cats, more opportunities for socialization, fewer restrictions on a cat’s movements, and generally less stress in the home.

• Gene editing could go a step further Indoor Biotechnologies (InBio) in Charlottesville, Virginia, is taking a different tack.
• The company is investigating how it might use gene-editing to “knock out” the two genes that code for Fel d 1 “with the ultimate goal of having an allergen-free cat,” said Nicole Brackett, a postdoctoral scientist who has been heading up the gene-editing project for 18 months.

The company has been around for decades, focused on manufacturing biologics for allergies and asthma. It makes tests that measure cat, dog, dust mite, cockroach, mold, and pollen allergens in the environment. InBio tests also measure the potency of Fel d 1 in allergenic extracts used in immunotherapy.

1. Both Purina and HypoPet relied on InBio tests in their research for the allergen-reducing diet and vaccine.
2. Company founder and CEO Dr. Martin D.
3. Chapman said that when Fel d 1 was identified, researchers understood that reducing or eliminating it could make a big difference for people with allergies.
4. When CRISPR came along, it was pretty self-evident that this would be a great application,” he said.

CRISPR stands for c lustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. Chapman was formerly professor of medicine and microbiology at the University of Virginia and a member of the university’s Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center. A biological gene-editing tool based on the antiviral defense systems of bacteria, CRISPR can target and remove, add or alter short sections of DNA.

• InBio’s goal is to remove the DNA that instructs a cat’s cells how to produce Fel d 1.
• As of right now, we have proof of principle of the CRISPR editing in an immortalized cat cell line in a petri dish,” Brackett said.
• The CRISPR approach differs from the vaccine and the diet in that it proposes permanently to alter the physiology of a cat.

Chapman said the No.1 question about the approach has been: How will it affect the animal? The role of Fel d 1 in cat biology has not been determined, according to researchers working on all three interventions. Hypotheses include that the protein plays a role in protecting the skin or in pheromone/chemical signaling.

1. It’s difficult to answer the question without doing the actual experiment, which is to do the deletion,” Chapman said.
2. When you do delete genes, the animals develop compensatory mechanisms or actually replace that function somehow,” Chapman said.
3. It’s very unusual, actually I would say, in gene therapy for you to delete something and then for the animal to just die.” Still ahead is testing the gene-editing process in specific cat tissues that express the protein, such as salivary glands; and in embryos before approaching what Chapman called the “whole animal.” For that stage, there remains a significant obstacle: how to get the gene editor into the patient.

It’s an issue that CRISPR scientists are working on, independent of InBio. One delivery route may be to infect an animal with a benign virus that contains CRISPR. In a first-ever, doctors at Oregon Health & Science University i n March injected CRISPR directly into a person, via their eye, to correct a genetic condition that causes blindness.

• Chapman imagines a scenario where veterinarians might do something similar to a cat to alleviate allergies in the cat owner.
• In the same way you’d take your cat to get it neutered or spayed or whatever, if you wanted to convert it to being an allergen-free cat then would give it an injection of a gene-editing material,” he said.

Bigger picture In addition to unanswered questions about safety and effectiveness, these new interventions raise other issues for some veterinarians. “I sit and ponder the ethics of treating my cats to treat my problem,” Israeli said. The Pennsylvania veterinarian has contended with severe cat allergies for most of her life.

• She has endured monthly allergy shots for going on 15 years to deal with her sensitivity.
• She still sometimes relies on antihistamines and for a few patients needs to wear gloves and a mask to complete an exam.
• She wonders why in a world populated by so many incredible organisms, people want to remake a particular animal.

“I have a cat. I’m not changing my cat; I’m treating myself.” While not endorsing any of the new or pending approaches, McRae sees them as an extension of business as usual. “When you think of it: Most of our job is making the cat more agreeable to the human lifestyle,” she said.

• In that context, a cat vaccine or gene-editing might not be a bridge too far.
• For cat-allergic veterinarians, such as Israeli and McRae, treatments targeting individual cats won’t help them much in their workplace.
• Nor do they take aim at the broader public health challenge.
• In a study of pet danders in the environment, Dr.

Daniel O. Morris, a p rofessor of dermatology and allergy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, found that cat allergens were so easily spread, their impact is felt well beyond their home turf. “Exposure to pet danders occurs in public spaces at high enough concentrations to elicit allergic reactions in some people with asthma,” Morris pointed out in an email to VIN News.

How long can cat allergies last?

How Long Do Cat Allergy Symptoms Last After Exposure to a Cat for the First Time? – Cat allergy symptoms can last anywhere from a few hours to 3 to 4 days after exposure. This depends on how severe the allergy is and how long the person was exposed to the cat allergens such as dander, saliva, or fur. In general, for mild cases of cat allergies, most people experience symptom relief shortly after leaving an environment that contains cats.

