{"id":1220,"date":"2022-11-21T16:39:48","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T16:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yorktest.com\/us\/cat-allergies\/"},"modified":"2025-10-11T08:10:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T08:10:21","slug":"cat-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorktest.com\/us\/blog\/cat-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"Cat Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments and Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As of 2024, around 29% of American households<\/a> own a pet cat; this equates to around 47 million homes. While many households love their feline friends, cats can produce problems for some. Cats are one of the most frequently encountered household pets, contributing to many happy household moments. However, because of their popularity, they are also a major source of allergens. Approximately 10% of the US population has pet allergies<\/a>, which may present in many forms and range widely in symptoms and reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An animal’s saliva, urine, and skin cells are all potential allergy triggers. Each contains specific proteins that can activate the immune system and cause adverse symptoms, be it a minor skin rash or a full-blown asthma attack. Pets, and more notably cats, are suggested to be the third<\/a> leading cause of allergic asthma<\/a>, after mites and pollens. However, cat allergies are often misunderstood. So, if you or somebody you know is allergic to cats, or you think you may have an allergy to our feline friends, then read on to discover more about cat allergy symptoms, causes, treatments, and testing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What causes cat allergies?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our immune system protects us from outside invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins. Allergies are the immune system’s response to a substance or (more specifically) an allergen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Are People Allergic To Cats?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The main sources of cat allergens are salivary, sebaceous (skin cells also known as dander), and urinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proteins<\/a> found within these sources trigger our immune response, often via airborne particles that can reach our lungs (specifically the small bronchioles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most prominent cat allergen is a protein called Fel d 1<\/a>. It has been shown that cat owners can inhale almost as much Fel d 1 in a single day as they do pollen allergens in a whole year! So, if you were doubting the potential seriousness of a cat allergy, maybe this can help you understand that it\u2019s not something to trifle with.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official allergen site, approved by WHO<\/a>, records a total of 8 different cat allergens.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How common are cat allergies?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The increase in pets within the home \u2014 a recent survey<\/a> found 70% of American households own a pet \u2014 has led to an increase in the prevalence of cat allergies. For example, in Europe, approximately 26%<\/a> of adults have consulted their doctor for a suspected cat allergy. Meanwhile, in the US, it was estimated that 12.1%<\/a> of the population over the age of 6 were sensitive to cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is estimated that around 10-20% of human adults globally<\/a> are allergic to our feline friends. It is also estimated that, in the US, up to 30% of people are allergic to cats or dogs<\/a>, and you are more than twice as likely to be allergic to a cat than a dog. So, while cat allergies are not overly common, they are significantly more common than you may at first think.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the symptoms of a cat allergy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The symptoms of a cat allergy<\/a> can range from mild to severe. Some of the symptoms often include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n