However, they claim that children exposed to two or more dogs in the home may gain some protection from developing eczema as they grow up.
In the study which followed 486 children from birth to the age of one, parents were asked how many cats and dogs they had at home at the time the child was born.
Their answers were compared with the number of children diagnosed with eczema by their first birthday.
Of 134 children whose households had cats, 28 per cent developed eczema, compared with 18 per cent of 286 from cat-free homes.
Many experts believe exposure to pets at an early age may help immunize children against allergies.
Researcher Dr Esmeralda Morales, from the University of Arizona in Tucson, said it was too early to advise that what parents should do about their cats.
