By : Bill Weaver
According to a recent report, between six and ten million people (that's approximately two percent of the population!) in the United States are allergic to cats or exhibit symptoms of cat allergy. However, people often misunderstand these symptoms. Majority believe that cat allergy are caused by allergens from the fur or cat dander (scales of the skin), when, in fact, most of the potent allergens come mainly from saliva and sweat.
A cat's saliva or sweat contains a protein with a carbohydrate structure called "Fel d 1." It is an allergen that causes symptoms of cat allergy. "Fel d 1" is much smaller than pollen or mold spores, which are already very potent allergens because of their diminutive size, but because of its much smaller size, "Fel d 1" has even greater potential to cause an allergic reaction. "Fel d 1" can easily bypass nasal passages and lodges deep in the lungs, where it can cause allergic episodes and asthma.
Like pollen and mold spores, "Fel d 1" are airborne allergens. They are often microscopic and float in the air easily. After a cat licks itself while grooming, "Fel d 1" allergen is deposited on its fur and once that happens, the dried specks of saliva can float off and drift around your home. The protein allergen can be found anywhere as aside from being airborne, it attaches itself to walls, windows, and furniture. What is even more amazing is that this allergen can remain in your home for years after a cat leaves your home. So if you want to remove the allergen from your home to protect yourself from cat allergy, everything would have to be totally cleaned.
Symptoms
Like most allergies, cat allergy can affect your eyes, nose, ears, throat, lungs, and skin. The symptoms, especially respiratory reactions, usually occur between fifteen and forty minutes after one is exposed. However, note that pet-related allergies like cat allergy can take days from initial exposure for its onset.
The most common symptoms associated with cat allergy are:
- Red, itchy, or swollen eyes
- Reddened areas on the skin
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Sneezing
- Ears that become stuffed up or itchy
- Post nasal drip
- Itching and hoarseness in the throat
- Frequent bronchitis
- Coughing and wheezing
How to Control Cat Allergy
Always the best way to control allergic reactions is avoidance method. However, majority of people with cat allergy often ignore medical advice and continue to keep at least one cat at home even after diagnosis of their condition. We all love our cats and we want to protect them, but you should think about yourself once in a while. Below are some tips to help you control your cat allergy even while keeping a cat home:
- Use reputable allergy relief and avoidance products at home
- Since "Fel d 1" allergens float in the air, having a source of fresh air will reduce the allergen. Improve ventilation in your house by using an air conditioner even during humid months.
- Use a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter to reduce particles of cat allergen in your home.
If symptoms persist even after following the tips provided above, then perhaps it's time for you to consult a doctor for his advice on proper medication or immunotherapy.
Author's Resource:
FREE information on Allergens -- Every topic is listed! It's FREE! Click here: www.g4service.com
Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.
Adopting A Cat
By : Christopher Thomas
Cats are sweet and cuddly! It's easy to get swept up in the emotion and buy a cat without thinking. But that's not how it should be.
Whether or not to adopt a cat is by no means an easy decision. It carries with it huge responsibility. You will have to take care of a cat until its death, which could be in 15 to 20 years. In addition, you should be ready to spend a large amount of your time feeding the cat, grooming it, and playing with it on a daily basis.
Keep the following points in mind before deciding to adopt a cat:
1. Prior to bringing a cat home, it is essential to know if any member of your household is allergic to cats. Having to get rid of your new pet would be cruel.
2. Cats are social animals and need regular attention and care. They must not be left alone for extended periods, nor be handled roughly, as this will make them aggressive and nervous.
3. Cat care can take a financial toll. You must ensure that you have sufficient funds to take care of your cat's food, toys, medication, and so on.
4. Decide whether you want to adopt a kitten or an adult cat. The only advantage of getting a kitten is that kittens are cute. On the other hand, an adult cat has a well defined personality. Moreover, adult cats are more likely to be litter-box trained and less likely to scratch every bit of furniture in your house.
5. Children and cats can prove to be a bad combination, especially if the child is very young. He or she may mistreat the cat (knowingly or unknowingly) and get a nasty bite in return.
6. A cat requires proper care and medical treatment. This includes annual check-ups, vaccines, and prescription medication for any health problems that could occur.
7. It does not really matter whether you get a female cat or male cat; both genders are equally affable. However, always have your cat spayed or neutered. This helps avoid the unhealthy effects of the mating season in female cats and curb aggression in males.
8. Cat adoption is the most humane way to get a cat, due to the large number of homeless felines. However, it helps to remember that sometimes cats from the animal shelter can be prone to stress. Moving a cat to a home environment allows it to relax and show its true personality. Cats are creatures of habit -- they don't like change. It may take them a month or more to adjust to your home.
Keeping these points in mind when choosing to adopt a cat can help you find the feline that is right for you. It's a big decision, don't leave it to chance!
Author's Resource:
Christopher Thomas contributes to several web sites, on home and family topics.
Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.
Cats are sweet and cuddly! It's easy to get swept up in the emotion and buy a cat without thinking. But that's not how it should be.
Whether or not to adopt a cat is by no means an easy decision. It carries with it huge responsibility. You will have to take care of a cat until its death, which could be in 15 to 20 years. In addition, you should be ready to spend a large amount of your time feeding the cat, grooming it, and playing with it on a daily basis.
Keep the following points in mind before deciding to adopt a cat:
1. Prior to bringing a cat home, it is essential to know if any member of your household is allergic to cats. Having to get rid of your new pet would be cruel.
2. Cats are social animals and need regular attention and care. They must not be left alone for extended periods, nor be handled roughly, as this will make them aggressive and nervous.
3. Cat care can take a financial toll. You must ensure that you have sufficient funds to take care of your cat's food, toys, medication, and so on.
