New Survey Reflects Lengths Cat Owners Will Go to Manage Cat Allergens

A new survey of 2,000 American cat owners by Purina Pro Plan, in partnership with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), which sought to understand the impact of cat allergens on cat-owning households, found that if told by their doctors to give up their cat to help manage cat allergens, 84 percent of owners would ignore doctor’s orders. Twenty percent even said they would keep the cat and get a new doctor, showing the need for better management methods.

Additionally, 90 percent of cat owners feel their cats are members of the family, and three in four owners say their relationship with their cat is important to and a core part of their health and well-being. But it’s not always easy for those with cat allergen sensitivities; 37 percent say they’ve had to change their lifestyle to accommodate their cat, significantly higher than those without sensitivities (22 percent).

In an effort to help, Purina Pro Plan has introduced Pro Plan LiveClear, the first and only cat food that reduces the allergens in cat hair and dander. Backed by more than a decade of research, Pro Plan LiveClear is shown to safely and effectively reduce allergens in cat hair and dander in as little as three weeks of daily feeding. The key ingredient is a specific protein sourced from eggs. When cats eat LiveClear, the protein binds to the major cat allergen, Fel d 1, and safely neutralizes it in the cat’s mouth. By reducing active Fel d 1 in the cat’s saliva, it reduces the allergen that is transferred to the cat’s hair and dander when they groom, ultimately reducing the allergen in the environment.

“Cat owning households are trying a variety of ways to manage cat allergens – but ultimately 62 percent say their current methods are only somewhat effective or not effective at all,” said Dr. Kurt Venator, DVM, PhD, Chief Veterinary Officer at Purina. “Pro Plan LiveClear offers a revolutionary new approach to managing cat allergens, with the power to help cat owners be closer to the cats they love.”

After a rigorous evaluation process, Purina Pro Plan LiveClear recently earned the prestigious Good Housekeeping Seal, a trusted and highly regarded emblem for millions of consumers. The emblem signifies the product has been evaluated and approved for Seal use by the scientists and engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

The Impact of Managing Cat Allergens
Managing cat-allergens isn’t just a challenge for owners – cats feel the effects as well. Eighteen percent of cat owners have relinquished a cat at some point in the past, with cat allergen sensitivities cited as the top reason why (32 percent). Other methods of managing allergens that impact the cat include restricting the cat to/from specific places in the home (17 percent), making the bedroom a cat-free zone (12 percent), reducing the time spent with the cat (10 percent) or moving their cat away from them (9 percent).

Personal relationships may also be impacted. About one-fourth of households with cat allergen sensitivities say their personal relationships have been strained due to cat allergens. In addition:

• 13 percent have had to choose between their cat and a personal relationship.
• 12 percent have considered not living with a partner due to someone’s cat allergen sensitivities.
• 11 percent have had to end a relationship/friendship due to the strain of cat allergen sensitivities.

“Reducing the impact of cat allergens can significantly strengthen the human-animal bond, as well as human relationships,” said Steven Feldman, executive director of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute. “Changing how owners interact with their cats will keep more cat families together.”