A presentation at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) conference shared the preliminary findings of a study evaluating the correlation and trends between people with asthma and their allergies to cats, reports HealthDay News.  Looking at the time period between 1976 and 1994, the researchers found that the number of positive allergy skin tests has shown a significant increase.  The number of asthmatics with cat allergies has more than doubled and they have a 32 percent greater risk of having an allergy to cats than people without asthma.

Fortunately, a new study in the Journal of Immunology identifies what may be the first step in curing cat allergies, focusing first on its cause.  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.

According to an earlier National Monitor article, 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.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that dogs, cats, rodents (including hamsters and guinea pigs) and other warm-blooded mammals can trigger asthma in individuals with an allergy to animal dander.  The most effective method to control animal allergens in the home is to not allow animals in the home. If an animal is removed from the home, it is important to thoroughly clean the floors, walls, carpets and upholstered furniture.

Asthma is a condition in which the airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus, reports the Mayo Clinic. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.  For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance. For others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack.