Being allergic to cats can be seriously distressing to a lover of cats. Sneezing, watery eyes, nose running, sinus pain, hives, and other symptoms can be somewhat mild and a pain or extreme and threatening to ones life. In reality, if the symptoms are very severe and the cause is researched and it is found to be cats, locating the cat a new place to live just might turn out to be the only solution. However if the symptoms are moderate, there is hope. There are methods to at least minimize the discomforts of cat allergies and live with a cat, and immunotherapy offers desensitization from an allergen.

There are various symptoms of allergies can take on many forms. Many common nasal symptoms which can include itching, sneezing and congestion. Eye symptoms can include redness, itching, swelling and watering. Throat symptoms include post-nasal drip, itching or hoarseness and the need to clear the throat often. Skin symptoms can involve an itchy rash or hives. Ear symptoms can include itching, plugging or popping in the ear. There can be more serious symptoms which involve the lungs. Symptoms with the lungs can include hacking, wheezing, tightness in the chest, bouts with bronchitis and shortness of breath.

Cat allergen, the allergy causing material from cats, is not cat hair, but rather a protein present in the cat dander and saliva. These allergens get to be airborne as minute particles, which when breathed into the nose or lungs can cause allergic reactions.

The main reason why folks can acquire a new pet and not experience any of these allergies until much later is due to the time required to produce these antibodies. It can take from three weeks to three years for the body to build up enough of the exact antibody so that an allergen can cross-link two identical antigens. This cross-linkage is the signal to mast cells to spill their contents, which results in the typical allergy symptoms.

An allergy desensitization regimen is the usual and very effective way to get around a cat allergy. Immunotherapy gradually makes a person more and more resistant to the allergens. The goal of immunotherapy is to increase a person's tolerance by at least ten-fold. This is one of the most effective remedies as it treats the root cause and doesn't just hide the symptoms.

It is a moral crime and heartless for any indoor cat to be turned out. In addition to the diseases and illnesses that can be caught out of doors, the indoor cat has no experience with outdoor life and so is often unable to defend against cars, animals, and other hazards or to effectively search for food. Hence rescue groups have been formed to take care of cats if someone suffering from allergy has to turn it out of his house.