{"id":16774,"date":"2017-06-04T00:10:48","date_gmt":"2017-06-04T04:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/?p=16774"},"modified":"2017-06-03T14:49:13","modified_gmt":"2017-06-03T18:49:13","slug":"living-in-comfort-with-cats-10-tips-to-managing-cat-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/living-in-comfort-with-cats-10-tips-to-managing-cat-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"Living in Comfort with Cats – 10 Tips to Managing Cat Allergies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s Note:<\/strong> This article was previously published. However, with it being allergy season, coupled with the fact so many cats are not adopted, or are brought to shelters because of cat allergies, it seemed prudent to share it again.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"By<\/a>

From this picture, you’d never know I was once allergic to cats.<\/p><\/div>\n

Being immersed in the world of cat blogging and advocacy, I’ve heard just about every excuse there is from those that don’t have a cat but might want one, as to why they can’t. Having a dog ranks right up there, but the most common reason is because of cat allergies. As a happy pet parent to seven cats, along\u00a0with the fact millions of cats are living in shelters in need of a good home, I’d like to let you in on a couple secrets so you can<\/em> adopt that adorable ball of fluff you’ve always wanted\u00a0(or keep\u00a0the sniffles to a\u00a0minimum with the cat you already have)!<\/p>\n

First off, for most of my life, I\u2019ve lived in a home with both<\/strong> cats and dogs. At one point I had 5 dogs and 4 cats living together, so I can assure you, unless the circumstances are extreme, cats and dogs are able to get along if you\u2019re willing to put the time and effort into making it work.\u00a0My other secret – I\u2019m allergic to cats. Or, I should say, I was<\/em> allergic to cats. I made some lifestyle changes years ago and have been allergy-free ever since. The good news, with some perseverance and preventative measures, most people that are allergic to cats can manage their symptoms too.<\/p>\n

Contrary to popular belief, cat hair itself is not allergenic. Cat allergies are caused by the\u00a0Fel d 1 protein emanating from sebum found in the sebaceous glands of cats. The protein attaches itself to dried skin (dander) which flakes off and floats through the air when cats wash themselves.\u00a0An allergy occurs when the body over-reacts to this substance \u00a0and produces excessive amounts of histamine which leads to the irritating symptoms associated with cat-allergies – itchy eyes, sneezing, skin rash, etc.<\/p>\n

\"There<\/a>

Your cat might not always be the cause of your allergies – often it can be plant pollen or other substances in the air that are carried\u00a0into your home that can trigger an allergy attack.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ironically, it might not always be the cat that is the root cause of the allergy. Outside cats (and humans) can bring pollen, mold, and other allergens into the house, or there may be airborne allergens in the house from dust mites, carpet dust, mold spores, or pollen and chemicals in the environment that trigger allergies. Rather than assume it\u2019s the cat, check the cat is actually the source of the allergen by\u00a0getting a skin test done by an allergist. Some sufferers are successfully treated for the symptoms with allergy shots or over the counter antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays or homeopathic remedies.<\/p>\n

If a shot or medication doesn\u2019t do the trick, here are some other tips:<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong><\/span> Remove dander from the air with strategically placed ionizers\u00a0and HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) purifying systems. These units come in a variety of sizes, prices, and styles to suit your needs, budget, and home square footage.<\/p>\n

2.<\/span><\/strong> Keep your\u00a0cat out of any bedroom where the person is allergic and do not let them sleep on the bed. Provide other comfortable sleeping areas for him\u00a0to nap and if you do allow him\u00a0to sleep on the bed (for some cat lovers, it’s impossible to say no), wash all bedding in 140-degree hot water at least twice monthly. This will eliminate both dust mites and cat allergens and there are products available, such as\u00a0DeMite,<\/a> that can be used with the laundry detergent to kill harmful particles.<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong><\/span> Keep towels and throw blankets on couches and furniture where your\u00a0cat might nap so you can wash the linens frequently, and change air\u00a0conditioning filters on a regular basis, as they also catch a large amount of cat hair.\u00a0You can also use an anti-allergen spray to\u00a0deactivate allergens. Allersearch ADS,<\/a> made from plant-based, non-toxic substances, can safely be sprayed throughout the house to take the sting out of household dust by rendering allergens harmless.<\/p>\n

