Human allergy to cats: A review for veterinarians on prevalence, causes, symptoms and control

Abstract

Practical relevance:

Human allergy to cats affects a substantial and growing proportion of the global population, and cat allergy is regarded as the third most common cause of human respiratory allergies, and the second most common indoor cause. Veterinarians will frequently encounter owners who are cat-allergic, and having an understanding of this disease and the methods available to help control the allergy will assist them in giving appropriate advice, alongside human healthcare professionals.

Aim:

The aim of this review is to summarise currently available data on the prevalence, causes, symptoms and control of human allergy to cats. In terms of managing cat allergy, the emphasis is on reviewing current and emerging modalities to reduce environmental exposure to cat allergens rather than on pharmacotherapy or immunotherapy, as it is in these areas in particular that the veterinarian may be able to offer help and advice to complement that of human healthcare professionals.

Evidence base:

The information in this review is drawn from the current and historical literature on human allergy to cats, and approaches to reduce exposure to cat allergens and manage symptoms of cat allergy.

Prevalence of human allergy to cats

Inhaled aeroallergens are typically divided into outdoor (such as pollens and moulds) and indoor (such as house dust mite, cat, dog and certain insect allergens). ¹ Climate and environmental conditions cause substantial geographical variations in the relative importance of different aeroallergens but globally domestic cats (Felis catus) are considered the second most common cause of indoor respiratory allergies and the third most common overall (after pollens and house dust mites).^2-8

Respiratory and other allergies have become more common over recent decades for reasons that are complex and not fully understood, but are likely to include increased rates of allergen sensitisation along with genetics and environmental factors such as pollutants, irritants and infectious diseases.^1,5,7,9-11

Sensitisation (production of allergen-specific IgE9) is necessary for signs of respiratory allergy to develop, but not all sensitised individuals develop allergy symptoms since this depends on many factors, including the level of sensitisation (amount of allergen-specific IgE produced), the ‘allergenicity’ and amount of exposure to the antigen, and other environmental factors.^{1,7,9,12–14} Cat allergy is reported to be approximately twice as common as dog allergy, ¹⁰ and many studies have reported a higher prevalence of sensitisation and/or allergy to cats.^4,15–21 Even in studies showing similar rates of sensitisation to dogs and cats,^7,11 cats may still be a more important cause of allergic symptoms due to quantitative and qualitative differences in the level of sensitisation, the allergenicity of cat antigens, and in exposure to allergens (which may be influenced by pet populations and differences in the physicochemical properties of the allergens).^{9,10,14,15,17,19,20,22–25}

The prevalence of sensitisation to cats in different studies has typically been reported to be around 5–20%,^{6–8 ,10,21,26} and in patients with respiratory allergies may be as high as 20–30% or more,^7,8,10,21,26 with pet allergies affecting an estimated 10–20% of the population worldwide.11 Cat allergy is therefore a major global problem.

Causes of cat allergy

Eight cat allergens are currently recognised by the World Health Organization/International Union of Immunological Societies (Table 1, allergen.org). ² ’ ⁶ ’ ⁷ ’ ⁹ ’^11,27 However, Fel d 1 is the only major antigen, and is by far the most important and potent allergen. Fel d 1 shares no significant cross-reactivity with other mammalian proteins’ ¹¹ although it is also produced by other members of the Felidae family. ²⁸ Around 90-96% of cat-allergic individuals are sensitised to Fel d 1’ and it is responsible for 60-90% of the total allergic reactivity seen in affected individuals. ² ’ ⁶ ’^9,11’^19,29-31 The prevalence of reactivity to the other seven antigens in cat-allergic individuals is variable and typically 10-40%’^6,11’^14,29 often with lower levels of IgE. ⁶ Sequence homology between lipocalins of different species means that cross-reactivity is seen, for example between Fel d 4 and Can f 6, and Fel d 7 and Can f 1,^11,32,33 which can result in cross-sensitivity in allergic individuals. Similarly, Fel d 2 is a minor cat allergen, but cross-reactivity with pork albumin (‘pork-cat syndrome’) means occasional individuals sensitised to Fel d 2 react to eating pork meat. ¹¹

Table 1.

