VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3

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Children who live around two or more dogs or cats before their first birthday are less likely to have allergies of any sort, according to a study in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Babies raised with two or more animals were about half as likely to have allergies by the time they turned six. This study complements others that found children on farms have fewer allergies.

Although the reason for the protection is unclear, there are hypotheses. Some scientists believe homes with pets have more bacteria, and more of a bacterial component called endotoxin. A number of studies in animals and people have sug

gested that a young immune system awash in endotoxin matures in a way that steers it away from allergic responses. ¹

So in addition to people who own pets having lower blood pressure, stronger immune system, and scoring higher on life satisfaction tests, pets also help prevent children from developing allergies. Ah, but what about those who already have allergies to cats? Well, maybe they aren't allergic to cats at all as the following story demonstrates.
Last summer I was called out to a feral colony in Rescue. At least four black females - and their litters - were calling a woodshed and horse pasture home. The owner of the property was very interested in having all the ferals fixed and would gladly feed them if we would take the kittens. Gradually over a period of a month or so, the mothers

and their litters were rounded up. The kittens quickly found homes through Folsom Feline Rescue while the mothers went back to a life of relative ease compared to the life of quiet desperation they had led while trying to feed and protect their kittens.

As often happens, though, when we think we're done, we're not. Three starving kittens showed up about a month later barely clinging to life. Could anyone resist bringing these little ones - dusty, dirty, and with stickers and burrs in their long coats - into the house? No, of course not.

The next three days though were tough for someone who is "horribly allergic to cats." This kind, impromptu feeder of ferals who had opened her house to these needy ones was soon sneezing, wiping her watering eyes, and scratching at the rashes on her arms and hands as she took care of her young visitors.

But a strange thing happened. As the kittens, now fed, watered, and brushed, began to recover and clean themselves up, her allergy symptoms disappeared! Could it be she was allergic to the pollen which had been on the kittens' coats - which was removed by their grooming - and not to cat dander?

Belle, Annie, and Jesse now sleep on a bed at night, two at the foot and one wrapped around the sleeper's head. You know the person - she's the one who was "horribly allergic to cats."

¹ August 28, 2002 edition of the Sacramento Bee