4. Decide whether you want to adopt a kitten or an adult cat. The only advantage of getting a kitten is that kittens are cute. On the other hand, an adult cat has a well defined personality. Moreover, adult cats are more likely to be litter-box trained and less likely to scratch every bit of furniture in your house.
5. Children and cats can prove to be a bad combination, especially if the child is very young. He or she may mistreat the cat (knowingly or unknowingly) and get a nasty bite in return.
6. A cat requires proper care and medical treatment. This includes annual check-ups, vaccines, and prescription medication for any health problems that could occur.
7. It does not really matter whether you get a female cat or male cat; both genders are equally affable. However, always have your cat spayed or neutered. This helps avoid the unhealthy effects of the mating season in female cats and curb aggression in males.
8. Cat adoption is the most humane way to get a cat, due to the large number of homeless felines. However, it helps to remember that sometimes cats from the animal shelter can be prone to stress. Moving a cat to a home environment allows it to relax and show its true personality. Cats are creatures of habit -- they don't like change. It may take them a month or more to adjust to your home.
Keeping these points in mind when choosing to adopt a cat can help you find the feline that is right for you. It's a big decision, don't leave it to chance!
Author's Resource:
Christopher Thomas contributes to several web sites, on home and family topics.
Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.
Cat Teeth Care Tips
By : Dalvin Rumsey
No matter the breed, cats can get a lot of teeth and gums problems. These sort of diseases are not harmless or isolated at all, eventually leading to serious systemic problems for your cat. The figures have shown that over 70% of all cats older than two years are suffering from some form of dental disease.
There are two main methods of helping your cats’ teeth and gums stay healthy. First of all, cats must have a dental cleaning, under anesthesia, every six months. But the most important thing is home care, thus leading to less frequent veterinary cleanings, meaning less discomfort for the cat.
Veterinary dental care includes annual examining of the cats’ teeth and gums, in order to discover any illness that can occur. Should the cat have bad breath, reddened gums, yellowish-brown tartar on teeth, this means it has gingivitis. When severe, this illness will make cats of any breed refuse eating. Most older cats have a dental problem called feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions, for short FORL. So pay attention to signs like excessive salivation, bleeding from the mouth and reluctance to chew food! The veterinary dental care aims to be both preventive and therapeutic and goes hand in hand with the home dental care.
When it comes to home dental care for any cat breed, you should start by training cat to accept daily brushing or wiping of the teeth. The easiest way to do that is by starting the training while the cat is very small. With the aid of a cats specially made toothbrush, apply the bristles to the teeth at a 45-degree angle to the gums, reaching both the tooth surface and the area just beneath the gum margin. The toothpaste for humans is not good for cats, as it can be harmful if swallowed. There are many types of toothpaste for all cat breeds, so always use them, as they are flavored appropriately for your cat and is harmless if swallowed. In order to remove plaque, pet toothpastes contain enzymes and, most importantly, do not require rinsing. Sometimes you can use nothing and simply allow the mechanical action of brushing to remove the plaque. The motions must be circular, paying attention so that you get the bristles under the gum lines. The main idea is to keep in mind the fact that dental home care does not have the goal of removing plaque, but preventing it form accumulating and turning into calculus.
So, try making it pleasant to your cat, and maybe it will eventually even get to enjoying teeth brushing. It is the only way of having a healthy cat from the teeth’ point of view at least!
Author's Resource:
Visit this great site for all the information you need on all Breeds of Cats . The Bengal Cat is a relatively new breed of domestic housecat. Visit this site for more information.
Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.
No matter the breed, cats can get a lot of teeth and gums problems. These sort of diseases are not harmless or isolated at all, eventually leading to serious systemic problems for your cat. The figures have shown that over 70% of all cats older than two years are suffering from some form of dental disease.
There are two main methods of helping your cats’ teeth and gums stay healthy. First of all, cats must have a dental cleaning, under anesthesia, every six months. But the most important thing is home care, thus leading to less frequent veterinary cleanings, meaning less discomfort for the cat.
Veterinary dental care includes annual examining of the cats’ teeth and gums, in order to discover any illness that can occur. Should the cat have bad breath, reddened gums, yellowish-brown tartar on teeth, this means it has gingivitis. When severe, this illness will make cats of any breed refuse eating. Most older cats have a dental problem called feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions, for short FORL. So pay attention to signs like excessive salivation, bleeding from the mouth and reluctance to chew food! The veterinary dental care aims to be both preventive and therapeutic and goes hand in hand with the home dental care.
When it comes to home dental care for any cat breed, you should start by training cat to accept daily brushing or wiping of the teeth. The easiest way to do that is by starting the training while the cat is very small. With the aid of a cats specially made toothbrush, apply the bristles to the teeth at a 45-degree angle to the gums, reaching both the tooth surface and the area just beneath the gum margin. The toothpaste for humans is not good for cats, as it can be harmful if swallowed. There are many types of toothpaste for all cat breeds, so always use them, as they are flavored appropriately for your cat and is harmless if swallowed. In order to remove plaque, pet toothpastes contain enzymes and, most importantly, do not require rinsing. Sometimes you can use nothing and simply allow the mechanical action of brushing to remove the plaque. The motions must be circular, paying attention so that you get the bristles under the gum lines. The main idea is to keep in mind the fact that dental home care does not have the goal of removing plaque, but preventing it form accumulating and turning into calculus.
So, try making it pleasant to your cat, and maybe it will eventually even get to enjoying teeth brushing. It is the only way of having a healthy cat from the teeth’ point of view at least!
Author's Resource:
Visit this great site for all the information you need on all Breeds of Cats . The Bengal Cat is a relatively new breed of domestic housecat. Visit this site for more information.
Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.