Why are so many people allergic to cats?

Allergies to cats are primarily caused by a single protein which is found on the skin and in the saliva. There are at least seven other cat proteins that may cause cat allergies in humans. A combination of these allergy producing proteins accumulate on the fur and skin of the cat during grooming.

How do you get rid of allergies permanently?

Epinephrine – Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. During anaphylaxis, a person may experience constriction of the airways and swelling of the throat. Blood vessels may also expand, which can cause a severe drop in blood pressure.

Doctors prescribe an injection-based medication called epinephrine to prevent anaphylaxis from becoming life-threatening in people with potentially severe allergies. Epinephrine is more commonly known as adrenaline. Epinephrine improves breathing and contracts blood vessels to continue supplying the heart and brain with blood.

If a person thinks they are having an anaphylactic reaction, they should use their self-injectable epinephrine and call 911. The most important step a person can take to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the allergen that triggers their allergy.

1. Avoiding allergens is not always practical or possible — for example, if a person is allergic to their pet’s dander or is a gardener with a pollen allergy.
2. In these cases, a doctor can help prepare an allergy management plan to reduce allergen contact and manage symptoms with medicines.
3. If someone is unclear on the cause of an allergy, they may find it helpful to keep a diary.

Keeping track of their whereabouts, actions, and diet can help a person identify what triggers or worsens their symptoms. A person should consult their doctor or an allergist if they experience persistent allergy symptoms that do not ease with OTC treatments or that interfere with carrying out their daily tasks.

difficulty breathing, such as fast or shallow breathwheezingrapid heartbeatanxiety or confusionlow blood pressurefeeling lightheaded or faintlosing consciousness

If a person has previously had a severe allergic reaction, they should wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace. These can let other people know how to help if they have a severe allergic reaction and cannot communicate. There is currently no cure for allergies.

• However, there are OTC and prescription medications that may relieve symptoms.
• Avoiding allergy triggers or reducing contact with them can help prevent allergic reactions.
• Over time, immunotherapy may reduce the severity of allergic reactions.
• Some people may outgrow an allergy, or it may become less severe as a person ages.

If a person experiences a severe allergic reaction, they should get help from a healthcare professional immediately.

Do cat allergies get worse over time?

Advice for Managing Cat Allergies | Kleenex® US

• Cat Allergies

You brought home a cute kitten and suddenly you or someone in your home is coughing. Or sneezing, or their eyes are watering. Yes, all tell-tale signs of an allergy to cats. Scientific studies indicate that, even though the cause is very similar. And in general, cat allergies are twice as likely as a dog allergy.

1. The difference is a tiny, not very cuddly, protein allergen called Fel d 1.
2. This is the actual cause of feline allergies.
3. Invisible to the human eye, Fel d 1 is produced mostly by glands underneath the cat’s skin.
4. It’s also found in cat saliva, urine, feces, fur, and dander (the cat’s dead skin cells).

Smaller makes the problem bigger, because it means that the allergen is lighter. When disturbed, it will float in the air for thirty minutes or more. Not only is it tiny it’s also sticky. Clinging to everything around your home. Clothes, carpets, rugs and upholstery.

1. Even after multiple washes or when the pet is no longer in the home, it lingers on.
2. And then it’s our turn, when they’re absorbed by us, through our skin pores.
3. Cat allergies are cumulative, which means they build up over time.
4. Prolonged exposure will eventually lead to an allergic reaction.
5. Cat allergies are just as unpredictable as cats too.

They can become milder over time and they can also become worse. Consider carefully your health and well-being and that of your family. If it’s only a mild allergy, then nothing to worry about. A more serious cat allergy can lead to something more problematic, including asthma.

1. Even the smallest amount of contact can trigger your allergy. Try to limit your exposure to the cat, get another family member to feed them or empty the litter tray.
2. If you have a male cat, make sure he’s neutered, that will dramatically decrease the levels of harmful allergens. Even for females, spaying lowers Fel d 1 levels.
3. Consider using an organic indoor allergen neutralizer. Many sources online are enthusiastic about herbal cat allergy sprays, which can considerably reduce cat allergens and the positive effect can last for weeks.
4. Your allergy problem can originate from the cat’s litter tray: your pet’s urine or solid waste. Change the litter (or better, get someone else to change the litter) every other day.
5. Try a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter vacuum cleaner. There is evidence suggesting that the best ones can remove the vast majority (even as much as 99 %) of all dust, hairs and dander.
6. Use a HEPA air purifier daily. Studies show that they can significantly reduce the cat allergens in the air.
7. Cat allergies can be treated with standard allergy products, including antihistamines, and decongestants. But it is wise to see your doctor first, for a professional opinion of what you need.
8. Create some boundaries in your home, some places where your beloved cat isn’t allowed to go. Especially places like the bedroom where you spend a considerable amount of time.
9. Washing your hands regularly can also help. This helps you avoid the transfer of cat dander from your hands to your face, which can cause allergy flare-up.

