People with cat allergies react to specific substances that cats produce such as saliva skin flakes called dander or urine.
Cat dander allergy hives.
Licking transfers the dander along with saliva and urine to the cat s fur.
The allergy causing substance is in the dander not the fur.
But dander can remain suspended in house dust for a long time hence an allergic reaction can occur even if the cat has been removed.
People with cat allergies are really allergic to proteins in the cat s saliva urine and dander dried flakes of skin.
Any animal with fur can be a source of pet allergy but pet allergies are most commonly associated with cats and dogs.
Most often pet allergy is triggered by exposure to the dead flakes of skin dander a pet sheds.
How do these tiny proteins cause such a big allergic reaction in the body.
Dander is made of airborne saliva and urine derived proteins.
How to treat cat allergies.
For some an allergy to cat dander can cause itchy watery eyes nasal congestion and coughing while it may cause shortness of breath similar to asthma a skin rash or hives in others.
If you have a pet allergy the best strategy is to avoid or reduce exposure to the animal as much as possible.
Like most allergies cat allergies manifest in different ways for different people barrack said.