About the cat allergy test

The antibody Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays a vital role in allergies. By identifying specific IgE antibodies in your blood, the Home Allergy Test can give an indication of your sensitisation to potential allergy triggers.

The cat allergy testing kit contains everything you need to collect a small blood sample from your fingertip. We include a step-by-step guide in the box and you can also watch our how-to video. The test kit also includes a prepaid return envelope. Use this to pop your blood sample in the post to our partner lab for analysis. You need to post the blood sample within 24 hours after collecting it to make sure it’s stable and suitable for testing.

Your test must be activated online so we know it belongs to you. There’s a unique code on the welcome card included in the test kit. Activating your test also creates your secure, online account if you don’t already have one with us. We can't process your test unless it's activated.

The results of your cat allergy test will be available in your online account within two weeks. Your cat allergy test results will show the level of specific IgE antibodies in your blood. The test results can indicate if you’re sensitised to any of the hundreds of different allergens tested, including allergens from cats.

Order your cat allergy test today.

Many allergens, one test

• Pollen 59
• Pets 25
• Insect stings 10
• Moulds & yeasts 13
• Foods 154
• Other 14

Symptoms of cat allergy

One of the main symptoms of cat allergy is allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory condition, which affects the inside of your nose. The symptoms are similar to the symptoms of a common cold. The difference is that allergic rhinitis symptoms are not caused by a virus but are triggered by an allergic reaction.

When allergens from cats come into contact with your mouth, eyes or nose your body mistakenly interprets them as a threat. And a chain of reactions is set off in defence. Your body releases various chemicals, including histamine. Histamine is part of an inflammatory response.

White blood cells and various fluids flow to the site of the attack to help. This causes amongst other things inflammation and swelling in, for example, your eyes, your skin, your nose and throat. In turn, making you sneeze, your eyes water, your nose runny, your skin itchy… whatever it takes to get rid of the threat as quickly as possible.

• Stuffy, runny nose
• Sneezing
• Itchy nose
• Itchy, red or watery eyes
• Coughing
• Breathing difficulties
• Tight chest or wheezing/li>
• Eczema/skin rash/hives /li>
• Anaphylaxis

Allergies to cats can involve any combination of symptoms from the checklist above. Symptoms of allergy can vary from person to person.

Why you should get tested for allergy to cats

When you know what’s causing your symptoms of allergy it’s easier to know how to manage and treat them. If you suspect you might have an allergy to cats getting a cat allergy test means you'll be able to find out if allergens from cats might be triggering your symptoms.

You don't have to put up with symptoms of cat allergy. Cat allergy symptoms may range from mild to severe. Cat allergy symptoms that are not well controlled may have an effect on your well-being in the long term. Allergy symptoms can disrupt your sleep, making concentrating at work or school difficult the next day. Cat allergy can cause eczema resulting in irritated, itchy and broken skin.

Allergy blood tests such as the Home Allergy Test detect Immunoglobulin E (IgE) in your body. Identifying specific IgE antibodies in your blood can give an indication of your sensitisation to potential allergy triggers. It doesn’t mean you’re necessarily allergic though.

The results of the Home Allergy Test can be a first step to finding out if you might have pet allergies. Your doctor will need to consider any test results along with your medical history to give a diagnosis of allergies.

With the right information, managing your symptoms becomes easier. For example, if your cat allergy test results indicate you're sensitised to cat allergens, it may help to try to reduce your exposure to your pet. And with an accurate diagnosis, you'll be able to get access to the most suitable treatments for your cat allergy.

Cat allergy: a closer look

It's quite common to be allergic to cats and other pets with hair and fur especially for people who also have allergic asthma or hay fever. It's often thought that the fur of the cat that causes symptoms of allergy. But it’s not.

Cats produce many proteins that have the potential to cause a pet allergy. Allergies from cats are caused by the protein in the cat’s saliva, urine and dander. Cat dander is particles of their shed skin. The microscopic protein particles can spread when the cat moults or grooms itself.

An allergic reaction starts with your immune system. The job of the immune system is to protect us from infectious bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. But if you have cat allergies, your body perceives their saliva, urine or dander as a threat and takes swift defensive action to try and protect you.

The process of developing allergies is called sensitisation. It starts with your body mistakenly believing that a usually harmless substance is harmful. It records the structure of the allergen so it can produce specific IgE antibodies to fight it. When specific IgE antibodies are present in your blood it’s called being sensitised.

Being sensitised doesn't mean you necessarily have allergies though. Sensitisation is the first step in developing allergies. You can be sensitised without being allergic, but you can’t be allergic without being sensitised first. Detecting sensitisation can be a useful tool to identify potential allergic triggers. If you're diagnosed with cat allergies it means you're sensitised and you experience allergic reactions when you come into contact with cat dander, urine or saliva.