With this in mind, there’s also many of the allergens that cause sensitivities inside our homes alongside us. Our indoor environments are often poorly ventilated, causing humidity to rise and creating ideal conditions for mould and house dust mites to thrive in our soft furnishings and bedding. And as a nation of pet lovers, our pets are often living indoors too, which can also add to the allergens we contend with.
Our homes should be our sanctuary, but for 1 in 5 of us who are sensitive to cat allergens¹,², the home environment isn't always so safe and relaxing.
How a sensitivity reaction is triggered Humans can be sensitive to a wide variety of allergens like dust, mould and plant pollen. Sensitivity levels and who is allergic to what really depends on the individual, with many often sensitive to multiple allergens.
Various allergens present in the environment accumulate – take them collectively and you’re talking about an effect called the ‘total allergen load’. When the total allergen load surpasses a person’s individual allergen tolerance threshold, a sensitivity reaction is triggered.
It isn't cat hair or dander that causes allergies. Contrary to popular belief, cat hair or dander aren’t the allergens some are sensitive to . The allergen is what’s actually on the hair and dander – a protein naturally produced by all cats in their saliva, called Fel d 1.
A very sticky allergen, Fel d 1 attaches itself to any surface it comes in contact with, a lot like glitter. When your cat licks itself, it covers itself in the sticky Fel d 1, which then spreads all over your home, sticking to your walls, furnishings and surfaces, along with the hair and dander that cats shed. We all know how long glitter can hang around for and it’s the same with Fel d 1 – it can remain in houses where cats have lived for over a year or more.
Reducing allergens with Pro Plan LiveClear While every cat produces Fel d 1, the role it plays in cats' biology is still unknown. But after over a decade of research, our scientists at Purina have discovered a novel and feline-friendly way to neutralize it.
This unique method effectively reduces cat allergens in your home without removing it from your cat’s body, or affecting your cat’s biology.
Made with all-natural ingredients, Pro Plan LiveClear contains a specific egg protein that reduces the active levels of Fel d 1 when gradually introduced to your cat’s daily diet to become the main feed. Pro Plan LiveClear is a safe and feline-friendly extra tool to help reduce cat allergens produced by your cat in their mouth, so you can have fewer limitations and closer interactions with your cat.
If Pro Plan LiveClear is introduced as part of the consistent cat allergen reduction routine, your home could once again become your shared sanctuary. Find out our top tips for managing cat allergens here.
1. Morris, D. (2010). Human allergy to environmental pet danders: A public health perspective. Veterinary Dermatology, 21, 441-449.
2. Bousquet, P.-J., Chinn, S., Janson, C., Kogevinas, M., Burney, P. & Jarvis, D. (2007). Geographical variation in the prevalence of positive skin tests to environmental aeroallergens in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey I. Allergy, 62, 301-309.
