Its actually a misconception, its not the fur thats causing the allergic reaction, its actually a protein the cats produce that can be found in their saliva. So when they groom themselves, the protein gets onto their fur.
Interesting fact, intact males produce more of this protein compared to female and neutered males.
Also, you can buy certain cat food that will help manage the protein (it doesn't eliminate or stop it being produced, it just deactivates the protein). So thats one possible solution for people with allergies. Though if you're super sensitive, it mightn't help much.
Interesting. Why did I become allergic though? I used to not be.
I think most doctors and researchers would love an answer to that question as well - allergies are weird
That I'm not really sure. I do know however that early exposure (from childhood) to allergens helps prevent allergies from developing later in life.
So people who had a cat when they were a child are much less likely to develop cat allergies when adults, and similarly children who eat nuts are less likely to develop nut allergies
Its actually a misconception, its not the fur thats causing the allergic reaction, its actually a protein the cats produce that can be found in their saliva. So when they groom themselves, the protein gets onto their fur.
Interesting fact, intact males produce more of this protein compared to female and neutered males.
Also, you can buy certain cat food that will help manage the protein (it doesn't eliminate or stop it being produced, it just deactivates the protein). So thats one possible solution for people with allergies. Though if you're super sensitive, it mightn't help much.
EDIT: here's the source
Interesting. Why did I become allergic though? I used to not be.
I think most doctors and researchers would love an answer to that question as well - allergies are weird
That I'm not really sure. I do know however that early exposure (from childhood) to allergens helps prevent allergies from developing later in life.
So people who had a cat when they were a child are much less likely to develop cat allergies when adults, and similarly children who eat nuts are less likely to develop nut allergies