Dealing with Cat Allergies

Introduction

Allergies are high on the list of reasons why people give up their cats, yet there are those who decide to keep their cats and try to manage the symptoms rather than part with a beloved pet.  With the scarcity of good homes and the number of cats euthanized in shelters every year, it is a good idea to at least try to work out your cat allergies rather than part ways with your cat once they are discovered.  After all, when you adopt an animal you are making a life-long commitment to it.  Before you do something that may end up costing your cat her life, please try the below suggestions.

An allergy to a cat is really an allergy to its saliva, or the dust from its coat.  Therefore one of the best ways to keep yourself from experiencing allergy symptoms is to keep your cat's coat clean!  It is important that you see an allergist and be tested to make sure that your allergy is actually to your cat and not to something else in the environment.  Honestly, unless your symptoms are life-threatening there is no need to get rid of your pet.

What can i do?

1.  Go to a doctor and seek allergy treatment.  Sometimes a simple pill or shot will make the difference between suffering with allergies and feeling fine.  You can also try an over the counter treatment such as Claritin.

2.  Keep your home clean.  Maintaining a dust and dirt-free environment is key to allergy maintenance in the home.  Try to use hypoallergenic cleaning products.

3. Wash your hands after touching your cat.

4. Wash your bedding, curtains, cushion covers, et cetera, on a regular basis.

5. Brush your cat regularly and discard the hair immediately.  Wipe down your cat once a week or so, or give him a bath if he will tolerate it.  You can get bathing wipes from a pet store or just use a damp cloth.  This will help remove a lot of the dander that could get into your air.

6. Use an air filter.  Removing the allergens from the air will make an enormous difference.  

7. Try a product such as AllerPet to keep dander to a minimum.

8. Give it time.  Often people will develop a resistance to their pets.

Links

National Allergy (Allergy relief products)

Auckland Allergy Clinic - Cat Allergy

Allergic?  You can have a pet!

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