Check out tissues, which are designed to nourish skin with daily moisturizers, making them perfect for dealing runny noses or watery eyes caused by allergies. : Advice for Managing Cat Allergies | Kleenex® US

What kills pet dander?

How Do You Get Rid of Animal Dander? – If pet dander is so easily spread, how do you get rid of it? You can get rid of pet dander by grooming the pet to reduce the amount of dander produced, vacuuming frequently, using a HEPA air filter, Austin Air makes an air purifier just for pets, use anti-allergen sprays, and limiting where the pet goes.

What happens if you ignore cat allergies?

Skin Problems – Prolonged allergen exposure in cat or dog skin allergies causes skin inflammation and, if uncorrected, typically results in chronic skin irritation and inflammation. Environmental allergies are the most common pet allergy seen in our vet dermatology practice for cats and dogs.

1. Environmental allergies result in the skin’s protective barrier being weakened.
2. Thus, allergen exposure often causes frequent bacterial skin infection as a result of allergic reactions.
3. Malassezia yeast infection of skin and yeast paw infection also often occur,
4. Allergies also cause itchiness due to skin inflammation.

The skin inflammation may be easily noted as redness of the skin, or it may be occurring at the cellular level and may not be visible to the naked eye. Itchiness is often seen as the allergic pet needs to scratch, paw, and chew at their skin when irritated and inflamed.

Which cats are worst for allergies?

Cats to avoid if you have allergies – High-shedding cat breeds tend to be worse for people with allergies because the allergens get trapped in their coats and spread wherever they lose their fur. Some of these high-shedders include the Persian, Maine coon, Norwegian forest cat, Himalayan, Manx, and Cymric.

Is being allergic to cats rare?

Introduction – It is estimated that globally around 10-20% of human adults are allergic to cats (a figure that has been increasing), that cat allergy among humans is second only to house dust mite as a cause of indoor respiratory allergy, and that around 20-30% of patients with respiratory allergy are allergic to cats.1 – 8 Although the severity of symptoms varies widely, the rising prevalence of this condition is a significant human health problem and in many individuals the disease can be serious and debilitating.

1. Eight different feline allergens have been classified (Fel d 1 to Fel d 8), and others are also known to exist.1, 2 However, reactivity to Fel d 1 is recognised as by far the most important component.
2. More than 80%, and typically 90-96%, of individuals allergic to cats are known to respond to Fel d 1, and it is estimated that Fel d 1 is responsible for between 60% and 90% of the total reactivity seen in allergic individuals.1, 2, 9 While much work has been carried out on characterising the nature of human allergy to cats, controlling clinical symptoms in individuals remains complex and problematic.

A multimodal approach to management is usually recommended, and avoidance of cats or minimising contact with them routinely forms a major part of the strategy.2 However, the impact of such advice on both cat owners and potential owners, and on the human-cat bond, is perhaps rarely considered in depth.

The aim of this paper was to find objective information on the impact of human allergy to cats on the human–cat bond by reviewing the available published data on how human allergy affects cat ownership (decisions on whether to own a cat or to relinquish ownership of a cat), and to consider the implications of the findings on the wider human–cat bond and how adverse effects can be minimised.

Online databases (PubMed MEDLINE, CABI VetMed Resource, Google Scholar) were searched for keywords including ‘cats’, ‘allergy’, ‘allergies’, ‘ownership’, ‘surrender’ and ‘relinquishment’ to find all original studies up to December 2020 that had quantified the impact of human allergy to cats on ownership or relinquishment.

Are male or female cats less allergenic?

Cat sex and color – Female cats produce a lower level of allergens than males, and neutered males produce a lower level of allergens than unneutered males. In 2000, researchers at the Long Island College Hospital found that cat owners with dark-colored cats were more likely to report allergy symptoms than those with light-colored cats.

Does an air purifier help with cat allergies?

Whether you or a loved one is allergic to your dog, your cat or other pet, it’s clear you need relief—especially in the comfort of your home. Air purifiers do a great job at removing these tiny particles and providing relief from allergy and asthma triggers.

Why am I suddenly allergic to cats?

Yes, it is possible to suddenly become allergic to cats, since various allergies can develop at any point in your life, such as a pet allergy. A person can develop allergies at any point in time throughout their life. It’s not always clear why some people develop allergies later in life when they didn’t have them before, but your immune system is a continuously evolving organ that keeps training and retraining itself.

