If you’re plagued by sneezing, wheezing, or red, watery eyes whenever you’re around a feline friend, you’re not alone. An estimated 10 to 20 percent of us have a cat allergy, and there’s evidence that the number is increasing.
But if you also revel in the cuteness of cats, you may be wondering whether there’s an allergy loophole (or even cure-all) somewhere out there. The detailed answer isn’t a definitive “yes” or “no” — but rather somewhere in between.
What Are Allergies?
Allergies exist because the human immune system sometimes overreacts to foreign substances called allergens. To protect itself, the immune system churns out proteins called antibodies — even though the allergens themselves are harmless.
This reaction produces inflammatory responses in the nasal passages and lungs, which can result in annoying allergy symptoms:
