Cat Allergies & Infants

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's website, as much as 30 percent of people with allergies have reactions to pets, such as dogs and cats. It states that allergies to cats are about twice as common as allergies to dogs. Some infants are among the people allergic to cats, and the most effective solution is for them not to have contact with cats. Not everyone is willing to give up a beloved pet, though. Other treatments are required if parents want to keep a cat in the house with an infant who has a cat allergy.

  1. Effects

    • If your infant has persistent respiratory problems, such as nasal congestion and coughing, suffers from itchy or watery eyes, or develops a red rash on the chest, face and neck, then cat allergies may be the culprit. Cat dander can irritate mucus membranes in the eyes and nose and cause reactions in the lungs. In extreme cases, it may even irritate the skin. Cat saliva also can cause irritation if the cat scratches or licks the baby.

    Prevention

    • The most important step to help a child deal with cat allergies is to reduce exposure. Not allowing the cat into the baby's room and supervising all cat/infant interactions are included. Grooming the cat on a daily basis, keeping her off furniture and vacuuming regularly reduce cat dander exposure elsewhere in the house. A high0efficiency particulate absorbing, or arrestance, (HEPA) air filter can help to remove cat dander from the air as well. Reducing the number of possible exposure points helps to control infant cat allergies.

    Theories

    • For a long time, allergists warned against early exposure to pets because they believed this would hypersensitize children. According to the "Journal of the American Medical Association," though, the reverse seems to be true. The report states that children who grow up with cats and dogs in their home have their chances of developing any allergies reduced by 50 percent or more. This is most effective in children 1 year or under, and it is a compelling argument for not getting rid of a cat when an infant has a cat allergy.

    Misconceptions

    • One common misconception about cats is that they deliberately smother babies out of jealousy. No documentation exists for this, but it causes many people to get rid of their cats as soon as they have a baby. Some new parents also fear danger from cat scratches, which in allergic infants may redden and swell. While a child may have allergic symptoms from exposure to a cat, the cat won't cause those symptoms purpose. Taking the correct precautions should allow parents to keep a cat without endangering their baby.

    Considerations

    • To prevent a cat from trying to get close to a baby, the cat should be kept from feeling left out. Before the baby is born, parents can gradually decrease the amount of time spent with the cat. A little before the baby comes home from the hospital, they should let the cat spend time with a blanket the baby used. This keeps the cat from jumping up into the crib to find out about the new arrival, and that makes it easier to control the child's exposure to cat dander and saliva.