Dander (dead skin) Fur Saliva Urine

Breathing in pet dander or coming into contact with these allergens can cause an allergic reaction, However, symptoms of a cat allergy usually do not appear immediately. In most cases, people may only experience a cat allergy as they grow older because they have repeatedly been in contact with the same allergen, and their immune system may have triggered some reaction.

Symptoms of a cat allergy may develop in just a few minutes or take hours to appear. About 20 to 30 percent of people with allergic asthma have severe flare-ups after coming into contact with a cat. Rhinitis ( runny nose and congestion ) seldom becomes severe before 15 to 30 minutes. Asthma symptoms begin after 30 minutes.

Hence, it is possible to suddenly become allergic to cats. Various types of allergies, including cat allergies, can develop at any time throughout your life. However, symptoms may not occur until there have been several days of cumulative exposure.

Do cat allergies get worse over time?

Advice for Managing Cat Allergies | Kleenex® US

• Cat Allergies

You brought home a cute kitten and suddenly you or someone in your home is coughing. Or sneezing, or their eyes are watering. Yes, all tell-tale signs of an allergy to cats. Scientific studies indicate that, even though the cause is very similar. And in general, cat allergies are twice as likely as a dog allergy.

1. The difference is a tiny, not very cuddly, protein allergen called Fel d 1.
2. This is the actual cause of feline allergies.
3. Invisible to the human eye, Fel d 1 is produced mostly by glands underneath the cat’s skin.
4. It’s also found in cat saliva, urine, feces, fur, and dander (the cat’s dead skin cells).

Smaller makes the problem bigger, because it means that the allergen is lighter. When disturbed, it will float in the air for thirty minutes or more. Not only is it tiny it’s also sticky. Clinging to everything around your home. Clothes, carpets, rugs and upholstery.

1. Even after multiple washes or when the pet is no longer in the home, it lingers on.
2. And then it’s our turn, when they’re absorbed by us, through our skin pores.
3. Cat allergies are cumulative, which means they build up over time.
4. Prolonged exposure will eventually lead to an allergic reaction.
5. Cat allergies are just as unpredictable as cats too.

They can become milder over time and they can also become worse. Consider carefully your health and well-being and that of your family. If it’s only a mild allergy, then nothing to worry about. A more serious cat allergy can lead to something more problematic, including asthma.

1. Even the smallest amount of contact can trigger your allergy. Try to limit your exposure to the cat, get another family member to feed them or empty the litter tray.
2. If you have a male cat, make sure he’s neutered, that will dramatically decrease the levels of harmful allergens. Even for females, spaying lowers Fel d 1 levels.
3. Consider using an organic indoor allergen neutralizer. Many sources online are enthusiastic about herbal cat allergy sprays, which can considerably reduce cat allergens and the positive effect can last for weeks.
4. Your allergy problem can originate from the cat’s litter tray: your pet’s urine or solid waste. Change the litter (or better, get someone else to change the litter) every other day.
5. Try a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter vacuum cleaner. There is evidence suggesting that the best ones can remove the vast majority (even as much as 99 %) of all dust, hairs and dander.
6. Use a HEPA air purifier daily. Studies show that they can significantly reduce the cat allergens in the air.
7. Cat allergies can be treated with standard allergy products, including antihistamines, and decongestants. But it is wise to see your doctor first, for a professional opinion of what you need.
8. Create some boundaries in your home, some places where your beloved cat isn’t allowed to go. Especially places like the bedroom where you spend a considerable amount of time.
9. Washing your hands regularly can also help. This helps you avoid the transfer of cat dander from your hands to your face, which can cause allergy flare-up.

Check out tissues, which are designed to nourish skin with daily moisturizers, making them perfect for dealing runny noses or watery eyes caused by allergies. : Advice for Managing Cat Allergies | Kleenex® US

Is there a pill for cat allergies?

By Elena Dang, The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy Curist delivers FDA-approved medicines to your door at half the price of traditional brands. We hope everyone stays safe and healthy during this time. Did you know that roughly 70% of American households include a furry friend? Have you been considering fostering baby kittens, but don’t want to live with allergy symptoms day to day? We all love our furry friends, but sometimes we need help with our cat allergy symptoms.

1. Read more about what you can do if you think you are allergic to cats, but can’t keep your paws off them.
2. When we talk about our most common four-legged friends, it is important to note that you are two times more likely to be allergic to cats than dogs,
3. While both types of pets can trigger allergy symptoms with their skin, fur, saliva, or urine such as itchy eyes, watery eyes, runny nose, or sneezing, cats can spread their saliva further when they groom themselves.

