I do like cats. At one time I had five of them. A mother and her four kittens. As I have gotten older, cat dander seems to bother me. It causes watery eyes, nasal congestion strong enough for medication and a scratchy throat.
When I booked my flight with American Airline, no where did they state they allow cats on board. According to The Asthma Center, About 5-10% of Americans are allergic to pet allergens. That lmeans between 16,000,000 and 32,000,000 people are the "most sensitive individuals" who "may suffer greatly from the slightest exposure to animal dander, and reactions to cat dander can be particularly explosive."
Cat Allergy Symptoms
Cat allergy symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on an individual’s sensitivity and the level of exposure to allergens. Those variables may also influence how quickly symptoms develop after exposure. Highly sensitive people can develop symptoms, including breathing problems or a rash, within minutes of touching a cat or entering a house with a cat.
Cat allergy symptoms may include:
- Sneezing or a runny or stuffy nose
- Facial pain (from nasal congestion)
- Coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing
- Watery, red or itchy eyes
- Skin rash or hives
http://acaai.org/allergies/types/pet-allergy
Immediately upon sensing the cat's presence, behind my window seat, I asked the flight attendent to move me. Some fifteen minutes later, she moved me just three rows up. There were several available seats on the plane a considerable distance away from the cat dander.
Buyer beware!
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