Recognised cat allergens and their properties^{2,6,7,9,11,27}

Allergen	Protein family	Major source	Molecular mass
Fel d 1	Secretoglobin	Dander, saliva	38 kDa
Fel d 2	Serum albumin	Dander, serum, urine	69 kDa
Fel d 3	Cystatin A	Dander	11 kDa
Fel d 4	Lipocalin	Saliva	22 kDa
Fel d 5	IgA	Saliva, serum	400 kDa
Fel d 6	IgM	Saliva, serum	800-1000 kDa
Fel d 7	Lipocalin	Saliva	17.5 kDa
Fel d 8	Latherin-like	Saliva	24 kDa

Fel d 1 is a secretoglobin and is a 38 kDa tetramer glycoprotein formed from two linked heterodimers.^2,6,11 The major sources of Fel d 1 are the saliva and sebaceous glands (Figure 1),^34-41 and some is also present in lacrimal and anal gland secretions and in urine.^37,41,42 Skin production of Fel d 1 varies according to anatomical site, with the facial region reported to produce higher amounts than the chest. ⁴³ Salivary Fel d 1 is distributed during grooming, ⁶ with papillae on the cat’s tongue efficiently wicking and depositingsaliva and Fel d 1 through the haircoat. ⁴⁴ Grooming presumably also assists in distribution of Fel d 1 from sebaceous glands.

Figure 1.

Major sources of Fel d 1 present on the haircoat and shed into the environment are the saliva and sebaceous glands

Entire male cats (at least partially under the influence of testosterone) produce greater amounts of Fel d 1 than neutered males or females (irrespective of neuter status).^45-49 Production is not affected by coat colour or hair length.^40,49-51 Production of Fel d 1 varies considerably between cats and also within individual cats over time, but some cats tend to remain higher (or lower) producers compared with others.^49,52-54 Production may decline in older cats. ⁴⁹

The structure of Fel d 1 indicates a potential carrier function.^2,6,55,56 While its biological function remains to be determined, a role in the transport of steroids, hormones or perhaps pheromones seems likely.^2,57,58

Fel d 1 in the haircoat and on the skin is the main reservoir for environmental Fel d 1, being shed in substantial amounts on dander (dried saliva, cutaneous flakes and debris).^9,30,59 Custovic et al ²⁴ found that 49% of cat danderparticles were >9 µm and 23% <4.5 µm in size. The small particle size means that, as well as being present in settled dust, Fel d 1 can remain airborne for prolonged periods (several days) with minimal air disturbance. Particles readily reach smaller airways, explaining the rapid onset of clinical symptoms seen in some cat-allergic individuals following exposure.^2,60-62 Moreover, the sticky nature of dander and Fel d 1 means that spread to environments outside of the home readily occurs on clothes or even human hair; ⁶³ thus Fel d 1 isa ubiquitous allergen.^{2,30,50,59-62,64}

Beyond houses with cats, immunologically significant levels of Fel d 1 are frequently detected in homes without cats, schools and day care centres, cars, hospitals, churches, cinemas, hotels and other public buildings, and on public transport including trains, buses and aeroplanes.^{2,30,50,59-62,64-80} In regions where pet cat ownership is common, detection rates in homes, schools and other public buildings are often in the order of75-100%.^{66,68,69,71,74-80} Generally, environmental concentrations of Fel d 1 are much higher in houses where cats are kept as pets, and in other places the amount is influenced primarily by the number of cat-owning people who use the space.^{9,30,50,60,61,64,71,73,81} Fel d 1presence is also affected by the physical environment, as concentrations are higher in dust from soft furnishings such as upholsteredchairs, carpets and mattresses.^{2,24,30,60,65,68,69,78,80,82}The very widespread distribution of Fel d 1 beyond cat-owning homes is regarded as an important source of allergen for bothsensitisation and allergic symptoms.^{30,59,60,64,66,68,75,76,78,81,83}

