Question: Why are some people allergic to fur/cats/dogs??
Comments
-
Thank you @miazeric & @samaskin they both answered my question! 🙂
– I have these allergies to fur/cats/dogs and i also have asthma too and this has helped me so much thanks! 🙂 -
Madicampbell, I’m sorry you are allergic to fur/cats/dogs AND have asthma! Must be hard 🙁 You know, my boyfriend is allergic to SOME breeds of cats but not all. This is not uncommon! Maybe you are allergic to only some breeds also! There is still a chance that you can have a cat/dog *fingers crossed* 🙂 Take care of yourself!
-
Thanks Mia and yeah i used to have a cat and two dogs!! 🙂 lol i did get used to them after a while you helped alot
-
-
Oh wow thanks madicampbell, it is seriously the best feeling as a scientist to know that I’ve helped you out! Allergies suck, it’s just a shame there is so much more to be known about them! I have allergies to dogs where if I touch my eyes after touching them they get so itchy I wanna poke them out of my head! BUT, washing my hands after I’ve touched them makes it okay. I have two little boys too, and unfortunately they both inherited some hayfever and asthma and things from me and their mum. AND we have a cat, and strangely they don’t have any allergies to him!
-
Thanks for the help! 🙂 If i wash my hands after it’s the same for me too 🙂 you helped lots thanks 🙂
-
madicampbell
Very relevant question Madiacampbell! 🙂
Cat allergies are the worst! yuck! The way it works is that the oil glands in a cat’s skin release these proteins. These proteins are shed and can cause cat allergy symptoms. When cats grooms themselves, so when the lick themselves via amazing acrobatic body contortions! the allergy-producing proteins in their saliva coats their fur. Can runs around, you give the cat a pat, and you have now inhaled or touched this protein. This protein is what some people are very sensitive too. Their immune systems goes into overdrive to try and get rid off this protein from your body. Its this overdrive that gives you runny eyes, itchy skin, stuffy nose!
Dog also produce allergy-triggering proteins in their hair, pee and poop as well as saliva and this too acts similarly like the cat proteins.
Hope this answers your question 🙂
1
You get allergies when your immune system (that is there to fight off things that aren’t meant to be in contact with you) is super sensitive and over-reacts to being exposed to things like fur. Cat’s saliva is also another big allergen.
Sometimes the reaction is so big that it can cause a big inflammation, and your throat, eyes, tongue, lips and things can swell up like balloons! Asthma is an allergic reaction as well, and one that has to be managed for life a lot of the time. Genetics plays a big role in allergic responses, and you can inherit a higher chance to be allergic to things from your parents (like getting hayfever). Other times it can come from being exposed to something too much, or too little, so your body becomes extra sensitive to it! It’s a pretty complicated subject, and there are lots of parts that aren’t fully understood yet.
1
Hey MadiCampbell!
Sam and Mia have got this one covered, I think. But cool fact: a lot of people who are allergic to cats can build up immunity to individual cats! So, the more time you spend around a particular cat, the less the allergens affect you! Your body gets more used to them.
My friend has a cat called Banjo, who used to make me sniffle and swell up but now I can cuddle Banjo and have no bad effects!
1