If My Child Has Nasal Allergies, Should We Get Rid Of Our Cat?

While this question focuses on the role of cats in a patient’s allergy, the information presented here is applicable to most furry pets, including dogs, rabbits, rats, and other small hairy or furry pets. An accurate history is the first step in determining whether a pet is the cause of someone’s symptoms and whether removal of the pet will help. The most obvious question is whether symptoms worsen when the patient is close to or plays with the pet. If the answer to this question is yes, it makes the diagnosis of pet allergy. Occasionally, however, this question may not be helpful as some people own pets but do not have close contact with them. In that situation, it is important to ask whether symptoms increase when the patient is in the house, as well as whether symptoms improve when the person is away from the house for several days or longer.

Allergy testing to all relevant allergens is equally important in determining what the patient is allergic to, particularly when the initial questions do not yield clear cut answers. In this case, either skin prick/puncture testing or blood allergy testing could be performed. However, if the blood tests are performed and are negative to all allergens, particularly the pet dander, I would recommend that skin testing be performed. If the skin testing is negative to the cat, there is no reason to remove the cat from the home.

If the allergy test to the cat is positive, however, then the family is faced with a difficult choice. If the patient and family do not want to remove the pet from  their home, and the patient’s symptoms are minimal and stable, requiring either occasional or no medications, then I would cautiously recommend that the animal be allowed to remain in the house. In this case, a number of avoidance measures should be put into place, including preventing the pet from entering the patient’s room; placement of allergen barrier encasings on the pillow, mattress, and box spring; frequent vacuuming and damp mopping of floors and hard surfaces; consideration of removal of the carpeting; and use of HEPA filters throughout the house. One research study revealed that compliance with these measures did reduce airborne pet allergen levels significantly.

If the patient’s symptoms are more significant, and particularly if there is any degree of asthma present, I would strongly urge the family to give the pet away to another home. Following the removal of the pet from the house, it is very important that the carpeting be removed and replaced, all upholstered furniture professionally cleaned, and the walls repainted. This aggressive approach can successfully reduce airborne pet allergen to extremely low levels very quickly.