What is worse for allergies cats or dogs?
Cat allergies are more common—and often more severe—than dog allergies.
Cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. So if you react to cats, you may not have a problem with dogs at all. It doesn't really matter if your dog or cat has long or short fur, or differences in breed.
The most common reason behind why someone is allergic to cats is because of dander. Dander is the dead skins that are expelled from your cat's body when she self-grooms. As dogs don't do this, they don't have that problem. To put it simply, your cat's cleanliness might be what's causing your allergies.
Keep in mind that even if you don't have an actual cat allergy, your cat can still indirectly cause your allergies to flare up. Outside cats can bring in pollen, mold, and other allergens on their fur.
Reptiles and amphibians usually do not cause allergic reactions because they do not produce the proteins found in the dander and saliva of warm-blooded animals. These pets can be an excellent choice for people with asthma or allergies, as long as you spend the time and effort required to care for them properly.
Our data demonstrated that exposure to cats was associated with increased risk of asthma, while exposure to dogs is associated with reduced lung function.
Living with cat allergies is possible for many people as long as you take the right precautions. Keep allergies in mind while choosing a cat, reduce allergens in your house, and groom and clean up after your pet, and you and your cat will be set up for many sneeze-free years together.
Build up resistance. There is no cure for allergy to cats (yet!), but immunotherapy may help increase your tolerance. Immunotherapy involves getting allergy shots once or twice weekly for up to six months, then monthly boosters for three to five years.
Although cat allergy symptoms may never go away completely, they are manageable. Remember this basic fact about cat allergens. They need to be airborne and you need to breathe them in for you to have an allergic reaction to them. Cat allergen is very small so it remains suspended in the air longer.
How to treat cat allergies. Avoiding the allergen is best, but when that's not possible, the following treatments may help: antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), loratadine (Claritin) or cetirizine (Zyrtec) corticosteroid nasal sprays such as fluticasone (Flonase) or mometasone (Nasonex)
What kills pet dander?
A weekly bath can reduce the dander in your pet's fur substantially, so make the commitment to keep your furry friend clean. Every pet product will claim to be the best at eliminating dander, but even dishwashing soap or baby shampoo will do the trick.
Allergy shots gradually expose the body to increased doses of cat antigens. This causes the immune system to eventually tolerate the harmless cat proteins. But the treatment often requires shots every week or two for up to a year, followed by monthly shots for at least three years.
A common misconception is that cat allergic individuals are allergic to cat hair and that long haired cats are more allergenic than short haired cats. However, this is no the case. Cat allergy does not come from the hair itself, but from proteins which stick on the hair.
High-shedding cat breeds tend to be worse for people with allergies because the allergens get trapped in their coats and spread wherever they lose their fur. Some of these high-shedders include the Persian, Maine coon, Norwegian forest cat, Himalayan, Manx, and Cymric.
Allergies to cats are primarily caused by a single protein which is found on the skin and in the saliva. There are at least seven other cat proteins that may cause cat allergies in humans. A combination of these allergy producing proteins accumulate on the fur and skin of the cat during grooming.
- Airedale Terrier.
- Bichon Frisé
- Chinese Crested.
- Kerry Blue Terrier.
- Poodle.
- Portuguese Water Dog.
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.
- West Highland White Terrier.
You may be wondering whether Claritin or Zyrtec is the best pet allergy medicine—but which antihistamine works best for you depends on the severity of your symptoms. For example, a person with a mild allergy to cats or dogs may do well with Claritin. Another person with more severe allergies may do better with Zyrtec.
If you or a family member have a pet allergy but wish to keep pets in the home, immunotherapy can help build tolerance to one or more allergens over time. This is not a quick fix but can be an effective long-term solution.
Therefore, although both cats and dogs produce animal dander, this dander differs between the two animals. Therefore, it is possible for a cat allergy to be more severe than a dog allergy. It may also explain why more people suffer from cat allergies than dog allergies.
Living with cat allergies is possible for many people as long as you take the right precautions. Keep allergies in mind while choosing a cat, reduce allergens in your house, and groom and clean up after your pet, and you and your cat will be set up for many sneeze-free years together.
Should I give my cat away if I have allergies?
A: Unfortunately the best course of action is probably to give away your cat, especially if you find out you have severely allergies. There is no such things as an allergy-free cat, and the main cat allergen [actually their dried saliva] is particularly resistant to clean up even after the cats have left your home.
Outgrowing allergies to animals is possible but not probable. Also, even those allergies can go away; they can come back again later in life. Keeping pets will not help to acclimate to allergies either. For some people, allergy symptoms can be worse in some seasons, especially in the heat when animals shed more.
High-shedding cat breeds tend to be worse for people with allergies because the allergens get trapped in their coats and spread wherever they lose their fur. Some of these high-shedders include the Persian, Maine coon, Norwegian forest cat, Himalayan, Manx, and Cymric.
Cats produce multiple allergens (proteins that can cause allergy). These allergens are found on the fur and skin and in saliva. All cats produce allergens; studies have not shown that cats can be hypoallergenic (meaning that they don't cause allergy). Homes with more than one cat have higher levels of cat allergens.
Studies show that approximately 15 percent of the population is allergic to dogs or cats. An estimated one-third of Americans who are allergic to cats (about two million people) live with at least one cat in their household anyway.