Clinical symptoms and diagnosis of cat allergy

Briefly, the major clinical symptoms of cat allergy are perennial rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma through type I hypersensitivity and chronic inflammation, with combinations of different symptoms (conjunctivitis, rhinitis and asthma) being seen.^{1,6,10,17,18,84} The severity of clinical symptoms varies considerably between individuals, but up to 20-30% of asthma sufferers may develop severe symptoms on contact with cats, ¹⁰ and cat allergy has a significant negative impact on these patients’ quality of life. ⁷ In addition to respiratory signs, cat allergy may also influence the severity of atopic dermatitis in affected individuals, ⁸⁵ and signs of irritable bowel syndrome in atopy sufferers. ⁸⁶

A diagnosis of cat allergy is generally made on the basis of history, clinical symptoms, knowledge of exposure, and reactivity to catallergens demonstrated by detection of serum-specific IgE and/or a positive skin prick test.^7,84,87,88 Because Fel d 1 is the dominant cat allergen and because the vast majority of cat-allergic individuals react to this protein, recombinant Fel d 1 is often used in IgE assays or skin prick tests rather than a mixed antigen extract, and has usually proved reliable and reproducible diagnostically.^2,6,7,17 Nevertheless, the use of a mixed antigen skin prick test and/or other recombinant feline allergens may allow the detection of allergen-specific IgE in the small proportion of patients with less typical sensitisation profiles (without Fel d 1 sensitisation). ⁸⁹ Quantitative assessment of serum Fel d 1-specific IgE helps in the diagnosis and assessing the prognosis in cat allergy.^2,6,90,91 Provocative testing can also be undertaken, although this is rarely necessary or advised.^7,12,88

The rise in popularity of cats as pets and the fact that many people now spend well over 90% of their time in enclosed environments, ⁹² has likely contributed to the increase in exposure to cat allergens and the development of cat allergies in atopy-predisposed individuals.^1,7,10,93 The relationship between genetics, environment, allergen exposure and the development of sensitisation is complex, but there is some evidence that early life (in the first year) exposure to cats may help reduce the risk of subsequent sensitisa-tion.^1,7,9,60,94 However, the risk reduction of early-life exposure is not considered sufficient to recommend getting a cat to avoid IgE sensitisation.^4,95

Methods for managing cat allergy

Members of the veterinary healthcare team may frequently get involved in discussions with cat owners about management of cat allergies, especially if the owner or someone in their household is allergic to cats, and working alongside human healthcare professionals may provide valuable insights on potential management strategies.

Most (but not all) individuals who develop a cat allergy will also suffer with otherallergies,^{1,7,8,19,26,61,62,64,76,90,96} but the focus hereis purely on the management of cat allergy. As with other allergies, the classic triad of management options is firstly avoidance (reducing exposure to cat allergens), secondly pharmacotherapy (to modify the immune response and relieve symptoms) and thirdly immunotherapy. ²⁵ Avoiding or reducing exposure to the allergen(s) is a critical foundational management strategy, ²⁵ but does not necessarily imply complete avoidance of all allergen exposure. The concept of a critical threshold with allergy suggests that if the degree ofinflammation (caused by exposure to allergens, irritants, etc) is kept below this threshold, the patient may remain free of symptoms, ²⁵ and achieving this may be possible by reducing exposure to allergen(s) rather than complete avoidance, often in combination with other management strategies (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Overview of potential control measures currently available for managing allergy to cats, and the level at which the intervention works

Reducing cat allergen exposure

Allergen avoidance or exposure reduction, where possible, is regarded as fundamental to managing allergies,^{7,23,88,95,97-99} as avoiding the inciting allergen is the most effective means of preventing reactions in sensitised individuals. Interestingly, while many control measures have been proven to reduce the burden of Fel d 1 in the environment, high quality evidence of clinical benefits from field trials isoften lacking.^{7,60,87,88,100-102} This may, at least inpart, reflect the challenges inherent in trials with a heterogeneous population of cat-allergic individuals (who may frequently have other allergies) and heterogeneous living environments, making dose-response relationships with allergens complex.^23,98 Furthermore, it is widely accepted that combining several environmental control measures is likely to give superior results and thus greater clinical efficacy.^{7,97,98,100,101}

