Should cats be allowed on airplanes?

At the Bogota airport, as passengers were placing their carry-ons, laptops and purses in bins inching their way on the conveyer belt for inspection, one item stood out: it was a cat, and its owner was putting it into a cabin-ready case. Why are cats allowed? Yes, dogs are also permitted in the cabin. Yet twice as many people are allergic to cats as to dogs, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The culprit here is a protein found in the dried skin flakes of the animal's skin, saliva and urine. It is microscopically tiny, as small as 2-5 microns. "These particles are easily transported to the innermost recesses of the lungs," explains Dr. Christopher Randolph, clinical professor of allergy, immunology and pediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine. Randolph, who treats patients at his clinic in Waterbury, Connecticut, explains that the flakes are transported by dander. "Dander is the free ride that cat allergens attach to," he explains. In other words, it's not fur that causes the sneezing, itchy eyes and asthma. "People are not allergic to animal hair, but to dander, which is not related to the length or amount of hair", emphasizes allergy and asthma specialist Dr. Mark C. Jacobson, a former president of the Illinois Society of Allergy and Immunology. "There are no hypoallergenic breeds of cats or dogs," he and other specialists keep telling their patients. "Because dander is so small and sticky, it attaches itself to clothes, furniture, air and airplane seats. The confined space of a plane could definitely pose a hazard for patients with cat allergy," Jacobson says, adding that wiping down your seat is a good idea.<br/>