Cats and allergies

Love your cat, but struggling with allergies? Start by finding out what is causing your symptoms and what might help.

Start with your GP

Speak with your GP about your symptoms, especially if you have asthma. They can discuss treatment and whether you need allergy testing or a referral to an allergy specialist.

Fel d 1, the main cat allergen, is produced in saliva and skin glands. Grooming spreads it onto hair and dander, which can carry it around the home. Any breed of cat can cause allergies. A short coat or a particular breed does not guarantee an allergy-free home.

Practical steps at home

Reducing contact with allergens may help, but these steps do not work for everyone. Keep your cat safely indoors while making changes.

Keep your bedroom cat-free.
Wash your hands after patting your cat, before touching your face.
Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture regularly.
Wash bedding and other washable fabrics regularly.
Ask someone else to do the grooming if it triggers your symptoms.

If symptoms continue, go back to your GP. Follow your asthma or allergy action plan if you have one.

What about your cat’s food?

Some specialised foods can reduce active Fel d 1 on a cat’s hair and dander. Purina Pro Plan LiveClear uses an egg-derived ingredient that binds to this allergen in the cat’s saliva.

In a Purina-funded study of 105 cats, reductions were seen from the third week of feeding the test diet, with an average 47% reduction in active Fel d 1 on hair by week 10. That is an allergen measurement, not a promise of 47% fewer symptoms or an allergy cure.

Ask your vet whether an allergen-reducing food suits your cat’s age and health, especially if they need a prescription diet. Keep working with your GP on your own symptoms.

A cat’s own food allergy is a different issue. If your cat is itchy or has digestive problems, your vet can advise whether a supervised elimination diet is appropriate.

Talk to MKC

If allergies are making it difficult to keep a cat you adopted from MKC, contact us early so we can discuss your circumstances.

Cats and allergies

Start with your GP

Practical steps at home

What about your cat’s food?

Talk to MKC

Further reading