Grooming makes their skin flakes or dander “sticky” which means it can be much harder to clean cat dander from household surfaces. The proteins in cat saliva and skin are often the culprits for cat allergies such as skin rash, hives, and/or coughing as well.

1. Cat dander particles are allergens that are small enough to float around in the air and bother your lungs, sinuses, eyes, and nose for long periods of time.
2. Additionally, if you have an outdoor cat, cats can bring in other allergens like pollen, ragweed, or mold, into your home as well.
3. If left untreated, mild symptoms may get worse over time causing chronic sinus headaches, asthma, or infections.

However, even though cat allergies do exist, there are more ways to go about it than parting ways with your lovable cat. You may suspect that you are allergic to cats if you notice allergy symptoms, such as itchy eyes, watery eyes, or sneezing, when you visit your friends with adorable cats.

• But how is this possible if you used to be perfectly fine around cats as a child? The answer is that it is entirely possible that you could develop a cat allergy suddenly later in life,
• You may experience a runny nose or nasal congestion after being in the house with the cats for a few minutes or hours, or notice an itchy rash or hives when the cat licks you.

Depending on the severity of your cat allergies and personal preference, you can continue living with a cat even if you have cat allergies. Interestingly, if you have seasonal allergies, you are more likely to be allergic to cats than dogs. However, it may help to follow some of these tips to reduce your symptoms:

Avoid touching the cat. If you have cat allergies, the best practice is to avoid touching the cat in the first place; however, that is not always possible. Therefore, avoid touching your face and wash your hands immediately after petting or touching a cat. Keep the cat out of your bedroom, This will reduce the amount of cat dander in your sleeping area and help you rest with less allergy symptoms. When dusting or cleaning your home, use a face mask to prevent breathing in cat allergens. Change your air conditioning (AC) filters often and adjust the humidity level to ~40%. In those conditions, it is harder for cat dander to travel through the air. If possible, remove any carpets and clutter from the home as it is easier to clean cat dander from wooden or tile flooring. Also, cleaning your walls, curtains, upholstery, and bed linens can often reduce allergens. To help clear the air of pet dander as much as possible, you have several options: You could install a high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filter for your entire house or apartment, use a HEPA filter vacuum or Roomba each week, purchase an air purifier for specific rooms with high paw traffic, or cover your air vents with a filtering material like cheesecloth to prevent cat hair from entering the vents. All of these will reduce the level of cat allergens in your home. If your cat is okay with it, you could consider brushing and bathing your cat weekly to see if it reduces symptoms. Consider using low-dust litter and cleaning their litter box several times a week if you can.

Usually cat allergies are not dangerous, but in rare cases it can lead to a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Within minutes of exposure, if you experience face or throat swelling, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, wheezing, blue skin, weakness or dizziness, you should seek medical attention right away.

• The first step to addressing your cat allergy symptoms is to identify and avoid known allergens.
• If you are unsure, you can ask your doctor or allergist to help you find the exact source of your allergy.
• If you live with your cat, keep it outside if at all possible or limit your direct exposure to the cat.

If your cat has always been an indoor cat, try to use slip covers for any couch cushions, buy a HEPA air filter, vacuum the floors more frequently, and most importantly, wash your hands after contact with your furry friend. Even with thorough cleaning, it could take months or years before your home is clear of cat dander.

• In some cases, people who are exposed to an allergen like cat dander over time will notice fewer and fewer allergy symptoms; however, this is not always the case.
• If you need additional relief, there are allergy shots available for those over the age of 5 years old, which take place over the course of a couple of years that can help lessen symptoms.

Additionally, you can treat allergies to cats similarly to pollen or seasonal allergies with oral decongestants or oral antihistamines like Curist Allergy Relief (levocetirizine), a nasal spray like Curist Allergy Nasal Spray (fluticasone propionate 50 mcg), eye drops, and inhalers if necessary.

Since everyone responds differently to different medications, here are some more options you may explore over-the-counter to treat cat allergies. Some of the best antihistamines for cat allergies include Curist Allergy Relief (levocetirizine), fexofenadine (brand Allegra), and cetirizine (brand Zyrtec).

These oral antihistamines are effective at reducing cat allergy symptoms such as sneezing,and itching. If you are curious about the similarities and differences between these allergy relief medications, check out our comparison article on Allegra vs Claritin vs Xyzal vs Zyrtec to see which option best suits you! If you have a lot of nasal congestion with your cat allergies, you can consider using an over-the-counter nasal spray such as Curist Allergy Nasal Spray (fluticasone propionate).

Is there a vaccine for cat allergies?

A recent study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that researchers at HypoPet have made a vaccine that could help people who are allergic to cats. The vaccine, which is called HypoCat, is not for people but for cats. It goes after a certain protein, or allergen called Fel d 1, which cats make.