Removing the cat from the home

Management guidelines for cat-allergic individuals frequently place emphasis on removal of the cat from the home, wherever possible, as this reliably reduces direct (cat) and indirect (environmental) Fel d 1 expo-sure.^{7,25,60,95,102} However, it is recognised that the strength of the human-cat bond makes this difficult for many owners and this strategy may damage the patient-physician relationship.^7,25 Homes with pet cats have the highest burden of environmental Fel d 1 (typically 80-300 times higher than homeswithout cats^{13,24,50,74,79,83}) and, while eliminating cats from the house may dramatically reduce Fel d 1 concentrations, ⁹⁹ it may take 4-6 months or more to achieve levels seen in homes without cats, although aggressive cleaning measures including washing or removal of carpets may speed this up.^82,103-105

The strength of the human-cat bond means that few owners are willing to part with their cat (4-35% in different studies), even when recommended to do so,^104,106-108 and in one publication 70% of owners replaced the pet once it had died, despite the presence of a diagnosed allergy. ¹⁰⁷ In an online survey of over 2000 cat owners in the USA, 84% reported they would ignore advice to give up their cat even if told to do so to help manage aller-gies. ¹⁰⁹ This emphasises the importance of alternative measures to help control environmental Fel d 1 and, as noted, a combination of different approaches is recommended foroptimal results.^{7,25,87,95,97,101,102,110}

Restricting access of the cat within the home environment

Limiting access so the cat is not allowed in bedrooms, only has access to certain rooms, and/or is restricted to uncarpeted rooms, has been advocated.^{7,25,95,97,101} The physical characteristics of dander mean these measures alone are unlikely to be sufficient to control signs of allergy. ⁹⁷ In some situations environmental restriction might have important welfare implications for cats, potentially resulting in chronic frustration and behavioural issues that are risk factors for relinquishment.^111,112 Limiting physical contact with the cat may also negatively impact the human-cat bond,^113,114 and thus it would seem prudent to involve a veterinarian when such measures are being contemplated (with additional advice from a veterinary behaviourist if needed).

Onmental modification and cleaning

Many environmental modifications and/or cleaning regimens have been advocated to control Fel d 1 in the air and in dust. These measures and their rationale are summarised in Table 2. There is evidence that using multiple such measures is effective and may help to improve clinical disease, but continuous implementation is required.^{110,115,118,119}

Table 2.

Environmental controls commonly utilised in catallergen management programmes

Recommendation	Rationale
Remove carpeting from bedrooms ± other rooms and replace with hard flooring59,60, 9 7102,110,115	Carpets are known to harbour large quantities of Fel d 1-containing dust
Remove upholstered furniture from bedrooms ± other rooms59,102,115	Soft furnishings are known to harbour large quantities of Fel d 1-containing dust
Use mattress and pillow covers with a mean pore size ≤4-6 µm7,59,95,110,115	Mattresses are known to harbour large quantities of Fel d 1-containing dust
Vacuum floors, carpets and furniture at least weekly with a cleaner that incorporates a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter7,60,95,102,110	High-efficiency vacuum cleaners will not leak and disperse allergens
Wash bedding and curtains regularly59,60,101,115	Washing will help to remove Fel d 1
Wipe down walls and wash hard floors regularly95,115	Wiping/washing physically removes dust particles that may harbour Fel d 1 antigen
Increase natural ventilation (eg, by keeping windows open)60,95,115	Increasing ventilation will help to reduce airborne Fel d 1 concentrations
Use HEPA filters in the home7,25,95,101,102,110,116,117	HEPA filters are capable of reducing airborne Fel d 1 concentrations and may be helpful when used with other measures
Use night-time laminar airflow system over beds7,110	Filtered laminar airflow may displace aeroallergens from the owner’s breathing area

In addition to the measures shown in Table 2, some authors have also recommended:

Selecting female or neutered male cats, as they generally produce less Fel d 1 (see earlier);^59,101

Washing hands after touching a cat;^25,101 andChanging and washing clothesregularly.^{7,60,95,101,102}

Evidence from a study in Sweden showed that when children changed into school clothes (that were kept at school) on arrival, the reduction in airborne Fel d 1 concentrations in the classrooms was four- to six-fold, which was equivalent to banning pet ownership for all children. ¹²⁰

