The Egg Yolk Breakthrough That Makes Cats Less Allergenic!

As a therapy cat, I sometimes run across people who say they are allergic to us kitties. My human and I always steer clear of them as soon as we’re told this…but what if putting something in my food could render me hypoallergenic?

It’s sounds like crazy futuristic science lore, but it’s happening right now! And it all boils down to a simple, natural ingredient: egg yolk.

But it’s not from just the everyday eggs you find in a supermarket — these egg yolks have to come from chickens who are raised with cats!

Before we go any further, let me briefly explain how this works, how effective it is, and whether it’s widely available (spoiler alert on the latter: not so much, at least not yet).

The Origins of Cat Allergens

People who are allergic to cats are most likely reacting to the Fel d 1 (shorthand for Feline domesticus allergen 1), a small glycoprotein antigen. You find it in a cat’s saliva and other secretions. When cats groom themselves, it collects in their fur and dander. And from there it easily spreads.

So to lessen a human’s allergic reaction to cats, you need an antibody that blocks Fel d 1. That’s where the egg yolk comes into play because it blocks Fel d 1 from the source — the cat.

How the Antibody That Blocks Fel D 1 Developed

People can be desensitized to allergens by immunotherapy — controlled, regular exposure to the allergen to reduce the adverse reaction. Something similar happens with chickens when they’re raised around cats.

The same way a mother passes along a certain amount of immunity to her baby to protect them in the early months of their lives, so it is with chickens and eggs. The antibody passed along in the egg yolks is called polyclonal egg IgY. And when a cat consumes egg yolks containing IgY, it reduces the level of Fel d 1 in their saliva. That’s how they naturally become less allergic to humans.

What’s the Research on Fel d 1 and IgY?

The Nestlé Purina scientists are the ones that really dug into research involving IgY. Adding the egg yolks containing IgY to cats’ diet reduced their Fel d 1 dander by about 47% beginning in week 3. While it doesn’t eliminate the allergen completely, it does greatly reduce it. And it does it in a way that’s not harmful to either cats or humans.

Of course, Purina did this research in order to develop a food to sell. Right now, it’s only available as kibble and is significantly more expensive than other kibble cat food.

Isn’t There a Do-It-Yourself Solution?

Not exactly. Chances are the eggs you buy in the supermarket, including the fancy, pasture-raised brands, or the ones you get from local sources, don’t have the IgY antibody. The chickens need to be raised around cats, and to get the optimum amount in the yolk, the chicken farmer would need to follow certain procedures.

Purina’s recipe and research is proprietary so their formula is only available within the company. But that doesn’t mean other research and development isn’t being done. You can find toppers containing IgY to add to your cat’s food…but it’s also pretty expensive. Maybe with time, the price will come down and the additives and food will become even more effective.

Can Humans Benefit from Eating Egg Yolks with IgY?

Unfortunately, no. It works from inside the cat’s digestive system to lessen the allergens. It won’t lessen your reaction to the allergens if you eat the yolks yourself.

Why You May Still Have Allergic Reactions Even If Your Cat Gets IgY Yolks

The one thing you need to remember about Fel d 1 is that it’s sticky and it floats. It’s already all over everything in the home you share with your cat. So thoroughly cleaning every area of your house over a period of time is the only way to rid it of Fel d 1.

This Is Just the Beginning

There probably won’t ever be one single method to solve the problem of cat allergies. Looking at ways to reduce Fel d 1 at the source is a relatively new approach. Other solutions in addition to this one are being studied. But this natural and nutritious way of doing it is a great start.

For more on using egg yolks to reduce Fel d 1, check these out:

Three research articles about the study
American Academy Of Otolaryngic Allergy — https://www.aaoallergy.org/hypoallergenic-pet-food-myth-or-magic-solution/
Journal of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — https://www.probiologists.com/article/feeding-cats-egg-product-with-polyclonal-anti-fel-d1-antibodies-decreases-environmental-fel-d1-and-allergic-response-a-proof-of-concept-study
Wiley Online Library — https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/iid3.244

If you want less technical language, here are some articles
Very Well Health — https://www.verywellhealth.com/cat-allergy-egg-yolks-8400556
Old Towne Veterinary Clinic — https://www.oldtownevetclinic.com/2021/04/30/study-shows-a-change-in-feline-diet-could-curb-cat-allergies-in-people/
European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (this has more information about cat allergies in general) — https://www.ecarf.org/en/press/letting-the-cat-out-of-the-bag-update-on-managing-cat-allergy/

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