Can you make cats less allergic?

Photo by Michael Lawrence Shown here at home with her one-eyed cat, Pecabo, Dr. Christina McRae has seen the toll on cats of allergies. She worked in shelters and saw many cats surrendered by allergic owners. Apart from allergists, small animal veterinarians probably field more questions from allergic cat owners than any other health care practitioners.

Owners want to know whether they can alleviate their own allergies by doing things such as spritzing the fur with a special spray; giving cats low doses of the tranquilizer acepromazine; adding Brewer’s yeast to its food; removing the animal’s anal sacs; buying naturally or specially-bred “hypoallergenic” cats; and more.

Veterinarians often discourage such strategies, which have limited to no proven benefit. While keeping the home clear of fur and dander can help those with mild allergies, there currently is no such thing as allergy-proofing a cat. That could change soon.

Food: Nestlé Purina Pet Care Co. began this month selling a kibble designed to make cats less allergenic. Vaccine: A biotechnology company in Switzerland is working on shots for the cat. Gene editing: A U.S. company based in Virginia is exploring the use of technology known as CRISPR to stop cats from producing a key allergen.

Target: Fel d 1 In people with allergies, the immune system mistakes a foreign substance, sometimes called an antigen, for something harmful, and starts making antibodies to fight it. Those antibodies cause allergy symptoms such as itching, runny nose and watery eyes.

1. The phenomenon is known as the antigen-antibody reaction.
2. Cat allergies are estimated to occur in about 10% of the population worldwide.
3. Treatment options for sufferers include antihistamines, decongestants and nasal steroids.
4. Some endure a battery of injections of small amounts of an allergen for a year or more to train their immune systems to be less sensitive to cats, in a form of immunotherapy or desensitization.

Ten cat allergens have been identified as causing reactions in humans. The main culprit is a protein called Fel d 1, which is produced by salivary, sebaceous (in the skin), perianal (in the anal sacs) and lacrimal (in the eye) glands. The name is derived from the source organism’s genus name, Fel d for Felis domesticus, and 1 indicating the chronology of its discovery, based on a nomenclature approved by the World Health Organization ⁄ International Union of Immunological Societies.

Fel d 1 was registered with WHO/IUIS in 2003. During grooming, cats spread Fel d 1 onto their hair and skin, which they shed along with fur and invisible dander. Because of its small size and low weight, Fel d 1 can float in the air for long periods, and readily adheres to surfaces such as sweaters, blankets and carpeting.

For this reason, some allergists recommend rehoming the pet as the most expedient solution. “Most doctors say, ‘Get rid of the cat,’ ” said Dr. Christina McRae, a veterinarian in Ontario, Canada, who has worked in shelters and seen the outcome firsthand.

• You get a lot of animals surrendered because of allergies.” Her clients, however, don’t like giving up their cats.
• She understands.
• McRae herself is allergic to cats, lives with a cat and owned a feline practice for 20 years.
• She’s had allergy shots, and still, at times, turns to antihistamines and nose sprays to quell bad reactions.

She washes her hands frequently and avoids things that trigger her allergy, such as perfume. “It is certainly something that really limits people’s enjoyment of their pet,” she said. Her allergies are less severe these days but at one time, they made her sick more often.

1. Still, she did not give up cats.
2. I always tell people, if I was allergic to my husband, I wouldn’t get rid of him,” she said.
3. McRae recommends to pet owners simple interventions, including avoiding scented litters, and wiping down the cat’s coat regularly.
4. Beyond that, she suggests they see an allergist and not take giving up the cat for an answer.

You shed what you eat Nestlé Purina, one of the largest pet food makers in the world, has for 10 years been investigating ways to reduce allergens in cat hair and dander through the cat’s diet, according to Janette Artea, a public relations representative for the company,

Purina Pro Plan LiveClear diet is the culmination of those efforts. The principle behind the diet, laid out in a paper by researchers at Purina and published last year in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, is to use the antigen-antibody interaction to deactivate some of the Fel d 1 by binding it to antibodies derived from chicken eggs.

According to a monograph by Purina, the approach does not stop the cat from producing Fel d 1. Instead, it transforms the Fel d 1 in saliva into a compound the human immune system doesn’t react to. The key ingredient in LiveClear binds to the Fel d 1 allergen in cats’ saliva in the cat’s mouth as it chews, Artea explained in an email to the VIN News Service.

1. It is important to feed LiveClear every day as ‘free choice’ throughout the day, or serve the daily feeding amount split into two to three meals, rather than as just a single feeding only at mealtime, to continue to neutralize the allergen as it is produced,” she explained.
2. In a trial involving 11 cats treated with the food, Fel d 1 levels in the saliva of nine decreased by at least 20%.

