Living with cats and your allergies
The majority of allergies to cats are actually an allergic reaction to the cats saliva. Technically, you are allergic to the glycoprotein Fel d 1, secreted by the cat's sebaceous glands and Fel d 4, found in saliva.
Since a cat grooms and bathes itself frequently, the saliva gets on the cats fur and dander. When a cat sheds fur and dander, this adds allergens to your environment.
To help limit the amount of allergens in your environment to cut down on any allergic reaction to your cat, you need to decrease the amount of fur and dander shed.
Tips to fighting cat allergens
Brush your cat every day to remove loose fur and dander a Furminator type tool works great for this.
Wipe down your cat daily with wipes made specifically for cats. These are available at pet supply stores or online.
Once a week, treat your cat with Allerpet C available online at many sites including Amazon. We are hoping that pet stores will start to carry it in the near future.
Feed your cat a grain free diet.
Keep your pet out of your bedroom.
Wash hands after petting the cat and/or use a hand sanitizer frequently.
In extreme cases, a good HEPA air cleaner will help draw the dander out of the air.
A vacuum with a HEPA filter will also help decrease the amount of dander in your home.
Cat wipes
There are now a number of different types of wipes made specifically for cats. Some are labeled as allergy reducing and these are probably the best to use. However, any cat bath wipe will help reduce dander.
After the daily brushing of your cat, wipe your cats body down once a day with one of these pet wipes, being careful to avoid their face.
Allerpet C
Before you apply the Allerpet C, groom your cat with a fine to medium toothed metal comb for cats, removing as much loose hair and debris as possible.
Then, wet a washcloth with Allerpet C and thoroughly run it over your cat. Try to treat all the way to the skin, first wiping against the lay of your cat's hair then with it. Please note that there is no need to drench your cat with the liquid. Once you're finished you can simply dry your cat with a towel, no rinsing required.
For cats that shed heavily, you may have to treat them more than once a week. And during drier weather when a cat may shed more, you can useAllerpet C in a spray bottle between applications by lighting spraying a fine misting of Allerpet C on your cats fur and rubbing it in. Again, be careful to keep it away from your cats eyes and mouth.
Grain Free Diet
The better quality diet you feed your cat, the less dander they will have. Further supplementing your cats diet with omega-3 fatty acids will also help. You can add omega-3 fatty acids to your cats diet giving them treats or supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids.
Please note that although grain-free kibble is slightly more expensive than the more conventional grain filled brands, you will feed your cat less of it because it is more filling. So it actually ends up costing about the same.
Links:
Coping with Allergies to Pets
Best Cats for Allergy Sufferers
How to know if you’re allergic to your pet (and not something else)
Can growing up with pets prevent allergies?
The surprising way to cut your child’s allergy risk in half
Friday the 13th special: Are black cats really bad luck for allergy sufferers?
Allergies
The majority of allergies to cats are actually an allergic reaction to the cats saliva. Technically, you are allergic to the glycoprotein Fel d 1, secreted by the cat's sebaceous glands and Fel d 4, found in saliva.
Since a cat grooms and bathes itself frequently, the saliva gets on the cats fur and dander. When a cat sheds fur and dander, this adds allergens to your environment.
To help limit the amount of allergens in your environment to cut down on any allergic reaction to your cat, you need to decrease the amount of fur and dander shed.
Tips to fighting cat allergens
Brush your cat every day to remove loose fur and dander a Furminator type tool works great for this.
Wipe down your cat daily with wipes made specifically for cats. These are available at pet supply stores or online.
Once a week, treat your cat with Allerpet C available online at many sites including Amazon. We are hoping that pet stores will start to carry it in the near future.
Feed your cat a grain free diet.
Keep your pet out of your bedroom.
Wash hands after petting the cat and/or use a hand sanitizer frequently.
In extreme cases, a good HEPA air cleaner will help draw the dander out of the air.
A vacuum with a HEPA filter will also help decrease the amount of dander in your home.
Cat wipes
There are now a number of different types of wipes made specifically for cats. Some are labeled as allergy reducing and these are probably the best to use. However, any cat bath wipe will help reduce dander.
After the daily brushing of your cat, wipe your cats body down once a day with one of these pet wipes, being careful to avoid their face.
Allerpet C
Before you apply the Allerpet C, groom your cat with a fine to medium toothed metal comb for cats, removing as much loose hair and debris as possible.
Then, wet a washcloth with Allerpet C and thoroughly run it over your cat. Try to treat all the way to the skin, first wiping against the lay of your cat's hair then with it. Please note that there is no need to drench your cat with the liquid. Once you're finished you can simply dry your cat with a towel, no rinsing required.
For cats that shed heavily, you may have to treat them more than once a week. And during drier weather when a cat may shed more, you can useAllerpet C in a spray bottle between applications by lighting spraying a fine misting of Allerpet C on your cats fur and rubbing it in. Again, be careful to keep it away from your cats eyes and mouth.
Grain Free Diet
The better quality diet you feed your cat, the less dander they will have. Further supplementing your cats diet with omega-3 fatty acids will also help. You can add omega-3 fatty acids to your cats diet giving them treats or supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids.
Please note that although grain-free kibble is slightly more expensive than the more conventional grain filled brands, you will feed your cat less of it because it is more filling. So it actually ends up costing about the same.
Links:
Coping with Allergies to Pets
Best Cats for Allergy Sufferers
How to know if you’re allergic to your pet (and not something else)
Can growing up with pets prevent allergies?
The surprising way to cut your child’s allergy risk in half
Friday the 13th special: Are black cats really bad luck for allergy sufferers?
Allergies