Cats double the risk of contracting allergies

By Marianne Straker, Thu 29 Dec 2011 - Published in Pet Insurance

While they may look cute and are an attractive proposition for many pet insurance holders, cats can double the risk of contracting allergies.

Researchers have found that an owner is more likely to suffer wheezing, sneezing and itchy eyes in adults. A study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that those who already had allergies were at the highest risk of aggravating those ailments.

The results showed that four out of ten people that were involved in the study had contracting allergic problems after getting a cat as a pet.

Mario Olivieri, from the University Hospital of Verona in Italy, wrote: "Our data support that acquiring a cat in adulthood nearly doubles the risk of developing cat sensitisation. Hence, cat avoidance should be considered in adults, especially in those sensitised to other allergens and reporting a history of allergic diseases."

Research by the Co-operative also showed that ten per cent of owners would be putting their animal on a diet after the holiday season was over due to overindulging them at Christmas.

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