One cat showed an increase. (By comparison, Fel d 1 levels went up in five controls and down in three.) Is the novel ingredient in the diet safe for cats? To test safety, Purina for six months fed 42 cats differing levels of the antibody proteins, including levels many times greater than the amount in the Pro Plan LiveClear diet.

In a paper published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, the authors reported no significant differences between the control and test groups in clinical observations, body weights, food consumption, serum chemistry, hematology, blood coagulation, urinalyses, and mortality and morbidity checks. Some veterinarians and nutritionists question, in general, how much diet safety can be determined from short-term feeding trials.

(The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates pet food, does not require feeding trials at all.) Dr. Hillary Israeli, a small animal veterinarian in Pennsylvania, pointed out that it took a while for potential problems to emerge in grain-free diets.

1. The FDA announced last year it was looking into a possible connection between grain-free diets and a heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, in dogs.
2. Asked about the new diet from Purina, Israeli said, “There’s nobody who currently has a cat who has an urgent medical need to use this food.
3. Why would you want your cat to be the test market?” No formal studies have been done to examine whether cat-allergic people living with cats fed the LiveClear diet experienced a corresponding reduction of symptoms.

“Purina’s research and development primarily focused on the pet food ingredient in cat food and its benefits to the cat,” Artea said. “We’ve also received positive, anecdotal feedback from consumers who have tested the product by feeding it to their pets.” How any intervention focused on deactivating or eliminating Fel d 1 will affect human allergies is an open question.

• Dr. Jack Becker, an allergist in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, said, “At the moment, I don’t have a test to tell the patient how they would do,” he said.
• When he tests for cat allergies, Fel d 1 is just one of multiple Fel d allergens in the test.
• Some will do better; some will have fewer symptoms; and some it won’t help at all, Becker said.

In addition, if you take Fel d 1 out of the home, a person could develop another sensitivity to another cat allergen in its place. “We aren’t smart enough yet to know why someone becomes allergic to any particular allergen, so we can’t predict if eliminating one allergen just won’t be replaced with another, ” he said.

Purina began selling the LiveClear diet through veterinary clinics, pet specialty and online retailers last week. It’s not cheap. The suggested retail price is $7.68/pound. For comparison, the suggested retail price of Purina Pro Plan Savor diet is $4.28/pound. A twist on a vaccine HypoPet AG, a Swiss biotechnology company, aims to flip the treatment script.

The company spun off from the University of Zurich seven years ago to develop a vaccine for cats. If successful, it could offer an alternative to an extended course of desensitizing shots for allergic owners. As in the new Purina diet, the vaccine dubbed HypoCat uses the antigen-antibody interaction to neutralize Fel d 1.

Whereas the diet incorporates antibody proteins derived from chicken eggs, the vaccine aims to stimulate the cat to produce its own antibodies. According to a paper published last year in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the vaccine consists of recombinant Fel d 1 and a proprietary virus-like plant particle derived from the cucumber mosaic virus that contains inactivated tetanus toxin.

The toxin is an immunogenic molecule that stimulates a long-lasting immune response to Fel d 1. In four studies involving 54 cats, the vaccine induced anti-Fel d 1 antibodies. The paper’s authors reported a reduction in the cats’ allergen levels and reduced allergenicity in the cats’ tears.

1. They said the vaccine was “well tolerated and had no overt toxic effect.” They also said that in the future, they would not use an adjuvant, a substance added to vaccines to boost immune response.
2. Some veterinarians avoid adjuvanted vaccines in cats due to concerns about injection-site sarcomas.
3. HypoPet also has completed a field study following 10 cat-allergic owners living with vaccinated cats for between six months and one year.

The results, published in the journal Viruses, reported that pet owners with cats that had received three HypoCat vaccines (given in three-week intervals) noticed a reduction in their allergic symptoms and were able to spend more time with their cats before the onset of symptoms.

HypoPet CEO and COO Gary Jennings described the study as exploratory and promising. The important correlation, he said, is that when the cat’s antibody titers were up, the human’s symptoms were down. The promising result may not be enough to persuade all pet owners — and their veterinarians — to order the treatment.

If the vaccine is safe for cats and reduces allergic reactions for humans, McRae wonders if owners will want to subject their cat to shots for what is essentially a human health condition. “Most people don’t even want to take their cat to the vet,” she said.

HypoCat is being developed through a collaboration with Benchmark Holdings, a veterinary biotechnology company in the United Kingdom, and researchers at HypoPet, the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre in Riga, and the veterinary school and genomics center at the University of Zurich. Speaking from Zurich today, Jennings said the COVID-19 pandemic is causing indefinite delays in the development of the vaccine.

