Best medicine for cat allergies

While picking a new pet can be an exciting part of life, sometimes you come into a situation where a pet is already present. Perhaps a change in your living situation or relationship status means you’re now in contact with a pet on a regular basis.

For a lot of people, that just means more time with furry critters. But for those with pet allergies, it raises a new set of challenges.

Allergist Sandra Hong, MD, suggests that the best-case scenario if you have pet allergies is to have non-fur pets, like reptiles or fish. But that can sometimes be out of your control — or what your heart truly wants.

What’s the best way to manage pet allergies when your exposure to a dog or cat that triggers them increases? Are you doomed to puffy eyes and sneezing forever or is there hope?

Why do pet allergies cause you to sneeze anyway?

First of all, it’s important to understand what causes your allergy flare-ups. Dr. Hong says that it’s actually a protein in the saliva, urine and feces of these pets that we’re allergic to. “It gets on their fur and skin,” she adds, explaining how it spreads so easily. 

As for why some pets may bother you more than others, it’s because certain proteins last longer than others. “Cat protein can last up to four months in your home environment,” Dr. Hong explains, “while dog dander can linger for shorter periods of time.”

That doesn’t mean a dog won’t make you sneeze and wheeze. One of the reasons is that all of these proteins can linger in your home. “They get attached to couches, any sort of cloth surfaces like rugs and carpets and other upholstery and they stain and linger there,” she says. 

Dr. Hong says one other thing to be aware of is that there’s no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog or cat. “Even hairless cats aren’t 100% hypoallergenic. Even if they don’t shed fur and spread dander everywhere, they’re still shedding the protein we’re allergic to.”

How to live with pets you’re allergic to

So what can you do to help yourself if you’re living with pets you’re allergic to? One way is to maintain certain physical boundaries, preventing those pets from going in certain parts of your home and keeping as much of their allergenic proteins away from you.

“Ideally, you don’t allow them into your bedroom and, especially, on to your bed,” Dr. Hong says. This is, after all, where you sleep and allergic reactions would certainly play havoc with your ability to get good rest. Additionally, dogs and outdoor cats can bring in pollen from outdoors on their fur. 

You should also keep them in areas of your home where the floors are hard surfaces, like linoleum or hardwood, so that it’s easier to clean up after them. The same goes for furniture, Dr. Hong adds, saying, “It’s better to have them in areas with furniture that you can wipe down as opposed to upholstery.”

Why cleaning is so important when it comes to pet allergies

Only having your pets in areas with hard floors and furniture — though it may tug at your heartstrings at times — will make it easier for you to clean, which Dr. Hong says you should do often. She also suggests using a damp cloth or using damp floor wipers (life a Swiffer) to make sure those surfaces are as clean as possible. And for those areas where you have a carpet or rug, vacuum frequently.

Air filters can also be helpful to limit the spread and exposure to those proteins. Dr. Hong notes that she has several patients that abide the “no pets in the bedroom” policy and still place air filters there to help keep the air as clean and clear as possible.

But the extra cleaning should also extend to your pets, says Dr. Hong. If you can, bathe your pets regularly to help keep the protein-impacted dander to a minimum. That also goes for brushing your pets fur to keep excess fur to a minimum. Just remember to brush them outside so none of the fur or dander lingers in your house. 

And if your pet, particularly dogs, go outside a lot, it’s best to wipe them down when they come in. “If you have pollen allergies, your pet can get covered in it when they go outside,” says Dr. Hong. “When they come inside, they’ll be bringing all that pollen with them. So if you wipe them down before they come in, you can at least keep them from bringing too much into your home.”

How to manage pet allergy medications

Over-the-counter drugs are also one way to help you deal with your pet allergies and they can be pretty effective. “Nasal steroids are typically the number one treatment for allergies and those help with nasal congestion, dripping and draining,” Dr. Hong says.

Other options include antihistamines, like Benadryl, which are good for alleviating itching and sneezing. And allergy shots are another helpful option but Dr. Hong notes that they’re not effective for everyone. Those shots mostly help those allergic to cats and dogs but you may see less success with dogs.

Depending on the pet and the person, more serious allergies could develop, leading to increasing sinus infections. It can also cause asthma to flare up for some and even cause more upper respiratory infections. 

While medications can help with many of these symptoms, Dr. Hong says, the downside to relying on those medications should be top-of-mind, especially since some can result in drowsiness. “For kids, those medications can keep them from being able to focus on schoolwork. The same goes for adults, who may be at work but also not able to focus.”

And Dr. Hong also advises us to remember that while drugs may help us feel better around animals we’re allergic to, those medications aren’t cures. Rather, she says, they simply mask our symptoms. 

The preference, she says, is to remove the pet from your home environment. But, of course, that’s often much easier said than done. if that’s really not an option, stay on top of as many of these tips as possible and keep a close eye on your health. 