Bathing the cat

Bathing cats, usually at weekly or twice-weekly intervals, to reduce Fel d 1 shedding is a common management recommenda-tion. ⁷ ’^59,60’ ⁹⁵ ’ ⁹⁷ ’^100,115 Studies of the efficacy of cat bathing have yielded inconsistent results. One study demonstrated a mean reduction of 79% in airborne Fel d 1 levels 3 h after immersing a cat in plain water, compared with 44% for a 60 s shampoo, ⁵³ suggesting the former technique may be superior. Although consistent reductions in airborne Fel d 1 were seen 3 h after bathing, concentrations had returned to pre-bathing levels when measured a week later, even with weekly bathing. ⁵³ Two other studies have shown a reduction in airborne Fel d 1 after bathing cats in water;^54,121 although one showed a progressive decline with weekly bathing of a single cat, ¹²¹ the other showed a four- to five-fold reduction 3 h after bathing 12 cats, but that levels returned to baseline within 24 h. ⁵⁴ One study failed to show any benefits from weekly bathing, ¹²² and one other showed that concentrations of Fel d 1 on shaved skin returned to baseline levels 2 days after a water wash. ⁴³

Collectively, although the methodology of these studies varied, the results suggest bathing cats may reduce environmental shedding of Fel d 1, but that any reduction is short-lived. While this could form part of a combined strategy to manage environmental Fel d 1, it would seem bathing two or three times weekly would be required, and any benefits would need to be carefully assessed against the potential stress this would cause for the cat and damage to the human-cat bond.

Hypoallergenic cats

There are many anecdotal reports about certain breeds of cats being less allergenic, but no scientific data to substantiate any claims.^123,124 Fel d 1 production varies between and within individual cats, and is partially influenced by testosterone levels.^{45-49 ,52-54} Although some cats appear to produce more Fel d 1 and may thus provoke stronger reactions in allergic individuals, ⁵² all cats studied thus far produce Fel d 1. ⁹⁵ A study of Siberian and domestic cats revealed numerous sequence variations in Fel d 1 genes, but whether these translate to differences in Fel d 1 production or Fel d 1 allergenicity is unknown. ¹²⁵ In the future, gene editing and deletion of the Fel d 1 gene using ‘CRISPR’ (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology might become available, ¹²⁶ but the biological implications of this have yet to be explored.

Inducing autoimmunity to Fel d 1 in cats

Two studies have reported preliminary results of attempted immunisation of cats to induce anti-Fel d 1 autoantibodies.^127,128 The vaccine, which includes recombinant Fel d 1 and cucumber mosaic virus-like particles, induced a strong serum IgG response after a course of three injections, and resulted in reduced tear secretion of Fel d 1. ¹²⁷ In an open label, uncontrolled field trial, 10 cat-allergic humans were enrolled with their 13 cats which received the vaccine. ¹²⁸ Seven of nine peoplethat completed the study reported improvement in their symptom score with provocation (petting the cat), and 8/9 reported longer duration of cat interaction before symptom development at 24 weeks post-vaccination. Although initial results suggest vaccination of cats could help in reducing Fel d 1 secretion, at the time of writing this review the vaccine is not commercially available and, although no serious adverse events were reported, the long-term safety of vaccine-induced autoimmunity in cats would need to be assured.

Using a feline diet supplemented with anti-Fel d 1 IgY immunoglobulins

A novel approach to reducing Fel d 1 environmental contamination has focused on neutralising Fel d 1 after it has been produced (rendering it non-immunogenic) by using polyclonal chicken egg anti-Fel d 1 antibodies (IgY antibodies).^129-133 This approach blocks the human IgE-binding epitopes on Fel d 1, ¹³⁰ but does not alter total Fel d 1 production by the cat, and thus may not interfere with any natural biological role for Fel d 1.

