Removing Cat Dander

Cat Allergies

Millions of people suffer from cat allergies, but the problem is greater for some people than others. The severity of an allergic reaction varies; some people get the sniffles, others go into a full blown respiratory emergency.

There's another dimension to the suffering. What if you really love cats, yet your allergies make it difficult for you to live with one? Some people make the decision to admire felines from afar, while others decide to take medication and find a way to live with their beloved fur balls.

Even if you make the choice to forego owning a cat, you're not necessarily in the clear. There's always a risk that any apartment or house you move into could have previously housed one or more cats who have left their calling card behind.

Dander 101

To put it simply, it's not cat fur that people are allergic to, but rather the dander on the fur. Cats lick themselves and leave behind deposits of saliva that dry and flake off as dander. These deposits contain a protein known as Fel-D1. Fel-D1 is also found in the sebaceous glands surrounding your cat's hair follicles, and the substance is spread along the hair shafts as your cat licks. There is even some concentration of Fel-D1 in cat urine, so the litter box can present yet another source of irritation.

Dander is incredibly light and becomes airborne with shed fur, but it also comes off on your hands and any surface your cat rubs against. It's easy to see why Fel-D1 can become so pervasive in the environment and why removing cat dander is so important for allergy sufferers.

Ways of Removing Cat Dander

There are many ways of removing cat dander from your environment and protecting yourself from a reaction. Choose as many methods as are practical for your circumstances.

Personal Tips

• Make sure you take your allergy medication.
• Wash your hands and face after petting your cat or touching his belongings.
• If you hold your cat, be sure to wear an extra shirt you can remove and launder immediately afterward.
• Keep your bedroom door shut and don't allow your cat to sleep in your bed.

Pet Grooming Tips

Perhaps you're one of the brave souls who attempt to live with your allergies rather than give up your cat. If so, there are a few things you can do grooming-wise to cut down on the dander and lighten the workload for your allergy medication.

• Bathe your cat once a week. You don't have to handle the task yourself. You can always hire a groomer, but make sure he/she understands that it's essential to thoroughly wash your cat's face and ears along with the rest of his body.

• Use hypo-allergenic pet wipes between baths. These wipes neutralize the allergen contained in the dander.

• Use a vacuum hose on your cat's fur. Some cats like this, some cats don't. If yours does, you can remove a lot of loose fur and dander before it makes its way into the atmosphere.

Household Tips

These tips can be helpful to anyone who currently lives with a cat as well as someone who has moved into a dwelling where cats used to reside. Obviously, the more of these recommendations you practice, the greater the reduction of allergens in your home.

• Wash your walls and ceiling with hot soapy water. Paint if necessary.

• Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and vacuum everything. This is especially important in crevices where dander becomes trapped, such as around baseboards, windowsills, draperies and even lamp shades. Don't forget to vacuum your cat's bedding and play area.

• Replace or completely remove carpeting whenever practical.

• Operate an air cleaner with a HEPA filter in your bedroom and main living areas.

• Steam clean carpets and upholstery periodically.

• Consider owning furniture covered in leather or vinyl instead of woven fabrics. They trap far less dander and are easier to clean.

• Use an anti-mite product such as X-Mite to remove mites and dander from upholstery and carpets.

• Use anti-mite covers on your bed.

• Have your furnace and ductwork professionally cleaned twice a year.

• Change your furnace filters every three months or more

• Add a layer of cheese cloth over the furnace vent in your bedroom to provide additional filtering of dander from your furnace. Launder the cloth at least once a month, depending on the severity of your allergy.

• Choose a dust-free cat litter over clay litter..

• Wear gloves and a facial mask when cleaning the litter box, and handle the task outside whenever possible.

Conclusion

Removing your cat's dander from your environment is a constant battle that can't ever truly be won. However, if you are diligent in following many of the tips provided above, you may be able to create a livable situation for yourself, as well as any feline you attempt to share your life with..