Cat Dander Facts

People who experience allergic reactions when exposed to cats may think that they are allergic to cats, when it's the cat dander and the substances in that danderthat cause the reactions. Understanding why dander can be so problematic for some individuals can help reduce frustration at the itchy, watery eyes and increase understanding of how to cope with allergies.

  1. Definition

    • Every living thing that has skin produces dander, including humans. Cat dander is just dead skin cells. They are lost as part of the normal growth cycle of skin cells. When new skin cells are created by the feline body, these push up to the surface of the epidermis and as a result the old skin cells on the surface dry and slough off. These cells can end up in every part of a home where a cat has been.

    Cell Growth Cycle

    • Most cats have a 21-day cell growth cycle. However, some breeds of cats, and those with skin problems, can have growth cycles as short as a few days. The faster the cell growth cycle occurs, the more dander is produced. Also, older cats produce more dander than younger cats, because older cats tend to have drier skin that sloughs off more easily.

    Allergen

    • While all humans produce dander, in some people only cat dander may cause an allergic reaction. That's because in these people the immune system recognizes the cat dander as an invading substance, like a bacteria or a virus, and goes to work attacking it. It's not truly the dander that the immune system is reacting to, but rather the allergy-causing proteins that are present in the dander. Scientists have discovered 12 such proteins in cats' dander.

    Coat Length

    • Some people may believe that their allergy symptoms are worse around cats with longer fur. While dander may be shed with fur, the fur itself is not considered dander. Thus, the length of fur has nothing to do with the amount of dander produced. If a person experiences allergies around a long-haired cat, it's probably because there is more dander trapped in the longer fur. But this is entirely a grooming issue.

    Hypoallergenic Claims

    • To be hypoallergenic, a cat would have to have no skin, which is impossible. Cat owners who have allergies to cat dander, short of constantly taking allergy medication, may consider how often grooming can reduce the level of dander that is released in the home.