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Cat Allergy Shots: Do They Actually Work?

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Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Alaina

Can’t spend time around cats without descending into a full-blown allergic reaction? It can be frustrating, especially if you love hanging out with your feline friends. While traditional treatments like corticosteroids, antihistamines, and decongestants can help, they’re not a permanent fix. This is where allergy immunotherapy comes in. 

Five kittens standing next to each other in the grass

Cat allergy shots, a type of allergy immunotherapy, can be an outstanding option for those plagued by cat allergies. Countless studies and trials showcase how effective they can be, solidifying their stance as a promising solution. 

Understanding Cat Allergies

A cat allergy is much like any other allergy—it’s your immune system’s reaction to a particular allergen, which, in this case, is cats. Your body produces antibodies, which are blood proteins that counteract a specific antigen.

These antibodies flag cat allergens as harmful, triggering an immune response when exposed to them. When your body comes into contact with a cat, those antibodies communicate with specific cells that release chemicals, resulting in an allergic reaction. 

Your symptoms may vary from mild symptoms such as an itchy throat or a runny nose to those as severe as difficulty breathing or anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction. 

What Cat Allergens Are There?

Many folks have a misconception surrounding cat allergies, believing the cat’s fur is to blame for their annoying allergic symptoms. While this can be true in some cases, the most common cat allergen is cat dander. 

Cat dander is the dead skin cells that your cat sheds to make room for new skin cells, sloughing them off onto furniture, clothing, and other objects throughout your home. It can even become airborne, causing symptoms even when your cat isn’t around. 

Cat saliva is another common culprit that can trigger an allergy. Like dander, saliva can cling to various surfaces throughout your home, including furniture, bedding, and clothing. When dry, it can become airborne. 

What Are Cat Allergy Shots?

Cat allergy shots are a type of allergy immunotherapy (AIT) called subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). This treatment helps desensitize the body to a particular allergen, which, in this case, is cats. Unlike traditional treatments, such as decongestants or corticosteroids, these shots address the allergy instead of the symptoms. 

They “train” your body to become less reactive to the allergen by exposing it to a small, incrementally increasing dose of the allergen. With cat allergy shots, the allergen is delivered in the form of an injection under the skin. 

Through repeated exposure, the injection helps reduce the production of the “blocking” antibodies that create your reaction. This process takes time and requires a long-term commitment to see results. While early improvements might appear in the first year, the best results usually take two to three years to appear. 

Are Cat Allergy Shots for Humans Effective?

Allergy shots for cat allergies can be incredibly effective, bringing about dramatic improvements for people with cat allergies. This treatment is nothing new; it has been around for over a century. Countless studies and trials demonstrate its remarkable efficacy, each evaluating different groups and goals. 

For example, one cluster of research and clinical trials delved into the efficacy of repeated subcutaneous injections in achieving an allergen-specific tolerance. They found that allergy shots can achieve such a tolerance that offers clinical benefits beyond the last treatment. 

One study evaluated the long-term impact of AIT on allergic rhinitis. It found that both subcutaneous (allergy shots) and sublingual (allergy drops or tablets) immunotherapy are effective in achieving an allergen-specific tolerance that offers clinical benefits and immunological changes. 

Another study compared AIT-treated individuals to a control group based on asthma prescriptions and allergic rhinitis. The study discovered that the AIT-treated group had significant reductions in allergic rhinitis and asthma prescriptions compared to the control and had a higher chance of stepping down asthma treatment. 

So, yes, allergy immunotherapy, including cat allergy shots, can be highly effective in alleviating allergies. 

A woman in a pink shirt holding a long- haired silver tabby cat without worrying about cat allergy thanks to cat allergy shots.

Wrapping Up

Cat allergy shots can be an effective solution for combatting persistent cat allergies. Whether you’re a cat lover or have a friend with cats, this treatment can help you spend more time around your feline friends with less discomfort. Of course, it isn’t a cure, but it can dramatically improve your allergy. 

If you think cat allergy shots might be a good option for your needs, talk to your allergist or doctor. They can offer personalized input and help you select the best treatment plan. 

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