Being allergic to cats can be seriously extremely nerve racking to a lover of cats. Wheezing, watery eyes, runny nose, sinus headache, hives, and other symptoms can be very mild and a pain or severe and threatening to ones life. In reality, if the symptoms are extreme and the reason is tested and it is found to be cats, locating the cat a new home could turn out to be the best resolution. However if the symptoms are mild, there is cause for hope. There are processes to at least minimize the pain of cat allergies and live with a cat, and immunotherapy offers desensitization from an allergen.

There are various symptoms of allergies can take on many forms. Many common nasal symptoms which can include itching, sneezing and congestion. Eye symptoms can include redness, itching, swelling and watering. Throat symptoms include post-nasal drip, itching or hoarseness and the need to clear the throat often. Skin symptoms can involve an itchy rash or hives. Ear symptoms can include itching, plugging or popping in the ear. More serious symptoms involve the lungs. Symptoms with the lungs can include hacking, wheezing, tightness in the chest, frequent bronchitis and inability to catch their breath.

Cat allergen, the allergy causing material from cats, is not cat hair, but rather a protein present in the cat dander and saliva. These allergens become airborne as microscopic particles, which when inhaled into the nose or lungs can produce allergic symptoms.

The main reason why folks can acquire a new pet and not develop any of these allergies until much later is due to the amount of time required to produce these antibodies. It can take from three weeks to three years for the body to build up sufficient amounts of the exact antibody so that an allergen can cross-link two identical antigens. This cross-linkage is the signal to mast cells to spill their contents, resulting in typical allergy symptoms.

An allergy desensitization regimen is the obvious and very effective way to get around a cat allergy. Immunotherapy will gradually make a person more and more resistant to the allergens. The goal of immunotherapy is to increase the tolerance ten-fold. This is one of the most effective treatments as it treats the root cause and doesn't just mask the symptoms.

It is a moral crime and unfair for any indoor cat to be put out. In addition to the diseases and illnesses that can be caught out of doors, the indoor cat has no experience with outdoor life and so is often unable to defend against cars, animals, and other hazards or to effectively search for food.