People with allergies and cats
You may want a cat but are concerned about any allergies you
or someone in your family may have. Perhaps you already have a
cat and have found your allergy is a problem. The good news is
that people with allergies and cats can live together!
Allergies to cats are caused by a reaction to certain
proteins found in oils secreted from her skin and in her
saliva.
Don't rely on immunity
Some people report developing an immunity to their cat i.e.
they ' grow out' of the allergy. While this is certainly true
for some, don't depend on it if you're getting a new cat. It is
possible that an allergic reaction will get worse with more
exposure.
If you are getting a new cat and have concerns about
allergies, consider a short-haired breed over a long-haired as
they release less hair into your home environment. If you are
interested in a purebred, consider a Devon or Cornish Rex.
These cats lack some of the layers of hair found on other
breeds and so may produce less reaction. The Sphinx breed is
entirely hairless and extremely affectionate. Bear in mind that
all cats groom themselves and an allergic reaction is caused by
saliva just as much as by hair.
Once you have a cat, fastidiousness is the key to dealing
with allergies. Wipe down smooth surfaces in the home regularly
and vacuum frequently. Also, regularly wash any bedding your
cat sleeps on.
Restrict access
You may want to restrict your cat's access to certain areas
of the house. The allergic person's bedroom is a definite cat
no-go zone. Rooms with hardwood floors will retain less
allergens and be easier to clean than carpet. If you have only
a few rooms in your house with carpet you probably should keep
your cat out of those.
Upholstered furniture will retain a lot of allergens so you
may choose to keep cats off of them or out of the rooms that
contain them.
The more you brush your cat, the more helpful it will be in
reducing allergic reactions because it helps prevent loose hair
from getting into the air. At least once a week is good, more
often is better still.
Be particularly careful to groom in the springtime when your
cat will be shedding her winter coat. Whenever possible,
grooming should be carried out by someone who isn't allergic to
cats and ideally outdoors.
Cleaning the litter regularly will also help because the
proteins that cause a reaction in saliva, hair and dander are
found in urine as well.
Talk to your doctor about what anti-allergic drugs you can
take to make life easier and other possible ways to manage the
problem.