Cats are wonderful animals.They are quite sensitive to human emotions. When you feel bad or if something hurts, your pet will curl up on your lap and purr sweetly. Just pet the fluffy lump and your mood will improve. But, unfortunately, not everyone can have this cute little animal. Sadly, 15 percent of the world's population is allergic to cats. Tears, runny nose, sneezing, coughing - all these symptoms can occur immediately after you pet your pet. Moreover, many of us attribute health problems to a cold or fatigue. Which, by the way, is fraught with serious consequences. After all, sometimes contact with pets leads to death.
Why is an allergy to a pet
An allergy is your body's reaction toFel d 1, a substance that you are constantly in contact with. It is contained in the excrement, saliva and glands of the cat. The allergen gets inside through the nose or throat (when inhaling). Through the mouth - when swallowing food. Or through the skin - when stroking a pet. Your immune system tries to cope with the foreign protein, producing an increasing number of white blood cells. So, imagine that your cat is shedding, leaving lint and skin particles on the sofa, clothes, armchair. When licking itself, it sprays saliva into the air and smears its fur with it. Note that at a young age, the animal secretes a small amount of Fel d 1, so you can easily tolerate contact with your pet. But the older it gets, the worse you will begin to feel. "What's the problem?" you think. Many people naively believe that it is enough to get a short-haired or hairless cat (the Sphynx, for example) to avoid such sad consequences. But not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance. The fact is that the wool itself is not an allergen! Pel d 1 gets on the villi through saliva. This substance is also contained in the skin and in the urine, which animals sometimes spray indoors to mark their territory. But even if you train your pet to use the litter box, you will not get rid of the problem. Another nuance that cat owners should remember: this allergen remains on objects, walls and things for a long time. Therefore, even if you give your pet away, there will be no improvement in the next 2-3 months. The attacks will constantly recur until you do a general cleaning using detergents.
How allergies manifest themselves: symptoms and consequences
The patient, after short-term contact withanimals have a stuffy nose, runny nose, itching, and watery eyes. The skin gradually becomes covered with a rash and turns red. If an exacerbation occurs, a person may begin to choke, as with bronchial asthma. In this case, breathing is accompanied by a dry cough, shortness of breath, and suffocation. Unfortunately, in this case, you will have to say goodbye to your pet. If you continue to contact with the allergen, the situation will only get worse. Due to a decrease in immunity, health problems will begin, you will quickly get tired, aggression, apathy, and a bad mood will appear. But this is not the worst thing! Conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma, eczema, chronic rhinitis - this is just a small list of what you will have to face. Then - even worse. If you are almost always with the source of the allergen (i.e. with a cat), ignoring the above symptoms, anaphylactic shock may occur. Always be on the alert! As soon as the patient's blood pressure drops sharply, he begins to choke, lose consciousness, or has convulsions, remove the animal from the room and call an ambulance. Fortunately, death after contact with a cat occurs extremely rarely.
Treatment of allergies to pets (cats)
So it all depends on how it manifests itselfpet allergy. If the symptoms are minor (itching or runny nose), you can take special antihistamines prescribed by your doctor. At the same time, there should be decongestant drugs in the house, which will come in handy if complications occur. In no case should you self-medicate and do not buy tablets, sprays, solutions and similar products at random. They may not be suitable or even lead to an exacerbation or distortion of symptoms. In the future, this will greatly complicate the diagnosis of the disease. First, you should undergo a comprehensive examination to find out what really makes you feel bad. At the clinic, you may be offered a course of treatment that will allow you to get rid of the allergy for a while. These can be IVs or injections. Of course, such a pleasure will not be cheap, plus you will then have to repeat all the procedures again. But the result will exceed all your expectations.
Start a cat: how to cope with an allergy
So, you've decided to get a pet,despite your illness? Or did you realize too late that you are allergic to cats? In this case, you should follow a number of rules and requirements to avoid exacerbations and serious consequences. And if you follow them without fail, no problems will arise in the future.
