Dear
Marie:
My
five-year-old daughter has developed an allergy to our cat. Our pediatrician has told us to either keep
the cat outside or get rid of it. I have
had this cat for 8 years and he is part of our family. We never put him outside and I am not about
to start now. He’d become a coyote
dinner before the first night ended. I
also can’t just get rid of him. My
daughter loves him. She would be
devastated. Not to mention, our whole
family would be devastated. Have you
heard of any other alternatives to these drastic measures?
Toni,
Rancho Santa Margarita
Dear
Toni,
Ask
your pediatrician to refer you to an allergist, preferably one who is sensitive
to your concerns about your pet and your daughter’s feelings. Pet allergies are one of the most common
allergies in the world, ranking second to dust mite allergies. The easiest and thus quickest recommended
method for coping made by doctors is to avoid or get rid of pets. However, this recommendation does not take
into consideration the emotional issues connected with pet allergies.
If
you get rid of your cat because your daughter has allergies, she will feel like
it is her fault and possibly experience guilt and grief - especially if the
whole family feels bad about having to get rid of the kitty. If she has siblings who also love your cat,
they may blame her and harbor long-term resentment toward her. This is certainly not an ideal situation for
a young child.
The
first thing you should do is to learn as much as you can about allergies to
cats. I can give you a little
information, and you can use this as a jumping off point for more. Knowledge is going to be your major tool for
creating an environment and lifestyle that will allow you to keep your
cat. Giving your cat up for adoption should
only be a last resort if everything else has failed.
Felines
create more allergic reactions in humans than do dogs. These allergic reactions can be very serious
and thus should not be taken lightly.
Allergies are triggered by allergens.
In the house cat, this allergen is produced in the sebaceous glands of
the cat’s skin and in its saliva.
Therefore, these allergens will accumulate on your pet’s
fur. Experts used to think that a cat’s constant
cleaning by licking itself was the major cause of allergen deposits. However, it has now been shown that the
sebaceous
glands
are the bigger culprits. Nevertheless,
the two sources produce an allergen that is extremely small, thus allowing it
to penetrate deep into the lungs after being inhaled.
There
are products currently available that can eliminate these allergens. They can be applied to your cat’s fur with a
sponge on a weekly basis. These products
cause no adverse reactions to pets. They
are non-oily and there is no noticeable residue that is left after application.
There are also no perfumes or fragrances added.
Eighty to eighty-five percent of allergy sufferers who have applied
these products to their pets have enjoyed marked improvement in their ability to
tolerate cats. There are many scientific papers that discuss these results as
well as other related tests. The bottom
line is that if you are able to remove the allergens from your cat before they
become airborne, you will reduce the chances of your daughter experiencing
allergic reactions to these allergens.
Further,
your daughter may be allergic to other allergens in the environment – not just
your cat’s. In fact, many individuals
who are allergic to felines are sensitive to a number of different allergens. All of the allergens together create a
threshold point for allergy sufferers, which causes reactions to occur. Consequently, you should try to make your
home as allergen free as possible. Take
steps to eliminate dust, mold, mildew, pollen, paint, perfume, soaps,
cosmetics, and other household items which may potentially combine to trigger
allergic reactions in your daughter.
A
recent study at John Hopkins University has reached some exciting
conclusions. In the near future,
synthetic vaccines may become available that will alleviate allergic reactions
to felines. Talk to your allergist about
these and other new treatment regimens.
Chances are, your feline companion and your daughter will not have to be
separated.
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