How to Combat Cat Allergies

Cats are one of the most popular pets in the United States for their easy maintenance, loyalty and entertaining personalities. In fact, according to the American Veterinary Association, nearly 32 percent of households own a cat. That's more than 37 million houses. For allergy sufferers, however, having a cat or being around a cat can be an unpleasant experience. Fifteen to 30 percent of Americans with allergies also have reactions to furry creatures, including cats, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. If you are one of these sufferers, there are measures you can take to combat and cope with your body's reaction to cats.

Instructions

    • 1

      Know the symptoms. Reported symptoms include irritation or redness of the skin, coughing, sneezing, irritated eyes, runny nose and an itchy mouth or throat. In more severe cases, shortness of breath, an asthma attack or chest tightness may occur. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, if someone has a low sensitivity to pet allergens, he might not experience any symptoms until days later.

    • 2

      Get diagnosed. If it is suspected that a cat allergy might be producing any of the above symptoms, it is best to get diagnosed by a health professional in case another allergy or problem might be at fault. Doctors typically do one of two tests--an allergy skin test or a blood test--to determine if someone is allergic to cats. The Mayo Clinic recommends taking certain steps before visiting the doctor, including writing down your symptoms, family history and medications, as well as asking the physician's office whether you should stop taking any medications, which may alter the test results.

    • 3

      Avoid contact. If the allergies are too severe to handle having a pet, the best treatment is avoiding contact with cats altogether. Keeping cats outdoors may not completely free the home of pet allergens because any contact made with the cat will be transferred indoors.

    • 4

      Test pets' effects. If unsure of how severe your allergic reaction is to your cat, conduct a test. Remove the cat from the house for an extended period of time--ideally a few weeks to a few months. Clean the house and remove as much pet dander as possible while the cat is gone. Monitor any changes in your symptoms, and then decide whether those changes are worth having a cat.

    • 5

      Make changes inside. If you decide to have a cat, keep it out of the bedroom. If removing carpet is an option, invest in bare floors such as tile or hardwood flooring, which will not harbor cat dander like carpet. If bare floors are not an option, frequently steam clean the carpet. Use vacuums that have HEPA filters, and cover vents in the bedroom with a filter such as cheesecloth. When cleaning the cat, have someone brush it outdoors.

    • 6

      Look into medications that may help combat cat allergy symptoms. You can get antihistamines like Zyrtec, Allegra or Claritin; corticosteroids typically found in nasal sprays, or decongestants over the counter. Other courses of action may include immunotherapy and rinsing the nasal passages with saline. Check with your physician to determine the best treatment in combating your symptoms.