Cat Allergy: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Test for It

You walk into a friend's place where there's a cat — and your nose itches and your eyes water. Whether this happens only to you or it's really the animal can be figured out from the details. Below is a breakdown without panic: what triggers the reaction, what it looks like in adults, and which tests settle the question.

What causes cat allergy

Allergens are substances to which the immune system reacts as if they were a threat. Allergens can be animals, in particular cats and dogs; the list of common allergens also includes tree and grass pollen, dust mites, food, insect stings, and some medications.

The mechanism is this: on repeated contact with an allergen, an organism already sensitized to it responds with an immune reaction and a release of chemicals — hence the symptoms. Sensitization does not necessarily end in allergy: sensitivity is present, but there are no complaints. Similar manifestations can occur without an immune mechanism either — this is pseudoallergy.

Heredity also plays a role: allergic diseases often run in families, and if both parents have allergies, the probability is higher. For scale: at least one allergic disease occurs in 8–10% of people worldwide, and in certain regions of Russia — in 10–35% of the population.

Symptoms of cat allergy in adults

The reaction appears within minutes or several hours later. The classics: a runny nose or sneezing, red and watery eyes, pain or tenderness around the cheeks, eyes, or forehead. There may be coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Some symptoms catch up later: a stuffy nose, cough, blocked ears and reduced sense of smell, sore throat, dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, fatigue, irritability, headache.

Rash, hives, and skin manifestations

The skin responds with raised rash (hives), itching, or redness. On brown and black skin, redness is harder to notice.

Can an allergy appear over time and go away

Some people, especially children, outgrow an allergy when the immune system becomes less sensitive to the trigger, but if a substance already causes an allergy, it often affects a person for a long time.

How to test for cat allergy

The doctor performs an examination and asks about symptoms; below is what he or she finds out and which tests are possible.

• what the doctor asks: whether symptoms change by time of day and season;
• whether there is contact with pets and other allergens;
• skin tests (prick test);
• IgE RAST blood test;
• eosinophil count.

Such a check of "allergy or not" is not a diagnosis but a reason to discuss the observations with a doctor.

When to see a doctor

You go to a doctor if you or your child have a suspected allergy, if symptoms are severe, if the previous approach has stopped working and the complaints do not respond to the prescribed treatment. A specialist can draw up an allergy management plan.

Cat allergy by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. Call 103 or 112 if the lips, mouth, throat, or tongue suddenly swell; breathing becomes very fast or labored, and a feeling of suffocation appears; the throat tightens and swallowing is difficult; the skin, tongue, or lips turn blue, gray, or pale; the person suddenly becomes very confused, drowsy, or dizzy; someone has lost consciousness and cannot be woken up. These are signs of a severe allergic reaction that requires immediate help in a hospital.

This material is for reference: it helps to gather observations and ask the doctor the right questions, but does not replace a specialist's consultation.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer