Is there any cure/vaccination for people who suffer from the cat allergy? No is the answer. There are many people who love cats who are allergic to them. It is very tough. The cat allergy is one of the mysteries of nature because it really does interfere with cat domestication. It makes me wonder if the cat allergy is a modern phenomenon.
Kadiz Jera F3b Savannah Cat. Photo copyright Kathrin Stucki.
Did the people who first domesticated the cat, almost 10,000 years ago, have the same allergy to cats? If so why did they domesticate the wildcat? I guess some people were allergic but not enough to stop domestication progressing.
What percentage of people are allergic to cats? The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America say that between 15-30% of people with allergies have allergic reactions to cats and dogs. WebMD says that 55% of the American population test positive to one or more allergens. They would seem to be people with allergies. If they are classified like that, then about 10% of US people are allergic to cats and dogs. That is a lot of people and a good number will like cats and like to live with a cat.
There is nothing really solid and workable that allows people with a cat allergy to live with a cat entirely satisfactorily, except that some cats are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. Spayed females are a good start. Whole males are more likely to cause an allergic reaction.
You can wash the allergen off the cat’s fur but he will put it back on again when her grooms himself. And that will be fairly soon after you washed him. In fact it will be immediately afterward.
You can confine your cats to certain areas but what is the point? The Savannah cat is semi-hypoallergenic. What I mean is that the Savannah cat is less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
Why not see if you can adopt a 5th generation female Savannah cat.? That would not be a vaccination for a cat allergy but it would probably be as near as you can get to it. They can be expensive though. I accept that.
Note: the evidence that Savannah cats are somewhat hypoallergenic is anecdotal but the cat created or bought-in by LifeStyle Pets Inc., the Ashera GD, is an F1 Savannah. This company says that their cats are allergy free.
Associated: Hypoallergenic cat breeds.
An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system has an exaggerated reaction to a usually harmless substance. The most common allergens (substances that trigger the allergy) are dust mites, molds, pollen, pets with fur or feathers, stinging insects, and some kinds of foods.
Thank you Jenice.
Hi Michael,
I know there are a lot of people out there who would like a cat but can’t get one or even be around one due to allergies. That’s a shame. There is a high demand for allergy vaccines or cures.
Vaccines or cures for allergies don’t exist yet as far as I know. They would be handy and would certainly be a big hit among many.
As far as I can tell, vaccines are at least a half dozen years off but are being worked on.
The best we can do right now is settle for the temporary fix – pills and allergy shots.
A cure would be a whole new challenge and would be a potential next step at some point in the distant future for those who suffer from cat allergies.
=^..^= Hairless Cat Girl =^..^=
It would be great if someone found a cure. I am sure many entrepreneurs are working on it because millions could be made. The cat allergen is a peculiar happening in the long relationship between cat and human. Sometimes nature can be cruel.
Interesting. A vaccination would be great. Sadly I think that allergy is often used falsely as an excuse to relinquish a cat. Albeit they are ‘sudden allergies’ it is somehow not challenged in the mainstream. Therefore people don’t think about it being a poor excuse and it is largley acceptable to turn your cat in to the pound claiming somebody was allergic.
Agreed. This question is a real one and I am sure many people would like something. But I am also sure the that cat allergy is a convenient excuse and therefore a barrier in the human/cat relationship. Personally, I believe that the cat allergy can creep up on people. That is people who were not allergic can become allergic over time. People can become sensitised to the allergen I feel.