Chickens produce IgY antibodies against environmental antigens, which are transferred into eggs to provide passive immunity for the developing and newly hatched chicks.^134-136 Large quantities of ethically produced IgY can be purified from chicken eggs and used for passive immunoprophylaxis and, unlike mammalian immunoglobulins, IgY does not stimulate mammalian complement proteins, react with rheumatoid factors, or bind to mammalian Fc receptors.^136-140 Orally administered IgY antibodies have been safely used for decades in the prevention or treatment of a wide variety of conditions in both animals and humans, including bacterial or viral diar-rhoea,^140-144 bacterial-induced dental caries and periodontal disease,^140,144 gastrointestinal parasitic disease^140,145 and bacterial or viral respiratory diseases. ¹⁴⁶

Initial in vitro and ex vivo research confirmed that specific anti-Fel d 1 polyclonal IgY antibodies successfully blocked the binding of Fel d 1-specific IgE from cat-allergic individuals, and reduced the release of inflammatory mediators.^130,133 Subsequently, studies were conducted in cats using a control diet or a test diet (same kibble but coated with anti-Fel d 1 IgY). In a pilot study, the test diet was able to neutralise an average of almost 30% of active (allergenic) Fel d 1 in cat saliva, with reductions seen as early as 2 weeks after starting the diet. In a subsequent controlled trial with 20 adult cats, the test diet produced a significant (24%) decrease in mean salivary active Fel d 1, with >80% of the cats showing ≥ 20% reduction (Figure 3). ¹²⁹

Figure 3.

Mean change from baseline in salivary active Fel d 1 (aFel d 1; ug/mr) in control cats (blue circles) and those fed the specific polyclonal immunoglobulin (sIgY)-supplemented diet (green diamonds). Asterisks indicate measurements significantly different from baseline (P <0.05). Adapted from Satyaraj et al (2019) ¹²⁹

These studies demonstrated that the IgY-supplemented diet was able to neutralise Fel d 1 present in saliva, but whether additional neutralisation of cutaneous-origin Fel d 1 occurs as a result of saliva distribution of the IgY during grooming and licking remains to be determined. However, in a 12-week study of multiple hair samples collected from 105 cats that consumed the control diet for 2 weeks and then the test diet for 10 weeks, significant reductions in active Fel d 1 on hair samples were seen by week 3 of consuming the test diet, and by week 10 there was a mean 47% reduction in active Fel d 1 present (Figure 4).^131,133 Individual reductions ranged from33% to 71%,^131,133 with 86% of cats showing atleast a 30% reduction and half of the cats showing a reduction of at least 50%. ¹³¹

Figure 4.

Mean active Fel d 1 concentration from hair samples of 105 cats consuming an anti-Fel d 1 IgY-supplemented diet for 10 weeks. Concentrations in weeks 3-10 are all significantly (P <0.05) lower than baseline. Adapted from Satyaraj et al (2019) ¹³¹

In a further study, eight cats were fed either the control or IgY-supplemented diet for 8 weeks and, during the last 4 weeks of feeding, blankets used by the cats as bedding were collected. Subsequently, 11 cat-allergic people(asthma sufferers excluded) were exposed to the blankets in a controlled chamber, serving as a provocation test, in a crossover design. Total nasal symptom scores were significantly lower with exposure to blankets from cats fed the IgY-supplemented diet, with significantly reduced nasal congestion, and some aspects of ocular scores were also lower, suggesting significant clinical improvements in cat-allergic individuals as a result of lower active Fel d 1 exposure.^130,133

Although further studies are needed to fully understand the potential impact of an anti-Fel d 1 IgY-supplemented diet, published data are very encouraging and the long-term safety of the diet has been established. ¹⁴⁷ This new diet, which is a complete and balanced dry food coated with anti-Fel d 1 IgY, is now available commercially (Pro Plan LiveClear; Purina) and has been given the ‘Allergy Friendly Product Award’ by Allergy UK (allergyuk.org) in recognition that it may be of value in helping to manage cat allergies. The availability of this diet gives an opportunity for the veterinary healthcare team to be better involved in discussions with both owners and human healthcare professionals about combinations of measures that can be taken to help reduce the environmental burden of Fel d 1 while addressing important issues around cat welfare and the human-cat bond.

Other dietary strategies

Pezzali and others have speculated on specific dietary manipulations that might reduce sebum (and hence Fel d 1) production. ¹⁴⁸ Theysuggested that polyphenols, phytoestrogenisoflavones and certain carotenoids could potentially influence testosterone concentrations or testosterone metabolism in entire male cats, thus influencing sebum and Fel d 1 production. Based on studies in other species, they also suggested that a diet with enhanced omega-3 fatty acids and a low glycaemic index might have the potential to reduce sebum concentrations. They noted that none of these dietary manipulations had been investigated in cats for the purpose of altering sebum (and Fel d 1) production.

