Itchy skin due to cat?

[PennyLoop]

Recently my skin has been sporadically unbearably itchy when in the house. No rash or other symptoms. I'm trying to determine the cause and am suspecting that my furball baby is responsible. I've only had her a year she was a stray before I got her. The vet mentioned that cats are developing their winter coats around this time of year.

I have done some research and possibly cat dander is the specific cause. Does anyone else get itchy skin but no other symptoms around cats? If so will it be a constant problem or will it stop once the winter coat changes are complete?

I've never heard of it. I've only heard of hayfever type symptoms. I think it's a bit of a leap to suspect your cat is the problem, particularly if you already had her for some time before experiencing this.

I get patches of very itchy skin which are a lot, lot worse in the winter. I suspect my cats have something to do with it. If I spend time away from home my skin always improves. I thought it was worse in winter because the cats are in the house more. A friend has eczema which is aggravated by being around pets.

I went to the doctors and got some steroid cream. It helps and is better than getting rid of the cats!

My DD has eczema, and her hands are irritated by one of our 2 cats. The offending mog has noticeably coarser fur than mog 2, who is very smooth & silky. Our previous cat was also smooth-furred, and DD seemed to have no issues with her. Steroid and emollient cream (E45) helps, also washing her hands after a stroking session!

I could hardly get to sleep last night with the itching on my arms and belly and legs and everywhere!!

She was confined to my lounge for a couple months when I got her so her winter coat shedding was confined to one room. Perhaps that is why I didn't react last year. When she became more settled with the house environment and people I let her have whole house access. So her winter coat shedding is everywhere this year. I don't really stroke her as she only likes very brief gentle finger strokes on her head now and again which is a huge development from where she began! If she sits on me she will get off if stroked. So I don't have much direct fur contact. Itching also seems worse on sofa and my bed where she sleeps. Am strongly suspecting it's the fur/dander. I've spent all morning cleaning to reduce the invisible dander to see if it helps/reduces itching.

I will give her a longer stint playing outside today hopefully the wind and grass with remove some loose fur and dander.

It's just so strange I have never heard of itching due to cats but no other symptoms. Like you say I thought cats caused runny noses and watery eye symptoms for affected people. Maybe the fur/dander is an irritant hence itching

OK. Maybe it is a thing. Try Petal Cleanse wipes on your cat - they are supposed to drastically reduce the dander.

Ooo I didn't know these wipes existed I will try and get a pack to trial. She will hate being wiped though as she hates her back and sides being touched but I will try. I'm becoming more and more convinced it's the cat causing the itchiness.

I've been experimenting over last week trying to discount different products but nothing has made a difference to the itching. I can't think of what else apart from the cat could be causing the itching. I'm not a stressed person so I've discounted anxiety as a cause and I don't itch at work. I am going to buy a hand held hoover especially for cleaning the sofa and bed where she sleeps before I sit/sleep.

Might be difficult to stop her going in bedroom as its her favourite room but I may have to make it a no cat zone which will be annoying for her.