Type I Dust Mite Hypersensitivity in Feline Asthma

Asthma in cats can be triggered by a number of environmental factors, one of which is dust mites. Taking the proper precautions in your cat's environment is important for decreasing the frequency of asthmatic attacks.

  1. Feline Asthma

    • Asthma in cats should always be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian. Symptoms include coughing, gagging and hard swallowing while sitting in a hunched position.

    Dust Mites

    • Dust mites are microscopic insects that are present in every home, typically found in sheets, pillows, carpet, stuffed toys, furniture and any other fabrics in the home. Exposure to body parts and feces of dust mites can cause an allergic reaction and trigger an asthmatic attack.

    Type I Hypersensitivity

    • Also known as immediate or anaphylactic hypersensitivity, this occurs as an immediate, exaggerated allergic response to an antigen, such as dust mites. This type of hypersensitivity can occur with a number of other environmental factors as well, including pollen, food and cat litter.

    Control Dust Mites

    • In your home, you can do a number of things to reduce the amount of dust in your home and ultimately the amount of dust mites. These include vacuuming with a high quality vacuum often (including furniture and mattresses), washing drapes, dusting blinds, washing sheets and stuffed toys often, purchasing washable beds and toys, and covering pillows and furniture with non-allergenic material. Also, hard floors are better than carpet as dust mites thrive on fabrics.

    Identification

    • Identifying the main trigger of your cat's asthmatic attacks can be difficult. Taking steps in your home to reduce the number of triggers is vital, so doing a number of tasks other than reducing dust and dust mites is key (including changing litter, food and more).