But, he added, future studies would include focusing on the benefits of the vaccine to the cat. “One can postulate many advantages” to cat health of reducing its allergenicity, he said. As an example, he said, it could mean “spending more time with your cat, you are better able to monitor its health status.” Other possibilities he listed: It could lead to regular teeth-brushing for cats, more opportunities for socialization, fewer restrictions on a cat’s movements, and generally less stress in the home.

Gene editing could go a step further Indoor Biotechnologies (InBio) in Charlottesville, Virginia, is taking a different tack. The company is investigating how it might use gene-editing to “knock out” the two genes that code for Fel d 1 “with the ultimate goal of having an allergen-free cat,” said Nicole Brackett, a postdoctoral scientist who has been heading up the gene-editing project for 18 months.

The company has been around for decades, focused on manufacturing biologics for allergies and asthma. It makes tests that measure cat, dog, dust mite, cockroach, mold, and pollen allergens in the environment. InBio tests also measure the potency of Fel d 1 in allergenic extracts used in immunotherapy.

Both Purina and HypoPet relied on InBio tests in their research for the allergen-reducing diet and vaccine. Company founder and CEO Dr. Martin D. Chapman said that when Fel d 1 was identified, researchers understood that reducing or eliminating it could make a big difference for people with allergies. “When CRISPR came along, it was pretty self-evident that this would be a great application,” he said.

CRISPR stands for c lustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. Chapman was formerly professor of medicine and microbiology at the University of Virginia and a member of the university’s Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center. A biological gene-editing tool based on the antiviral defense systems of bacteria, CRISPR can target and remove, add or alter short sections of DNA.

InBio’s goal is to remove the DNA that instructs a cat’s cells how to produce Fel d 1. “As of right now, we have proof of principle of the CRISPR editing in an immortalized cat cell line in a petri dish,” Brackett said. The CRISPR approach differs from the vaccine and the diet in that it proposes permanently to alter the physiology of a cat.

Chapman said the No.1 question about the approach has been: How will it affect the animal? The role of Fel d 1 in cat biology has not been determined, according to researchers working on all three interventions. Hypotheses include that the protein plays a role in protecting the skin or in pheromone/chemical signaling.

1. It’s difficult to answer the question without doing the actual experiment, which is to do the deletion,” Chapman said.
2. When you do delete genes, the animals develop compensatory mechanisms or actually replace that function somehow,” Chapman said.
3. It’s very unusual, actually I would say, in gene therapy for you to delete something and then for the animal to just die.” Still ahead is testing the gene-editing process in specific cat tissues that express the protein, such as salivary glands; and in embryos before approaching what Chapman called the “whole animal.” For that stage, there remains a significant obstacle: how to get the gene editor into the patient.

It’s an issue that CRISPR scientists are working on, independent of InBio. One delivery route may be to infect an animal with a benign virus that contains CRISPR. In a first-ever, doctors at Oregon Health & Science University i n March injected CRISPR directly into a person, via their eye, to correct a genetic condition that causes blindness.

1. Chapman imagines a scenario where veterinarians might do something similar to a cat to alleviate allergies in the cat owner.
2. In the same way you’d take your cat to get it neutered or spayed or whatever, if you wanted to convert it to being an allergen-free cat then would give it an injection of a gene-editing material,” he said.

Bigger picture In addition to unanswered questions about safety and effectiveness, these new interventions raise other issues for some veterinarians. “I sit and ponder the ethics of treating my cats to treat my problem,” Israeli said. The Pennsylvania veterinarian has contended with severe cat allergies for most of her life.

• She has endured monthly allergy shots for going on 15 years to deal with her sensitivity.
• She still sometimes relies on antihistamines and for a few patients needs to wear gloves and a mask to complete an exam.
• She wonders why in a world populated by so many incredible organisms, people want to remake a particular animal.

“I have a cat. I’m not changing my cat; I’m treating myself.” While not endorsing any of the new or pending approaches, McRae sees them as an extension of business as usual. “When you think of it: Most of our job is making the cat more agreeable to the human lifestyle,” she said.

In that context, a cat vaccine or gene-editing might not be a bridge too far. For cat-allergic veterinarians, such as Israeli and McRae, treatments targeting individual cats won’t help them much in their workplace. Nor do they take aim at the broader public health challenge. In a study of pet danders in the environment, Dr.

Daniel O. Morris, a p rofessor of dermatology and allergy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, found that cat allergens were so easily spread, their impact is felt well beyond their home turf. “Exposure to pet danders occurs in public spaces at high enough concentrations to elicit allergic reactions in some people with asthma,” Morris pointed out in an email to VIN News.