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Symptoms of a Feline Allergy

According to Boutique Kittens, cats are thought to help benefit your health and mental state. This is because cats tend to provide a calming influence on a home. However, if you have a feline allergies, your home is anything but peaceful. Feline allergies can cause you to develop cold-like symptoms and irritations of the skin and eyes, which can make feel miserable. Knowing the symptoms of an allergy to felines, can help you determine whether or not your cat is making you ill.

  1. Cold-Like Symptoms

    • According to the Cat Allergies website, an allergy to cats is caused by the proteins from your cat's mouth, which are left behind on it skin and fur, after your cat cleans itself. himself. As you pet your cat, these proteins are transfered onto you, and as your cat sits or walks around, the proteins attach themselves to your furniture and carpeting. This fact makes it difficult to remove the proteins that cause your allergy symptoms. If you are constantly in contact with your cat, you may think that you have a chronic cold as opposed to allergy symptoms. You may find that your ears become clogged or begin to ring. Nasal drainage or stuffiness and sneezing also are present. Coughing is another common symptom, and as coughing persists, you may develop a sore, scratchy throat. Sometimes, symptoms may improve, if you are away from home for a period of time, such as when you are traveling. However, the symptoms often return when you come back in contact with the your cat and hence, the cat proteins that are causing your allergies.

    Skin Symptoms

    • Even if you do not have cold-like symptoms, you may still develop skin irritations from the proteins that cause feline allergies. According to AllergyEscape.com, if you develop skin irritations on your head, neck or upper body, after your cat licks or rubs on you, this also may be a sign that you are allergic to your cat. Although skin reactions usually develop within the first few minutes, after contact, they can take as long as an hour to show up, making it hard to identify your cat as the culprit. If you have skin reactions to feline contact, you will likely notice the skin turning red and inflamed. In extreme allergies, hives can occur. Hives are swollen patches of skin that abruptly appear after contact with an allergen, according to WebMd.

    Irritated Eyes

    • Eye irritation usually occurs after you come in contact with the cat protein and then touch your eyes. However, it is possible for the cat to rub your face and pass the proteins onto you that way. When contact occurs, your eyes may be come red and swollen. The eyeball will appear bloodshot. You eye will itch uncontrollably and weep. Remember to wash your hands and rinse your eyes out, before rubbing them.

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