Introduction
In case of hypersensitivity to cats, one usually speaks of a cat hair allergy. However, this term is somewhat misleading, because the allergic reaction is actually not directed against the cat hair itself, but mainly against a certain protein that is found in the saliva (and also in the skin scales) of cats. After grooming, however, the saliva remains stuck to the hairs, which can then be easily distributed in the environment.
The allergenic protein (also known as allergen) is called Fel d 1, and is extremely small and light, which is why it can be easily distributed through the air. In addition, it can be found practically everywhere, especially in textiles, but also on walls or furniture. Because of these properties, this allergen is often found in public places, to which cats have had no or no contact for a long time.
Depending on the breed, sex and age of a cat, they produce different amounts of Fel d 1. This fact explains why not all cat hair allergy sufferers react in the same way (strongly) to every type of cat. In addition, “only” 90% of allergy sufferers to cat hair recognize the protein Fel d 1, because there is a multitude of other allergens: Fel d 2 to Fel d 7, which can also cause allergies.
Classification
Cat hair allergy is divided into the types 1 to 4, whereby the cat hair allergy is counted as type 1, the immediate type. This means that symptoms appear relatively immediately after exposure to the allergen. The allergen, in this case a certain protein, is wrongly classified as dangerous by the body of affected persons.
This leads to a reaction of the immune system, which is characterized by the release of substances (histamine is particularly important here), which lead to a typical allergic symptom complex: In cat hair allergy sufferers are usually complaints of the nasopharynx area in the foreground. The nasal mucosa swells up, which makes the nose feel congested and runny. In addition, the nose itches, there are often downright sneezing attacks and sometimes a burning sensation is also described in the nose.
The eyes are often reddened and itchy as well, they can also water or swell. In contrast to people with hay fever, in many cases the skin is also affected by an allergy to cat hair. Patients get an itchy, reddened rash, in the course of which wheals can also develop (hives).
A dreaded late consequence of a cat hair allergy, which occurs especially when this allergy has already existed for a long period of time and is not or not sufficiently treated, is that the symptoms spread to deeper levels of the respiratory tract. About one third of all untreated cat hair allergy sufferers are affected. These patients then suffer additionally or even exclusively from a so-called allergic asthma: coughing fits and a whistling breath with shortness of breath occur.
All these symptoms are particularly severe when a person affected is in the immediate vicinity of a cat or in a room in which cats and consequently cat hair and the causative allergen are more often found. Coughing is a very common symptom with various causes. One of them is the cat hair allergy.
The protein particles that cause the symptoms get from the saliva of the cat by licking into its fur. Since the particles are very small, they can easily be whirled up in the air and thus inhaled by humans. In people with a cat hair allergy, contact with the triggers leads to a hypersensitivity reaction of the immune system.
Defense cells in the respiratory tract react by releasing tissue messenger substances that lead to a coughing stimulus. The body is thus supposed to cough up the supposedly dangerous particles and thus ward them off. A cough that persists for weeks in cat owners can also be the first sign of a cat hair allergy.
Asthma can have different causes and can occur in different situations. One form is the allergic asthma. Here the typical symptoms occur through contact with the respective allergen.
Every form of allergy, and thus also the cat hair allergy, can in principle trigger asthma or at least lead to asthmatic symptoms. Usually, the first symptom is a cat hair allergy with mild symptoms such as itching and sneezing attacks. If the allergy is not treated and the triggering allergen is not avoided, the overreaction of the immune system can increase and the symptoms can get worse.For example, contact with cats can swell the respiratory tract and cause acute respiratory distress.
Then there is usually already an asthma, which should be treated, since a severe asthma attack can be life-threatening. About one in three people with cat hair allergy will develop asthma if the allergy is not treated. One also speaks of a so-called “floor change”, since the hypersensitivity reaction no longer takes place only in the nose and throat area, but also in the airways of the bronchi and lungs (i.e. “one floor down”).
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