- Castrate or sterilize the kitten
Scientists have found that a castrated domestic catthe animal produces less allergen. No matter how sorry you are for the animal, contact a veterinary clinic already in the sixth month. In addition to everything, you will not have to worry about what to do with the new offspring. By the way, it is better to get a female cat, not a male cat.
- Ventilate the room
Ventilate every day (morning and evening)room. In summer, you can leave a window or balcony open at night. Get a humidifier, which will help clear the room of allergens. And don't forget to do wet cleaning at least 3 times a week.
- Get rid of excess items
Anything that could get dusty should beremoved from the room. Try to get rid of carpets, curtains, synthetic bedspreads, figurines and paintings. If finances allow, buy only leather and wooden furniture. And do not let your pet into your bedroom.
- Wash the cat
Wash your cat periodically (once every two weeks)pet. Buy special shampoos for cats in pet stores. Otherwise, if you use regular soap, the animal may develop dermatitis and hair loss. Once a week, comb it with a comb with curved iron teeth.
- Visit doctors and veterinarians
If you have not had any allergies tocat, and then you suddenly start to get sick, the reason may not be in the animal itself. First, visit a doctor, try to give your pet to friends for a while. Go to a veterinary clinic to have your pet checked for mycoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis, etc. diseases. The fact is that some types of infection can be transmitted from animals to humans. This also applies to fungus (ringworm) or mites (scabies). By the way, the animal may not have pronounced symptoms of the disease. For example, after chlamydia, a cat does not necessarily develop severe conjunctivitis. And profuse discharge from the eyes is usually accepted by owners as the norm. At the same time, the pet will infect those who come into contact with it.
- Choose high-quality products
Please note that the allergy may not be tothe animal itself, and not what you feed it, wash it with. Try buying a different litter for the tray, change the food and pet cosmetics (shampoos, dental care products), remove toys from sight for a while.
- Equip a Corner
A cat is an animal that walks by itself.It is impossible to force a freedom-loving pet to sleep in a specific place. When you leave for work, it will still try to run into the bedroom to mark the territory. But if you put a scratching post with a house and a three-level stand in the corner, the cat will spend time there, watching you from above. It is great if the pet has the opportunity to walk outside. In this case, your contact with the allergen will be minimized.
- Observe basic hygiene
After you play with your cat orpet it, be sure to wash your hands with soap. Try to touch your pet as little as possible. Do not let it rub against your face, hair or body. If you visit people who have cats, wash all their things when you get home, as they may have been contaminated with hair with allergens or saliva.
Cats and children: whether to start a pet
Experts have established that children in familieswho have had cats since birth are less prone to allergies. Therefore, if you are pregnant or have recently given birth, you can freely get a pet. You should not do this if one of the parents literally cannot stand the feline family. It is also better not to risk it with hamsters, dogs and feathered friends. The best option is fish. They practically do not require care (of course, if the aquarium is equipped), and they do not make noise. But they are beautiful, convenient and completely safe for your health. What to do if you brought a kitten into the house? At first, it is necessary to limit the animal's contact with the child. Do not leave them alone together. The danger lies not only in the manifestation of an allergic reaction, but also in the behavior of the cat itself. It can scratch or bite the baby who presses it too much or annoys it with its pestering. If this happens, be sure to lubricate the damaged area with hydrogen peroxide and treat it with iodine or brilliant green. Wash the wound with antibacterial agents twice a day (until it heals completely). The cat can infect the child with worms. Therefore, give the animal special tablets once every two or three months. Do not allow the child to kiss, hug the pet, take its paws or tail in its mouth (for some reason, children like to do this). After your family has played enough, make sure that they wash their hands with soap. In the future, such cleanliness should become a habit. If a child will be taking care of the cat, explain to him the basic rules of hygiene. Tell him how to clean the litter box, wash the cat's dishes and give food to the animal. It is great if you buy rubber gloves, which are safer to do all this in. Your child should not touch the cat's food and excrement with bare hands and other parts of the body.
What does your cat need?
