Allergies to cats represent around 40% of the allergies to pets. The allergies are triggered by a substance which is to be found in the cat’s dander and saliva, a glycoprotein known as Fel D1. When the cat grooms his coat, he leaves this substance on his hair and shedding spreads it all over the house. When you have a newborn member of your family who is allergic to your cat, you might need to give up your pet. However, before doing that, make sure to check whether the allergy is really caused by the cat and try to take some measures that might work relieving the allergic reactions.
Infant Allergies to Cats
Given the high occurrence rate of cat allergies among humans, if your infant starts manifesting allergic reactions, you might assume that the allergy is triggered by your cat. If your baby starts sneezing frequently, every 10 to 15 minutes, if his eyes are watery and red, if the stool is loose or he has diarrhea and he manifests discomfort, you have all the reasons to suspect an allergic reaction.
Babies are too young for skin tests, so it is difficult to tell what exactly causes the allergy. However, you can still check if it is the cat that causes all the reactions.
Checking the Cat Allergy
It is good to check if your baby’s allergic reaction is really caused by the cat. At first, try to figure out if the baby has fewer allergic reactions when in areas where the cat does not have access to. If so, your cat may be causing the allergies.
Just to make sure, ask someone to sit with your cat for a few days, or take him to a pet hotel. Clean the house thoroughly, dust and vacuum all surfaces to remove the cat hair and dander. See how the baby feels after you have cleaned the house. If he is no longer irritable and all other symptoms disappear, you can conclude that your baby is allergic to the cat.
Possible Solutions to Infant Allergies to Cats
If you do not want to give up your cat, you can try helping your child dealing with the allergy. If the allergic reaction is not very bad, you can keep the cat, provided you establish a set of rules. Firstly, your cat shouldn’t have access to the room the baby spends most of his time. It is important that your baby does not get into contact with the cat.
Brush your cat daily and bathe him often. Avoid wearing your clothes if they have cat hair when playing with your baby.
Besides avoiding direct contact, you should also reduce other irritants. Avoid exposing your baby to temperature changes or giving him stuffed or fabric toys that gather dust. Wash all new clothes and rinse thoroughly to avoid exposing your baby to chemicals. Do the same with the baby’s toys.
You can also talk to your doctor for baby medication to prevent cat allergies in babies.