At present, the role of manipulating the nutritional profile of the diet remains speculative, although one abstract published in 2005 ¹⁴⁹ suggested that cats fed one of two different diets might have experienced differences in long-term Fel d 1 production, although details of the cats, diets and study design were lacking. Based on these data it is at least possible that manipulation of certain nutrients might have a role to play in helping to reduce Fel d 1 production, and further studies are warranted.

Medications to manage cat allergy

Although largely beyond the scope of this review, Table 3 outlines the major pharmaco-therapeutic agents used for symptomatic control of cat and other respiratory allergies. Medication is adjusted in a stepwise approach according to the severity of symptoms and the response to therapy.

Table 3.

Commonly recommended therapeutic optionsfor human allergic rhinitis and asthma

	Allergic rhinitis 87,88,100,101,150	Asthma 97,151-154
✜ First-line/major treatment options	✜ Intranasal corticosteroids (eg, fluticasone, beclomethasone, mometasone, budesonide) ✜ Intranasal antihistamines (eg, azelastine, olopatadine) ✜ Oral second-generation antihistamines (eg, cetirizine, loratidine, desloratadine, bilastine, fexofenadine, levocetrizine)	✜ Inhaled corticosteroids (eg, fluticasone, budesonide, mometasone) ✜ Inhaled long-acting β-2 agonists (eg, salmeterol, formoterol) ✜ Inhaled short-acting β-2 agonists (eg, salbutamol, terbutaline)
✜ Second-line or adjuvant options	✜ Intranasal cromolyn ✜ Intranasal anticholinergics (eg, ipratropium) ✜ Leukotriene receptor antagonists	✜ Long-acting inhaled anticholinergics (eg, tiotropium) ✜ Antihistamines prior to exposure ✜ Leukotriene receptor antagonists ✜ Theophylline ✜ Anti-IgE antibodies ✜ Anti-IL-5 antibodies ✜ Anti-IL-5 receptor antibodies ✜ Anti-IL-4 antibodies

Immunotherapy for cat allergy

Allergen immunotherapy, while not always successful, is recommended for people suffering moderate to severe allergic rhinitis or asthma that is inadequately controlled with pharmacotherapy.^150,155 Both subcutaneous (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) have been recommended for the management of cat allergies,^{7,87,88,100,101,155,156} but there are relatively few good trials of allergen immunotherapy in cats and results have been mixed.^7,156-158 It has been suggested that some cat-allergic patients are likely to benefit from allergen immunotherapy, but that larger studies are required for developing definitive advice.^7,157

Although the mechanism(s) by which allergen-specific immunotherapy benefit the patient are still poorly understood, the induction of allergen-specific IgG molecules (especially IgG4) that compete with IgE for epitope-binding is one possibility. ¹⁵⁹ Studies of recombinant-blocking monoclonal IgG4 against Fel d 1 have demonstrated that administration in cat-allergic humans may block IgE binding to Fel d 1, reduce clinical symptoms and act much more rapidly than allergen-specific immunotherapy, ¹⁶⁰ and thus may have a role in clinical management.

Key points

• ✜ A combination of different control measures is likely to be most successful in reducing Fel d 1 concentrations in the home (and elsewhere), but not all recommendations are necessarily easy to follow and some may damage the human-cat bond.

• ✜ There is an important role for the veterinary healthcare team in contributing to discussions on how Fel d 1 exposure can be reduced, in ways that maintain cat welfare.

• ✜ The recent introduction of a cat diet that is capable of reducing active Fel d 1 in saliva, hair and bedding has the potential to contribute appreciably to JM environmental control.

Conclusions

Human sensitisation to cat allergens is a common problem and, although cat-allergic owners may spend less time in close contact with their cat in an attempt to avoid provoking symptoms, ¹⁶¹ it is clear that contamination of the environment with Fel d 1 is a major source of exposure and risk. Recommendations to remove the cat from the home are rarely followed, and thus efforts to reduce the environmental allergen load, combined with pharmacotherapy and allergen immunotherapy where necessary, are important.