Scientists are developing a pill that could be used to cure cat allergies, ridding sufferers of sniffing, sneezing and itchy eyes.
Researchers claim they may have discovered a cure for the UK's most common pet allergy and say treatment could be on the market within five years.
A team from Cambridge University discovered the trigger that can cause allergic reactions in one in ten people.
The scientists believe it is a protein in feline dandruff, known as dander, that combines with a chemical in humans to spark the reaction.
The only treatment currently available for symptoms, which can also include rashes and dangerous asthma attacks, is to take antihistamines or to have a number of injections to build up a tolerance to the allergen.
However, scientists believe a pill or inhaler could be used to treat the problem.
Lead author Dr Clare Bryant, from the University of Cambridge's Department of Veterinary Medicine, told the Daily Mail: "When cats lick themselves they spread saliva, hormones and skin cells on to their coat.
"When the hair falls out, it is proteins in this dandruff stuck on their fur that people are allergic to. How cat dander causes such a severe allergic reaction in some people has long been a mystery.
"This is the first time we have discovered the process that leads to the allergic reaction. It opens up a whole new type of drug to treat it."
The research, which will be published in the Journal of Immunology, suggests that a similar treatment could be used to treat dog allergy sufferers.
"With just a puff of an inhaler which contains the drug, a person would be OK to interact with cats without an adverse reaction, " Dr Bryant added.
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