How to Eliminate Cat Allergies
Contrary to popular belief, cats themselves do not cause allergies. Cat dander is the culprit. When cats lick themselves they leave saliva. Once it dries, it flakes off as dander, which contains the protein Fel-D1 in the sebaceous glands around the cat's hair follicles. Because dander is light, it becomes airborne when the cat sheds fur. Fel-D1 is also in cat urine, which makes the litter box another problem. Cat allergy suffers can limit exposure to the dander and create a more comfortable living environment.
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Things You'll Need
- Air filter
- Hypo-allergenic pet wipes
- Vacuum cleaner
- Anti-mite product
- Dust-free cat litter
- Gloves
- Facial mask
Instructions
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Vacuum all around the house. Vacuum any place where you see fur or where the cat regularly goes. Also, look and vacuum in crevices where dander can become trapped, such as lamp shades and windowsills.
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Install an air filter in the main living room and bedroom to remove cat dander in the air.
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Use an anti-mite product, to remove mites and dander from carpets.
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Clean the cat. Wash it often, but have another person dry and groom the animal. Use a vacuum hose on the cat's fur to suck up the dander if it is not too uncomfortable to the cat. Some cats like the sensation.
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Wash the ceiling and walls with soapy, hot water.
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Find out what kind of litter the cat has. It needs dust-free litter to help prevent the spread of the dander.
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Clean the litter using gloves and a mask to minimize exposure to cat dander. Do this outside if possible.
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Clean the cat with hypo-allergenic cat wipes. It will help remove some of the allergens from the cat's body.
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Tips & Warnings
A doctor can prescribe medication to help your body deal with the symptoms of cat allergies. Nasal sprays or drops, antihistamines, eye drops, bronchodilators, and anti-inflammatories are the most common medications given to treat the symptoms of the allergy.
Open a window to help improve air flow in the house so the dander won't be so contained.
There are a few complications with living with cat allergies. Ear infections, insomnia, increased risk of other illnesses of the airway and severe asthma attacks are possible.
References
- Photo Credit cat face image by Viktor Korpan from Fotolia.com
