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Allergic reactions to cats

November 12, 2001

I asked Sondra Cooley, Training and Education Manager for National Allergy Supply, what solutions are available for cat allergies. Here is her response:

I'm not sure what medications provide help with symptoms of cat allergies but I know the best remedy is to limit or greatly reduce your exposure to the offending allergen.

If you own a cat keeping it out of the bedroom environment is paramount.

Furry pets shed a steady amout of light-weight, allergenic protein onto their skin and hair that then becomes airborne. A daily wipe of the cat's coat with a tap water moistened paper towel will help reduce what goes into the house.

Also there are products to help moisturize the cat's coat and denature the allergen it produces. An air cleaner can be beneficial as it traps the allergens, which are small and stay in the air for long periods of time.

You can see some of these products here:

Lois' note: Medications would likely include antihistamines and/or allergy injections. See your doctor for his or her recommendations.

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