- Cats- Felis domesticus or बिल्ली (Hindi) belongs to
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Felidae
- Genus: Felis
- Species: domesticus
- Common name: Domestic cat
Sensitization to cat allergens in India ranges between 2-19% in our different parts.
Cat allergens are present in it’s dander, saliva and urine. These allergens get attached to different particles present in our surroundings and become airborne on little disturbances. Those attached to smaller particles of size <5micron remain airborne for long periods. Cat allergens can be found in places where cats have never been kept! They can be present in your blankets, furniture or clothes.
The most important cat allergen is Fel d 1 (95%) which can cross react with allergens from other big cat species. The other cat allergens are: Fel d2 (albumin), Fel d3 (lipocalin), Fel d5w, Fel d7 (Von Ebner gland protein) and Fel d8.
Few cat allergy patients show symptoms on exposure of dogs & horses allergens due to cross reactivity of albumin and lipocalins allergens.
Symptoms: rhino conjunctivitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis (Fel d2).
Pork-cat syndrome: is a condition where patients present with food related or idiopathic urticarial or anaphylactic symptoms after consumption of pork (or in lesser cases beef) but found sensitized to cat allergens after investigations.
