If you've never had a cat before but are thinking of getting one now, you may want to rethink your decision. Cats can be cute, especially when they’re in a good mood, but they can also be the harbinger of allergies. According to a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, adults are more likely to become sensitized to cats than young children.
The study also suggests that people who have other allergies probably won’t react well to the new pet. To back the study up, researchers gathered around 6,000 participants and surveyed them twice in a span of nine years. In the beginning, none of the participants were sensitized to cat dander (animal hair), but as the study progressed, 3 percent of the participants who did not own a cat reported becoming sensitized, as opposed to the 5 percent who had gotten a cat during the study.
Researchers also discovered that only those who invited cats inside their bedroom became sensitized. Dander can linger for months, long after the last time a cat dropped by your place.
There is good news, however, for young children who are thinking of getting cats as pets. According to the study, those who are exposed to cats at early childhood aren’t merely protected until adolescence. Apparently, the immunity extends until they are grownups.
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(Photo source sxc.hu)
