Allergies are the most widespread
chronic condition in the world and 4 out of 5 people who are allergic to animals
are allergic to cats. Some research shows about a third of those that suffer
from cat allergies live with one.
Now cats are not the only animal that causes allergies. Many people can be
allergic to dogs, rabbits, hamsters, mice, gerbils, monkeys, horses and pretty
much any other animal. Some people even think they are allergic to their fish
when in reality they are allergic to the algae growing in the fish tank.
For years the doctor’s first and best solution for
cat allergies was to tell the patient to find
their furry pet a new home. Today people will make that the last thing they will
consider. After all it’s hard to get rid of a family member and our pets are
part of the family. People are looking for another solution.
First of all let me say, even if you get rid of the cat you will still have cat
allergens all over the house. Pet dander is very light and floats around
sticking to everything it comes in contact with including the walls, carpet,
furniture, drapes, blinds, light fixtures and ac systems. We have had customers
move into homes that there had not been any pets in it for at least a year and
they still had allergic reactions.
It is not uncommon for people with sever pet allergies to have a reaction when
they come in contact with someone who owns a cat or dog. The pet allergens are
on their clothes when they leave home. They transfer the pet dander to a chair
in the office, the person with allergies then sits in that same chair and before
they know what is going on they have red itchy eyes.
Keeping your cat can be done in most cases however for some people with sever
allergies this is not an option. The most important thing you need to do is
reduce and eliminate anything that collects the cat’s dander.
Remove the carpeting if at all possible. Even though it may look nice and clean
on the surface will collect the dander. Since cat allergens particles are so
small they get down into the fibers and all the way to the padding making it
impossible to vacuum them up even with the best of vacuums.
If you have to have
carpeting make sure to have it cleaned regularly and use anti allergen products
like
Allersearch XMite Carpet treatment every two to
three months.
Just like carpets and rugs, curtains and drapes hold cat allergens. Replace them
with blinds which are easier to clean. Use a damp cloth or one treated with a
dusting aide to remove the allergens. If you still want to keep your drapes at
least make sure you take them down and wash them on a regular basis.
Upholstered furniture is another thing you need to keep clean. Vacuum all sofas
and chairs weekly and use an anti allergen spray like
Allersearch ADS or ADMS spray to neutralize the
cat allergens. When you are having the carpets cleaned you should have them
clean the furniture too.
As strange as this might seem, you need to wipe down the walls a few times a
year to get the dander off. The best way I have found to do it is take a swiffer
and run it up and down the wall a few times. Unless you are moving into a place
that is new to you there is no need to pull all the pictures off the wall.
Don’t
forget to dust the tops of cabinets and the fridge. We don’t recommend spending
money on fancy electrostatic dusting rags. Instead use an old tee shirt and wash
it once you are done.
If you don’t like to use a damp rag you can always use the
Demite Eat My Dust or
Allersearch AllerDust. Both products work great.
Our cats have the run of the house but it is best if you keep the cat out of the
bedroom. If they have a habit of getting in bed with you make sure you are
washing your sheets weekly in very hot water. If they have a favorite spot they
like to sleep make sure you keep it clean
Now it’s time to talk about the cat. I don’t know about yours but there is no
way I will try to give any of our cats a bath. I value my skin too much. If you
have a cat that deals with the water ok then by all means give it a bath. If not
then we suggest using
Allerpet for Cats to help remove the dander from the cat.
The best way to apply is to brush your cat to remove the loose fur and then pet
the
Allerpet C on a wash cloth and gently rub both directions. There is no need
to soak the cat, more is not better.
Dealing with pet allergies, especially cat allergies can seem like a lot of work
but it’s worth it. Cats are easy to care for, easy to house break and above all
else offer affection unlike any other pet. In most cases you don’t want your Lab
sitting on the couch or in your lap.
