Even if you spend most of your time indoors, it’s not uncommon to develop cat allergies. You may find that you’re more sensitive to cats than other animals or just have an unusual reaction to cats in general. While this can be frustrating, there are ways to cope with your cat allergies and still live happily with a feline friend. Cat allergies are caused by a reaction to proteins found in the saliva and skin oils of cats. The proteins, called Fel d1 and Fel d2, are found in all cats but only cause a reaction in some people. These proteins also reside on the hair shafts of cats and can also be found on carpets where the cat has rubbed its fur against it repeatedly.
From personal experience and the giving of science I can tell you HEPA purifiers work wonders in the home by sucking up microns as small as 0.03 % including dander thus reducing the risk of allergic reactions to cats. Read until the end to purr-use over 4 great tips for relieving your allergies in the home.
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What is an Allergy?
Allergies are created by a reaction of your immune system to a foreign substance. When it comes into contact with the cat allergen, your immune system creates antibodies to identify that substance as a threat and in the natural process causes symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, runny noses and the awful asthma symptoms.
Don’t Let your cat Lick you
This nugget of advice probably won’t be new to allergy sufferers. It doesn’t take long to catch on that your Kitty makes things worse by licking your skin and those areas start to itch and become inflamed. The Fel D1 protein is largely found in cat saliva so despite the warm feeling of having your fur ball cover you in friendly licks, to best manage your allergies its best to purr-suade kitty to take a catnap somewhere else.
Keep Your cat Out of Your Bedroom
The first thing to do is to keep your cat out of the bedroom. The second thing is to wash your bedding regularly. And if you don’t have a budget for a HEPA air purifier, the third is to try to keep your cat off the furniture. The best thing to do is to keep your cat out of your bedroom and off the bed if you are allergic to it. This will help reduce the amount of allergens in the air. Keeping your bedding clean can help with symptoms of allergies as well. If you have your cat’s litter box in the bedroom, try changing the litter box to a different room.
Cats love to climb onto furniture and other places where you’ll be in close contact with the animal. If you have cat allergies, it’s important to choose fabrics wisely so you can avoid direct contact with the cat. Wool is a great choice because it naturally repels cats.
Stay Away from the Litter box
One of the keys to reducing your cat allergies is to stay away from the litter box. Unfortunately, the litter box is one of the worst places to be if you have allergies to cats. The litter in litter boxes is a breeding ground for the cat dander and protein you are allergic to.
Ventilate your Home
Ventilating your home can help with almost all allergy symptoms. While it’s not a cure, it can make a big difference. It’s best to open your windows when weather permits. If you have central air, it may be helpful to run the air conditioner in the summer and the heating system in the winter. If you don’t have central air, try to open windows during the day and close them at night when it’s cooler outside.
Try a HEPA air Purifier
If your allergies are really bad and you can’t get rid of the cat, the correct air purifier will help. HEP Air purifiers also useful for people with all sorts of allergies, such as allergies to pollen or dust mites. HEPA air purifiers work by sucking in particles under .0.3 microns including pet dander. Choose an air purifier with a radius for size room you’re using. Don’t be confused with an Ozone purifier which simply releases ozone to allow particles to cling to surfaces which can easily become airborne again. That’s not what you want when you’re trying to eliminate dander from your space.
Ask Your Doctor About Immunotherapy
If your allergies are especially bad, your doctor may recommend immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a way to reduce your allergies over time by building up your tolerance to allergens. It’s done by exposing you to the allergens that cause you symptoms in a controlled way. In some cases, your doctor may decide to use a skin test to see if you’re allergic to the cat. If you’re allergic to the cat but your doctor recommends immunotherapy, they may want to test your blood to see what allergen you’re particularly allergic to. This way, they can tailor the immunotherapy for you and get the best results.
Purina Cat Food
The boffins at Purina have created a genius cat food that reduces the allergens in cat food. Purina has recently developed a formula for cat food which reduces the Fel d1 protein in the cat’s saliva. A particular protein sourced from eggs is added into the ingredients for Purina Pro Plan. This protein binds the Fel d1, in turn neutralizing it. You can get a good price for Pro Plan here on Amazon (we may get a small commission for purchases).
In Conclusion – 7 Tips For Dealing With Your Allergies From Cats
Managing your cat allergies is becoming an easier task thanks to the advent of scientific progress. A HEPA air filter for your house not only cleans away 99% pollution, dust mites, viruses, and germs, the ingenious technology also sucks up dander, making it a principal weapon in the fight against cat allergies. You can buy a great HEPA machine on Amazon (we may get a small commission for purchases). Purina Pro Plan cat food is scientifically proven to reduce Fel d1 which is a trigger for allergies, making the food a great combatant of dander in your home.
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