# Can you test for a cat allergy at home? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425 "2010-07-12T18:09:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/1 "2010-07-12T18:09:07Z")
I suspect my 6 year old son may be allergic to our cats. Is there a way to do a do-it-yourself test to see? I’ve had the regular tests done before and they scratch your arm and put a liquid of different allergens on the scratch. Then they measure the reaction. Is there any way to do this without going to a allergist? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/2 "2010-07-12T18:36:20Z")
According to WebMD: > [@](#): > > Your doctor can do a skin or blood test to see if you’re allergic. However, allergy tests aren’t always correct. So the doctor may also want you to try living without a cat for a few months to see how it affects your allergy symptoms. > **[Information on Cat Allergies](https://www.webmd.com/allergies/cat-allergies)** > > Allergy to Cats: Some people are allergic to cats. Find out the causes, symptoms, and various types of treatments for cat allergies. They do not seem to suggest a quicker alternative than putting your cat into suspended animation for half of a year, but I suppose you could have the cat scratch your son and another random 6 year old who is decidedly not allergic to cats and compare results (IANADOVOARSOMIOAK). WebMD also suggests ways to help minimize cat allergy problems such as: > [@](#): > > Consider bathing your cat on a regular basis. This may be helpful if you’re not sure how to get the cat to scratch someone for the previous test. They also have this to say: > [@](#): > > Beware of visitors who own cats. Good advice under any circumstances. ETA: It would also make a decent fortune for a fortune cookie. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/3 "2010-07-12T18:41:47Z")
But when one is allergic to cats, what is it that one is actually allergic to? Is the hair? The skin dander? What? Could I swab the cat’s skin, scratch the boy and rub it with the swab to see if it reacts? The boy has had a constantly stuffy nose for months, and it started shortly after we adopted two sweet kitties. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/4 "2010-07-12T18:59:41Z")
The timing is suspicious but it could also be a seasonal allergy to some kind of pollen. Taking an antihistamine (not combined with a decongestant) and seeing improvement would be an indication that he’s allergic to **something**. As a kid I tested - via scratch testing in the doctor’s office - allergic to dogs (we owned one), dust (hard to avoid), and wood dust (my dad worked in a furniture factory). I took antihistamines, my dad changed out of his work clothes in the basement and took a shower after work, and we more or less tried to keep the dog out of my room so I could have a less-allergenic room. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/5 "2010-07-12T19:00:53Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > But when one is allergic to cats, what is it that one is actually allergic to? Is the hair? The skin dander? What? Please check out the cite: > [@](#): > > But contrary to what you might think, it’s not the fur or hair that’s the real problem. People with cat allergies are really allergic to proteins in the cat’s saliva, urine, and dander (dried flakes of skin). > **[Information on Cat Allergies](https://www.webmd.com/allergies/cat-allergies)** > > Allergy to Cats: Some people are allergic to cats. Find out the causes, symptoms, and various types of treatments for cat allergies. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/6 "2010-07-12T19:07:56Z")
In case it wasn’t clear - I would like to specifically state that I \*\*do not \*\*recommend testing your child for a cat allergy by encouring a cat to stratch him or her. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/7 "2010-07-12T19:17:05Z")
What happens when, say, he spends the night (or longer) in a home where there are no cats? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/8 "2010-07-12T19:26:51Z")
I have mild cat allergies. I find that if I pet a cat, and then bring my hands near my face before I wash them, that I can feel it in my eyes (they feel like they’re swelling a bit). And if you’d rather not get rid of the cats entirely, you probably can keep them out of his room for a while, to see if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/9 "2010-07-12T20:52:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And if you’d rather not get rid of the cats entirely, you probably can keep them out of his room for a while, to see if that helps. And there are various medications (anti-histamines, I think) that your doctor can prescribe to control his allergic reactions. Also, for some reason, allergic people often develop a ‘tolerance’ for one cat after living with it for a few years, though they still have allergic reactions when exposed to a strange cat. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/10 "2010-07-12T21:02:28Z")
I have cat allergies. I second the inistant eye test. If I touch a cat, and then touch my eyes, I will get almost instant redness and swelling. Most uncomfortable for at least an hour afterwards. And the only way to stop it is a complete shower, with all clothing including shoes in the washing machine. But seriously, checking for allergies is not for amateurs. I had a professional allergy test once, and went into anaphylactic shock. I woke up with a needle stuck into my chest. I am really very sincerely happy that I was in a doctor’s office when that occurred. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/11 "2010-07-12T21:17:54Z")
One way to help cut dander, and not traumatize the cats as much as an actual bath, is to rub them down with a wet washcloth once or twice a day. There are some kind of wet wipes that can be bought at the pet supply stores, but they are really not necessary. A wet washcloth works just fine! Brushing/combing with something like a furminator to remove fur that would otherwise shed into the environment, then the wipedown, is what I’ve heard allergic people say works fairly well. This is for fairly mild allergies, though. And yes, of people I’ve known who had allergy testing done, it was in the doctor’s office for the specific reason that intervention could be made immediately in case of anaphylaxis. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-test-for-a-cat-allergy-at-home/546425/12 "2010-07-12T22:44:28Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > I suspect my 6 year old son may be allergic to our cats. Is there a way to do a do-it-yourself test to see? I’ve had the regular tests done before and they scratch your arm and put a liquid of different allergens on the scratch. Then they measure the reaction. Is there any way to do this without going to a allergist? Why can’t you just have the pediatrician do this in the office? Your son doesn’t have to go to a specialist for this. The pediatricians do this routinely.