\"Washing<\/a>

To keep your cat from depositing\u00a0dander on your furniture, provide her with a comfortable throw blanket to nap on that can easily be washed.<\/p><\/div>\n

4.<\/span><\/strong> Carpet\u00a0is a\u00a0magnet for allergens, so vacuum frequently with a high-grade HEPA vacuum. Use the hand tools to get into hard to reach spaces – cat allergen particles are very small and invasive so you have to do a thorough job. This includes furniture, throw rugs, drapery, walls, under furniture, and more.<\/p>\n

5.<\/strong><\/span> Hardwood and tile floors, especially in corners where cat hair tends to drift should be swept frequently. If you find your allergies are being triggered while vacuuming or sweeping, wear a protective mask to cover your nose while doing these tasks. Damp mopping these surfaces (including walls) also helps to keep dander under control. Dust frequently and use liberal amounts of spray furniture polish, as this dramatically limits allergen particles from becoming airborne.<\/p>\n

\"Replacing<\/a>

My house was once covered in wall-to-wall carpeting. After removing it and replacing it with tiles, any allergy symptoms I had due to my cats were substantially reduced.<\/p><\/div>\n

6.<\/strong><\/span> For extra cleaning, use a vapor steam cleaner. They’re an effective method\u00a0to provide a chemical-free way of cleaning and killing dust mites, bacteria, mold spores, and cat allergens.<\/p>\n

7.<\/strong><\/span> Wash your hands after petting your\u00a0cat and avoid rubbing your eyes. Rubbing your eyes can result in itchy eyes for hours and a strong anti-bacterial soap should be used. You should also avoid excessive hugging and snugging with your cat.<\/p>\n

8.<\/strong><\/span> Clean your cat. Most cats would prefer NOT<\/strong>\u00a0to be bathed and its effectiveness isn’t entirely conclusive. As an alternative,\u00a0try Allerpet,<\/a>\u00a0a veterinary recommended,\u00a0easy to use, non-toxic\u00a0liquid you apply directly to your cat’s coat to reduce allergens.<\/p>\n

9.<\/strong><\/span> Use a de-shedding tool like the FURminator<\/a> to regularly brush and groom your cat. This highly effective tool gets deep into the undercoat of the cat’s fur and significantly reduces shedding. Groom in a well-ventilated area so the dander\u00a0dissipates.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

Not only do my cats love to be groomed with the FURminator de-shedding tool, but by doing it, it greatly reduces the amount of dander in the house.<\/p><\/div>\n

10.<\/strong><\/span> Dust from cleaning litter boxes can trigger allergy attacks. Either find someone who is not allergic to do the cleaning, or use a protective nose mask to reduce the chances of allergens entering your body.<\/p>\n

One, some, or all of the above\u00a0 methods might be needed to keep your allergies under control. But with time, effort, and experimenting, chances are that you and your cat can co-exist\u00a0 peacefully together in your home and you can enjoy a long and happy relationship with your cat. Or, now that you know some tips to making your house allergen-free, you can take the\u00a0plunge and adopt that\u00a0cat you always wanted, but didn\u2019t think you could have…<\/p>\n

\"hearts\"<\/a><\/p>\n

ALL<\/strong> cats produce dander, though some cats produce less than others. No cat is allergen-free, not even hairless cats, although there are some studies that conclude Rex, Sphynx, and Siberian Cats\u00a0are less likely to cause allergies than others. If you do decide to look into one of these breeds, please consider finding a breed specific rescue organization or contact Petfinder.com<\/a>\u00a0for adoptable cats in your area.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor’s Note: This article was previously published. However, with it being allergy season, coupled with the fact so many cats are not adopted, or are brought to shelters because of cat allergies, it seemed prudent to share it again. Being immersed in the world of cat blogging and advocacy, I’ve heard just about every excuse […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16775,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1098,1096],"tags":[1188,1187,1189],"class_list":["post-16774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cat-behavior","category-general-cat-care-and-health","tag-allergy-free-home","tag-cat-allergies","tag-cat-grooming"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/allergy.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16774"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17794,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16774\/revisions\/17794"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16775"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}