Allergic to cats?

The vast majority of people who are "allergic to cats" are allergic to a protein called FEL-D-1 (see image, right). It is secreted by sebaceous glands in the skin as well as salivary glands.

The amount of FEL-D-1 secreted seems to be greatly affected by testosterone since an intact male will produce much more than a neutered male or a female (spayed or not).

Since cats bathe themselves with their tongue, FEL-D-1 from their saliva is deposited on their fur (along with the FEL-D-1 secreted by the glands in the skin).

Giving a cat a bath using tepid water and cat shampoo will reduce the amount of FEL-D-1 on the skin and fur, but only for a couple of days. Just as over-cleansing a human's skin and hair can upset its natural balance, frequent baths are not good for a cat's skin, and therefore are not a solution for those with an allergy to FEL-D-1.

Siberian and Abyssinian cats (especially males who have been "fixed" and females) have naturally lower levels of FEL-D-1. While not truly "hypo-allergenic", these 2 breeds seem to be tolerated by many people who can't tolerate other breeds. The Korat (a breed from Thailand) can also be a good choice for people allergic to FEL-D-1 as its hair generally does not float up off the cat when the cat is petted. A potential cat owner with an allergy to FEL-D-1 might want to spend time with these 3 breeds to see if he or she tolerates one breed better than the others.

Those who are allergic to FEL-D-1 should follow the same advice given to other allergy sufferers, such as limiting the amount of non-washable fabrics in the home. Curtains that can be easily taken down and washed are preferred over blinds or shutters; furniture should be leather or wood or have washable slip covers; wood or tile floors are a better choice than carpet. Sticky-tape rollers and a good vacuum, such as the Dyson™ Animal model, are helpful in controlling the amount of hair and dander (and therefore FEL-D-1) that is present in the house. Having a non-allergic member of the family brush or comb the cat on a regular basis will help also.

In addition, allergic pet owners should keep their bedroom doors closed at all times, in order to keep their sleeping space as allergen-free as possible. And they should also ask their doctor about allergy shots or other medicines which might help with symptoms.

The Cat and the Moon

If you're wondering about the name of this blog
-- nearest-kin-of-the-moon --
it's from one of my favorite poems about a cat.

THE CAT & THE MOON
by William Butler Yeats

The cat went here and there
And the moon spun round like a top,
And the nearest kin of the moon,
The creeping cat, looked up.
Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon,
For, wander and wail as he would,
The pure cold light in the sky
Troubled his animal blood.
Minnaloushe runs in the grass
Lifting his delicate feet.
Do you dance, Minnaloushe, do you dance?
When two close kindred meet,
What better than call a dance?
Maybe the moon may learn,
Tired of that courtly fashion,
A new dance turn.
Minnaloushe creeps through the grass
From moonlit place to place,
The sacred moon overhead
Has taken a new phase.
Does Minnaloushe know that his pupils
Will pass from change to change,
And that from round to crescent,
From crescent to round they range?
Minnaloushe creeps through the grass
Alone, important and wise,
And lifts to the changing moon
His changing eyes.

New Maltese Cat

After being petless for almost a decade, we now share the house with a gorgeous maltese* cat. It's a she, and she is about 2 years old. She is absolutely the best pet I've ever had, and I love her already!

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(*) Just as "tabby" refers to a striped cat, "Maltese" refers to a solid gray (aka blue) cat with short hair. It is not a breed, but rather a description of coat color and pattern. Of course, a "Maltese cat" can also refer to a cat born on the island nation of Malta, regardless of coat color and pattern.