Cats Reduce Risk of Asthma in Kids

Posted by Jennifer Copley Aug 15, 2008

The study, which was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, indicates that owning a cat is a good idea for children who have not yet developed a cat allergy, as it may provide protection. However, if the child already has allergies, they can’t be cured by keeping a cat, and living with cats doesn’t provide protection against other allergies. Cat allergies are linked to asthma, and children who live with cats from the time they are born are also less likely to develop asthma. Children living on farms are more asthma-resistant as well.

If you have a cat and an allergy sufferer living in the same household, there are a number of ways to reduce allergens. There is also anecdotal evidence that certain cat breeds are less likely to provoke allergic reactions in susceptible people.