Being allergic to cats can be very extremely nerve racking to a lover of cats. Sneezing, tearing eyes, nose running, sinus headache, skin rash, and other symptoms can be somewhat mild and a pain or severe and threatening to ones life. In actuality, if the symptoms are very severe and the cause is tested and found to be cats, locating the cat a new home just might turn out to be the best solution. However if the symptoms are mild, there is hope. There are processes to at least offset the discomforts of cat allergies and live with a cat, and immunotherapy offers desensitization from an allergen.

Symptoms of allergies can take on a number of forms. There are many widespread nose symptoms including 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. More serious symptoms involve the lungs. Symptoms with the lungs can include hacking, wheezing, tightness in the chest, frequent bronchitis and a 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 microscopic particles, which when breathed into the nose or lungs can cause allergic reactions.

The main reason why people can get a new pet and not develop any of these allergies until much later is due to the amount of time required to make these antibodies. It can take from three weeks to three years for a person's body to build up sufficient amounts 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, resulting in typical allergy symptoms.

An allergy desensitization regimen is the obvious 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 the tolerance ten-fold. This is one of the most effective treatments as it treats the cause and doesn't just hide the symptoms.

It is unsafe and cruel for any indoor cat to be put 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 protect 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.