Owning a pet can cause a lot of health issues according to cat allergies statistics. Even if we love our pets our bodies can have a bad reaction to them.
Millions of households in the United States, as well worldwide, own a cat. Do you know how many percentages of U.S. citizens actually have cat allergies?
There is no cat breed that can’t cause allergies, but some of them tend to produce less protein that is connected with allergies. Do you know which one? If you’re interested in this topic, we prepared 12 fantastic facts and statistics to know about cat allergies, so keep reading
6 Interesting Cat Allergy Facts (Editor’s pick)
- Allergies to pets affect from 10%-20% of the worldwide population.
- Up to 30% of people in the United States have allergies.
- Cat allergies are most common than dog allergies.
- Male cats cause more allergies than female cats.
- Stats show that 1 in 7 children between the ages of 6 and 19 have a cat allergy.
- Around 8% of people that have cat allergies left their pets in shelters.
12 Interesting Cat Allergy Statistics
1. Allergies to pets affect from 10%-20% of the worldwide population
One of the most common allergies that humans have is allergies to pets. According to some statistics, about 10% to 20% of all worldwide population has allergies to dogs and cats which are the most prevalent household pets. Even if some of them are allergic to cats, around one-third of owners will keep cats even if they have symptoms.
According to cat owner statistics, there are more than 90 million households that own at least one cat in the United States. The country is on the top of the list of countries with the most pet cats, which unfortunately affect the percentage of pet allergies.
Source: petpedia.co
2. Up to 30% of people in the United States have allergies
Pet allergies are the second most prevalent allergy in almost every country, after mites or pollen. Statistics about allergies reaction to pets show that around 30% of people in the United States have a reaction. This number represents more than 50 million citizens that have very mild, mild, or strong allergy symptoms.
The highest number of allergic humans have problems because of cats or dogs. Cat allergies can cause different symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and red eyes.
Households with multiple pets have a higher possibility to have allergic symptoms because they’re triggered by direct exposure, but indirect exposure through air or fabric can also cause symptoms.
Source: filtrete.com
3. Cat allergies are most common than dog allergies
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America revealed that cat allergies are most common than dog allergies. Not all dead skin cells are created equal, and cat allergens are stickier than any other type.
Size and the shape of the molecule is the main reason why cat allergies are more common than dogs’ ones. The protein size is about one-tenth size of dust allergen and it is the right size to breathe deep into lungs that can cause different allergic symptoms.
Source: livescience.com
4. A non-allergenic breed of cat doesn’t exist
Even if someone thinks there are breeds of a cat or a dog that will not cause the allergies it is not true, a truly non-allergenic breed doesn’t exist. A human can be allergic to hairless varieties as well.
Cat hair can also trap pollen, mold, and other outdoor allergens, so if the human has problems with allergies it can cause a lot of health troubles. Even after a pet is gone, allergens can cling to furniture, clothing, or walls and hang in the air for months.
Even if there is no cat that is 100% hypoallergenic, some breeds produce less dander which means they can trigger mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. These include Oriental, Devon Rex, Siberian, Bengal, Sphynx, and Cornish Rex.
Source: adoptapet.com
5. Male cats cause more allergies than female cats
Allergies are not connected with the length or the texture of the fur, but from the protein which is contained in their saliva, urine, and dander which are dead skin cells.
According to data, male cats produce more of the protein that causes allergic reactions than female cats. We can assume that a better choice for the people that are afraid of allergies is female cats.
Source: filtrete.com
6. Statistics show that 1 in 7 children between the ages of 6 and 19 have a cat allergy
According to statistics, cat allergies are twice common as other pets, like dog allergies. About 33 % of Americans are allergic to cats, and many of them are children. 1 in 7 children that have from 6 to 19 years has problems because of cat allergies.
Cat allergies in children can cause a lot of health problems, especially if they have asthma ss well. About 7 % of all children have asthma, and it is not recommended that they’re exposed to allergens.
Source: petpedia.co
7. Kids who live with cats from an early age are less likely to develop allergies
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, children that from a young age, especially during the first year of life, are raised in a house with dogs or cats are less likely to develop allergies than children that don’t have pets.
According to cat allergies statistics, around 40% of children in the United States have allergies. Having a pet can help boost their immune system s they don’t develop different allergic diseases in a lifetime.
Source: filtrete.com
8. Statistics show that people who have asthma can develop an asthma attack because of cat allergies
A common effect of cat allergies includes a few symptoms that won’t cause any health complications, but humans with asthma can have big problems. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America revealed that around 60% of all people with asthma in the U.S. have allergic asthma.
This allergy-induced asthma happens when airways get inflamed after exposure to some allergen, which is the main reason why people that have allergy asthma can easier get an asthma attack if the cat is nearby.
According to U.S. studies, and cat-sensitive people around 47% emerge hospital visits are because of feline exposure. Statistics also show that acute asthma care costs can go from $500 million to $1 billion in the country every year.
Source: verywellhealth.com
9. Research from 2000. show that cat owners with dark-colored cats are more likely to have allergies symptoms
The color of the fur tends to be connected with allergy symptoms according to researchers in 2000. Long Island College Hospital researchers found that cat owners that have a black or dark-colored cat are more likely to report some allergy symptoms than those with light-colored cats.
Another study by the Wellington Asthma Research Group shows that fur color had no effect on how many allergens a cat can produce.
Source: cats.org.uk
10. Carpets in houses can accumulate up to 100 times cat allergens
Eliminating allergens from the house, especially if an owner or some of the embers of the families has high symptoms. Using a vacuum cleaner as well as steaming will for sure help to remove a high percentage of allergens.
According to data, carpets can accumulate up to 100 times the amount of allergens. If some members have asthma or a high level of allergy, the best option is to remove all carpets from the house.
Source: cats.org.uk
11. Statistics show that 8% of people that have cat allergies left their pets in shelters
Around three in ten American citizens have allergies to the fur of cats or dogs. Knowing that cat allergies are much more common than dog allergies, there are much more cases where cat owners left their pets in animal shelters.
According to cat shelter statistics, about 8% of cat owners will give up having a cat as a pet because of strong symptoms, or asthma.
Source: petpedia.co
12. Treatments for allergy shots can cost up to $1000 annually
If the human has an allergy to cats and very strong symptoms no matter if it is or isn’t exposed to animals, it is requested to get an allergy shot that will help the hip build up a tolerance over time.
According to data, treatments can cost from $800 to $1000 every year. If allergy shots are needed so the human can stay functional thru the day, it is required up to 100 injections in a few years. Sometimes allergy shots action is not permanent or fully effective.
Some researchers are trying to improve whole immune therapy for better results and scientists are seeking to find a way to stop cats from producing allergen or at least neutralize it before it leaves the animal skin.
Source: petpedia.co
To Sum Up
Cat allergy statistics show that around 30 % of citizens in the United States have pet allergies. Cat allergies are twice more common than dog allergies, show statistics. Cat allergy can easily trigger an asthma attack. Around 8% of cat owners decide to leave pets in animal shelters because of strong symptoms, and we can conclude that most cat owners will keep the cat even if they have some symptoms. The most effective way to reduce allergy symptoms is allergy shots.
