Why test for cat allergy?
Cats are the most commonly kept pets. These four-legged friends live together with humans in many households all over the world – and they regularly trigger pet hair allergy symptoms.
If you are interested in getting a cat, it is worthwhile checking beforehand whether you are allergic to cat hair. Even if you already live with a cat, allergies can reemerge. It makes sense to get to the bottom of any allergy symptoms so that you can do something about them. Untreated pet hair allergies that continue to trigger symptoms can increase the risk of allergic asthma.
How does the Cat Allergy Test work?
To do the cat hair allergy test, take a few drops of blood from your fingertip with a lancet. You then send the sample on the dried blood spot card provided via a return envelope to our partner medical laboratory.
The laboratory will analyse your blood to see how high the number of IgE antibodies for feline epithelium is. Epithelia are cells in the upper layer of the skin that contain cat allergens.
What do the allergy test results tell you?
The results indicate whether you are sensitised to cat dander and to what degree. Sensitisation is when your immune system overreacts when it encounters an allergen such as cat hair epithelium.
This does not automatically mean that you have an allergy. However, if you have additional symptoms when you are in a room with these animals, you probably have a cat hair allergy
What recommendations do you receive after the Cat Allergy Test?
If you are allergic to cat dander, you are likely to have a similar reaction to all cats – there are no specific breeds or individual animals that trigger fewer allergy symptoms, as there are with dogs.
The results report will give you more advice on how to deal with a cat hair allergy. For example, if you suffer from allergies, your first priority should be to avoid cat hair in your bedroom.
What happens when you have a cat allergy?
With an allergy, your immune system reacts to substances that are actually harmless that enter your body. This immune reaction then leads to typical allergy symptoms, such as sniffling, an itchy throat and skin rashes.
In the case of cat hair allergy, the substance responsible is cat’s epithelium – these are cells in the top layer of a cat’s skin. These allergens spread very quickly when cat hair is dispersed in the air and also on clothing.
How can you diagnose a cat allergy?
Cat hair allergy is considered an respiratory allergy. It therefore mainly affects the respiratory tract. As a rule, reactions are immediate. You will experience symptoms shortly after inhaling cat hair or getting it on your skin.
Typical symptoms of cat hair allergy are:
- Cow’s milk and eggs
- sneezing, runny nose and itchy throat
- red, itchy and watery eyes
- Wheat
- swelling and redness of the skin
In the long term, an allergy to cat dander can develop into allergic asthma. The risk increases if you often feel unwell because of cat allergens.
How do you treat a cat allergy?
Antihistamine tablets can suppress allergic reactions. But you should only use them for a short time. These medicines are therefore only a solution to take occassionally when you spend time around cats.
Cat hair allergy can only be treated by hyposensitisation (specific immunotherapy). Doctors administer the allergen several times over a period of two to three years. Immunotherapy is not always successful. If successful, your immune system gets used to cat hair. The animal hair then causes very few, if any, allergic symptoms.
For whom is the Cat Allergy Test not appropriate?
The blood test is not or only partially suitable for certain groups of people:
- People with infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV should not perform the blood test.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women should only perform the Cat Allergy Test under medical supervision. Reference values and recommendations do not apply. You should therefore obtain recommendations on the test result from your doctor.
- The test is not suitable for children under the age of 18.
It is not intended to diagnose illness. If, for example, you suffer from severe pain, consult a doctor.
