A new study in the Journal of Immunology explores the cause of cat allergies.  The researchers note that cat allergies, like most allergies, are triggered by a protein.  However, the exact pathway of triggers that results in an allergic reaction is unknown for cat allergies.  The study compares the major cat allergen to dog and dust mite allergens.  The researchers identify similarities between the properties and pathways of feline and canine allergens, but few similarities with the dust mite allergen.

The researchers, a team from Cambridge University, conclude that their research is a starting point to cure cat allergies.  Once they identify the pathway of triggers that results in an allergic reaction anywhere from a rash to severe asthma, they can create a drug to block those pathways.  It could take as little as five years to provide a cure.  Currently, individuals with cat allergies have the option of taking anti-histamines to block or mitigate the reaction temporarily or use allergy injections to build up tolerance.

Cat allergens are particularly difficult to remove.  They are sticky and can be found in a home several years after a cat has stopped living there.  This study examined cat dander, also known as feline dandruff, which is a major source of cat allergies.  Pet dander is a protein composed of small flecks of skin, which can also include bits of saliva from the animal licking itself.  When the dander comes off the animal, it is lightweight and able to remain suspended in the air for a long time.  By sticking to a variety of objects, pet dander remains in the home for years and can be transferred to other locations such as work, schools, and hospitals.

Without a cure for cat allergies, there are recommendations for living with cat allergies even when living with or near a cat.  The bedroom should remain a cat-free zone, with measures taken to remove existing allergens from linens and protect them from further allergens.  Carpet should be replaced with hardwood whenever possible since carpets and rugs trap more allergens.  Anti-allergen sprays for the home and dander removal wipes for the cat help reduce the quantity of allergens in the home.  Finally, it is possible to build up resistance over time, making the effects of allergies less disruptive.

Allergies are the result of the body reacting to a foreign substance.  The immune system treats it as an infection that needs to be fought when, in reality, it is a benign substance.  If the body produces antibodies that identify a substance as a potential infection, it will fight it when it enters the body, resulting in inflammation of the skin, airways, sinuses, or digestive system.