14 Tips to manage allergies to cats. Many, many people are allergic to cats, yet have or want a cat. I am (or was, really) terribly allergic to cats. Yet we were chosen by a stray. That cascaded into rescue, and 13 years later, we have 9 cats living inside with us. I do not exclude them from my bedroom. Over time, I have become less allergic to them. But these are the steps I took to mitigate the problem, and manage eyes, breathing, and rashes. ;) 1) HEPA filters, more than recommended for your space. 2) Minimize textiles in your home. Hard surfaces trap less dander. 3) Open windows (that are cat-proofed!) as often as possible to allow fresh air to circulate through your home. 4) Use throw-blankets on fabric-covered furniture. Wash weekly. These quickly fold up and can be stored in a closet when you have company. The added benefit is that your furniture will always be cat-hair free. :) 5) Consider making your bedroom a cat-free zone. If you dont close the bedroom to your kitty, cover the bed and pillows with a sheet. This will prevent accumulation of excess cat hair during the day. 6) Hardly needs to be said, but vacuum regularly 7) Wipe down all hard surfaces regularly. Consider wearing a mask when you do this. 8) Wash your hands after petting kitty. It may help to keep hand wipes around the house, this makes it easier than a special trip to a sink every time. 9) Brush kitty with a curry comb or zoom groom type thing daily. Then wipe kitty down with a damp cloth or paper towels. This will minimize the spread of dander. Consider wearing a mask while doing this. 10) Do NOT wash your cat (unless it is necessary because of something they got into). When you wash your cat, even with a waterless wash, you displace their scent. This only encourages them to groom themselves, spreading the saliva that creates the dander all over themselves again. 11) Keep visine handy for itchy eyes. 12) I also have asthma. So I make sure the inhaler is handy. 13) I use ceterizine-D (Zyrtec-D) for stuffy sinuses. 14) If you get rashes, consider a steroid cream or calamine lotion. My allergies were so severe I needed a prescription steroid cream.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Jun 2014 22:35:47 +0000
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