Before you decide to get a petanimals, take care of their safety and yours. Many owners naively believe that it is enough to buy a bowl, a tray and a couple of toys. As a result, the cat is angry and constantly bites, the apartment has an unbearable smell of excrement, and family members have allergies. By the way, such pets are not a cheap pleasure. Therefore, first calculate all your future expenses, weigh the pros and cons, and only then make a final decision. Choosing a cat toilet The average cost of a good tray made of high-quality material is about 200 rubles. When buying a toilet, expect that you need two containers for one cat. You will have to change them once every two years, since during this time the smell has time to eat into the plastic. But you can then accustom your pet to a regular toilet or to the street. Nowadays, you can find bio-toilets in the form of houses in pet stores. They look like a large box with doors. This way, your cat will not spray urine on the floor or scatter sand. Thanks to the carbon filter, which absorbs unpleasant odors, the air is not polluted. The downside of such a wonderful device is its high cost. Another option that attracts with its cleanliness, but repels with its price is a toilet with napkins. This type of tray first went on sale in Japan. And only after some time, this product became available in Russia. The main advantage is that the cat that has gone about its business does not come into contact with its excrement. The pet's paws remain dry and clean, and the allergen is not spread throughout the apartment. Choosing a filler for a cat tray Sand with a flavoring agent - from 40 rubles for 1.5 kg, sawdust - from 50, a product that turns into a gel - from 120. What is better to choose depends on your financial capabilities and needs. Do you want to clean less often, but not suffer from the smell? Well, a tenth of the budget will go only to the filler.
- Wood Filler
An inexpensive and practical option for those who do notplans to spend a lot on keeping a pet. Pine or cedar sawdust will not cause allergies in you and your family members. At the same time, they cope with the smell quite well, and the cat will not spread the contents of the tray all over the apartment.
- Bentonite filler
As soon as moisture gets on the raw material, the wetparticles begin to clump together. To clean up after the animal, just go over the surface with a special shovel. Unfortunately, this option is not suitable for those who are allergic to cats and their excrement. The filler also does not cope well with odors.
- Mineral filler
Quickly absorbs moisture, does not let in unpleasantaromas. This filler is made from chalk, mineral additives and quartz. As for the disadvantages, this is dust that will settle around the tray. After the cat looks into the toilet, you will have to wipe the floors with a damp cloth to get rid of white marks.
- Silica Gel Filler
If you are allergic to cats,buy silica gel filler. It has bactericidal properties, completely absorbs moisture, does not form lumps. Very convenient and safe to use. Your pet will be able to use the tray for a whole week, and you will not have to clean up after it all this time. Choosing accessories for cat care Among other things, you will need a special spatula with which you will clean the tray from excrement. Choose a device with a long handle so that you do not have to come into contact with the allergen. You can also get an air freshener with an antibacterial effect. Please note: waste cannot be thrown into the toilet, as it can become clogged. For these purposes, it is better to buy plastic bags. And, of course, do not forget about rubber gloves. Any procedures (washing the cat, cleaning the tray) should be performed only in them. What toys to buy for a kitten To ensure that your cat leaves as few marks and scratches on your armchair or sofa as possible, buy him a scratching post. As mentioned above, your pet will need a comfortable house. If desired, you can equip a windowsill or table with a special bed. Do not forget about small toys: balls, mice, feathers. If you do not buy these items, the kitten will start playing with what is there - with curtains, a tablecloth, a carrier, your hands and feet. By the way, you should approach the choice of such things with all responsibility. So, manufacturers soak rubber balls and mice in a special liquid (catnip) so that the fluffy one will find it interesting to play with them. By the way, you may be allergic to this. Therefore, when buying a toy, smell it. If you immediately start coughing or sneezing, look for something else. Buying cat food Remember once and for all: you can’t save on little things. Buy only quality products from well-known manufacturers. Cheap food is, of course, more profitable, but it poses a hidden threat not only to pets, but also to their owners. And never buy goods at markets and in passages. It is quite difficult to predict in what conditions everything is stored there, as well as what kind of creatures may appear in the food as a result.
