Mey’s Team Pick:
Feature Image via corporation-cats.tumblr.com
It’s a tale as old as time, you meet a lady and everything clicks. She laughs at all your jokes, you can’t take your eyes off her bow tie. But when you take her back to your place, things start going downhill fast. First her eyes start watering, then she breaks out in hives, and finally she’s lying on the floor in the fetal position hacking up a lung. You’ve got a pet cat and she’s allergic. Well, thanks to a team of researchers at Cambridge University, you may never need to worry about this happening again.
The team of scientists, led by Dr. Clare Bryant, have isolated the protein in cat dander that combines with histamines in the human body to cause allergic reactions. According to Dr. Bryant:
“When cats lick themselves they spread saliva, hormones and skin cells on to their coat. When the hair falls out, it is proteins in this dandruff stuck on their fur that people are allergic to. How cat dander causes such a severe allergic reaction in some people has long been a mystery. This is the first time we have discovered the process that leads to the allergic reaction. It opens up a whole new type of drug to treat it.”
via memeblock.com
They believe that within five years a pill or inhaler could be on the market that would allow people to play with, pet and snuggle cats without any kind of bad reaction. While current drugs help relieve the symptoms of allergic reactions, this new information could lead to a drug that would block the effects of the dander itself. So, if that cutie you’ve got your eye on has a cat that’s been getting in the way of things, science may be the wingwoman you’ve been waiting for.
Oh, and by the way, there is good news for dog lovers- research suggests that a similar treatment could help with dog allergies as well.
this is the single greatest possible news i have ever potentially received. perhaps ever.
I think it’s time for me to tell y’all that i’m allergic to cats and eagerly await this cure. Please note that this doesn’t stop me from petting your kitties and then furiously washing my hands afterwards.
“this doesn’t stop me from petting your kitties”
Wanky
as someone who literally has to make people lint-roll themselves before they enter my apartment if they have cats (the lint roller lives next to a sign that says “do this if you have a cat unless you want vanessa TO DIE” i’m super lowkey and not dramatic, obviously) this is a serious Game Changer.
Seconded! My poor partner has to lint roller every time we have a date. I’ve also been known to tell people to take off their clothes and have a shower because they’re still too cat-tastic.
Welp, I guess I don’t have to worry about this being a dealbreaker anymore! Sorry, cats or gtfo.
This is HUGE! I did shots for a couple years but they only worked to delay my reaction so that I’d be okay for a few hours but then would wake up unable to breathe at home later on.
Yes! If I can hang with kitties and people I love who have kitties without having asthma and hives, I’ll be so happy! ^_^
Best news I’ve heard all day!
Between this and Sky Witch, I think I’m stocked up on good things to last me at least for the rest of the week.
Game changer. Now Game of Thrones parties at my cat-nation house can finally commence without having to tell friends to bring their epi-pens.
That first cat is SO CUTE! I just want to snuggle with it for the rest of life.
and there was much rejoicing
Ugh. FINALLY, science. I will be first in line. Making out with a new lady is so not sexy when snot is dripping fast out of my face and I’m reaching blindly for my inhaler.
Hooray! However, I remain immensely sceptical that cats love unicorn horns.
This is so great! This is my number one worry/problem/dealbreaker in romantic relationships and friendships. Thank you science!