Does the miracle cure for cat allergy really exist? Right now, no, but a recent scientific discovery could be a game-changer … or not. Focus on research, treatments and cat allergy vaccine.
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All cat lovers with allergies are hoping for the miracle cure for cat allergy, one that would allow them to live peacefully with their pet.
If this is not yet a reality, a solution could however appear in the years to come. It remains to be seen whether the proposed option really meets expectations.
What are the current solutions for cat allergy?
What to do in case of cat allergy? Currently, several solutions are offered to allergy sufferers, depending on the scenario. For those who do not have a cat and do not wish to, the diagnosis of the allergy may be enough to keep it under control by avoiding the proximity of animals.
In the event of repeated exposure or for cat owners developing a late allergy, several ways can be considered.
If the allergy is diagnosed as mild to moderate, good hygiene limits the amount of allergens: daily ventilation, in particular, frequent cleaning with a powerful vacuum cleaner equipped with effective HEPA filters, installation air purifiers, regular animal washing and brushing…
Such options offer only limited effectiveness, but may reduce the intensity of the reactions.
Symptomatic treatment
In addition, antihistamine therapy is the most common option. This medication eliminates or reduces the effects of histamine, the molecule released in quantity by the immune system upon exposure to the allergen. It does not prevent the production of histamine, but blocks its receptors and therefore allergic symptoms, hence its name symptomatic treatment.
His limits ? When treatment is stopped, symptoms reappear, and the course of the disease continues even without visible manifestations. The effectiveness of treatment can also vary, while some antihistamines are accused of bothersome side effects, especially drowsiness. In rare cases of acute allergies, corticosteroid treatments may be prescribed, with potentially more serious side effects.
Specific immunotherapy
To treat the cat’s allergy rather than its symptoms, the only option today is desensitization or specific immunotherapy. The targeted allergen is then administered to the patient in minute quantities, under medical supervision and over several years.
The immune system thus learns very gradually to modulate its reaction. The treatment can be administered subcutaneously, in other words by office injections, or sublingually by drops or tablets at home. Regarded as effective, it is not 100%.
Where is research on the cat allergy vaccine?
In July 2019, a team of scientists from the University of Zurich caused a stir when their research results were published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The researchers explained there having developed a vaccine intended for the cats themselves, tested on 54 cats during nine weeks. His role ? Neutralize the Fel d1 protein present in their secretions.
Found in tears and saliva, the Fel d1 protein is one of eight allergenic proteins produced by cats, and responsible for the vast majority of allergic reactions. The vaccine, dubbed HypoCat, therefore attacks this protein: during the study, the injected substance would have caused the production of anti-Fel d1 antibodies reducing the protein in vaccinated cats.
Scientists say the vaccine should still go through several phases of clinical testing before it hits the market. The team then announced an average delay of three years before a possible marketing, via a company already created for the occasion, HypoPet.
The vaccine, miracle cure against cat allergy?
While the discovery by Swiss researchers caused a stir among pet lovers, it was not unanimous among animal health professionals. The sticking point? Vaccinate cats rather than their owners. According to some specialists, the data are lacking, as much as for the real utility of the protein for cats as for the effects of its neutralization.
Certain cat breeds produce the protein Fel d1 naturally in very small quantities, because it does not seem essential for their well-being. The vaccine still involves injecting them with a foreign substance. However if the results of the study mention a good tolerance, no data ensures the total absence of side effects.
Another point emphasized by professionals, the vaccine only neutralizes the protein Fel d1 while the cat produces eight! Difficult, in this case, to speak of a miracle cure.
Finally, according to the study, the treatment would reduce cases of abandonment of cats … which, according to veterinarians, are rare after the discovery of an allergy. A majority of owners adopt alternative solutions to avoid it, from hygiene reflexes to drug treatments.
No miracle cure or vaccine against cat allergy at the moment, symptomatic treatment and desensitization remain the most effective solutions. And if neither is 100%, both act on all allergenic proteins in cats! The search for the ideal vaccine remains open, with or without the possible commercialization of HypoCat.
Read also: Are there any hypoallergenic cat breeds?
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