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There’s nothing worse than having an itchy cat.

And if your cat has allergies, there’s probably a lot of itching going down. 

So before your allergic cat drives herself (and you!) crazy with all that scratching and licking she’ll do, you might be wondering: What can I do to help her feel better?

The Dodo spoke with Dr. Sarah Wooten, a small animal veterinarian in Colorado, to learn what products vets recommend for cats with allergies who need relief ASAP.

According to Dr. Wooten, here are some signs that your cat has allergies:

• Sneezing
• Itching, increased scratching or grooming
• Bald patches
• Ear infections
• Scabs and crusts all over the whole body (aka miliary dermatitis, which is a common symptom associated with flea allergy in cats)
• Swollen face or head
• Increased flatulence, diarrhea or vomiting (common with food allergies)

Keep in mind that these symptoms are very similar to how cats react to a lot of skin and respiratory infections; so sometimes, it might not even be allergies after all. 

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If you notice these reactions in your cat, it’s best to have her checked out by a veterinarian first. They can tell you exactly what’s causing the symptoms — and most importantly, how to help her!

Cat allergy treatments

“Treatment for allergies depends on the type of allergy that a cat has,” Dr. Wooten told The Dodo. Here are some common types of cat allergies and how to treat them. 

Flea dermatitis

“If a cat has an allergy to flea bites, then the best thing to do is regularly keep your cat and all other dogs and cats in the household on veterinarian-recommended flea products,” Dr. Wooten said. 

And make sure to avoid cheap, generic flea products. If your cat is allergic to fleas, you’ll definitely want something that’s super effective. 

Try Advantage II flea prevention treatment from Amazon for $58.98

Seasonal allergies

If your cat has seasonal allergies, she could be allergic to things like pollen, dust mites and mold. In this case, “talk to your vet about using antihistamines or other FDA-approved allergy medications.” Dr. Wooten said. 

Atopica is a commonly prescribed allergy medication for cats. 

In severe cases, your veterinarian might also recommend a series of allergy shots to desensitize your cat to the allergen.

Food allergies

Cats can also have an allergy to an ingredient in their food.

The most common allergens in cats are usually proteins, including chicken, beef, pork, dairy and eggs, Dr. Wooten said. Corn and wheat allergens aren’t as common. 

If your cat has food allergies, “the treatment is to feed your cat a novel protein or hypoallergenic food for a feeding trial under the supervision of a veterinarian,” Dr. Wooten said. 

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Contact allergies

Your cat might also be allergic to things she comes into contact with around the house or in the yard, like laundry detergent, soap, plants or fertilizers. “If your cat has contact allergies to soaps or laundry detergents, then switch to unscented products,” Dr. Wooten said. 

Try Seventh Generation’s unscented laundry detergent from Amazon for $11.80

Cat allergy medications

If your cat needs relief fast, you can help her with an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine.

“Antihistamines are the most common OTC option used to help a cat with allergies, and the most common antihistamine used in cats is chlorpheniramine — estimated to help 10 to 50 percent of cats that suffer from allergies,” Dr. Wooten said. “Talk with your vet for a dosage.”

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You can also give your cat a supplement regularly to improve her immune system, so she won’t react as badly to allergens. “Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) from fish oil and fatty fish help,” Dr. Wooten said. 

Try the Zesty Paws Alaskan salmon oil supplement for $14.97 on Amazon

Your vet might prescribe an allergy treatment or medication, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Here are some common prescription allergy medications for cats, according to Dr. Wooten.

• Allergy shots (aka immunotherapy) is really the only “cure,” Dr. Wooten said. “Everything else is management.” Allergy shots require allergy testing, from which an allergy serum is made. “Then, a cat receives a series of allergy shots over time with gradually increasing amounts of the allergen to train the immune system to be desensitized to the allergen,” Dr. Wooten said.
• Atopica (cyclosporine) suppresses the immune system and requires annual blood monitoring.
• Steroids are “cheap and an easy short-term fix; however, they should not be used repeatedly or for long periods of time because they negatively impact the endocrine system,” Dr. Wooten said.
• Gabapentin, a muscle relaxant, has been used. 
• Prescription-strength shampoos, lotions, sprays and cream rinses can help with itching.

If your cat has allergies to things other than food, the best thing you can do is get rid of some of the allergens in your home. 

To do this, Dr. Wooten recommends installing a HEPA filter in your air ducts and using an air purifier.

Also, you should keep your bedding clean. “Washing all bedding weekly with unscented shampoo helps,” Dr. Wooten said. “Also wash any blankets.”

Dealing with your cat’s allergies might seem stressful, but it’s really not all that bad. There are so many different ways to treat the symptoms, and your veterinarian will help you and your cat every step of the way. 

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