Cat Allergy Remedies

Being allergic to your pet cat is too awful. And getting rid of a pet, often felt to be a treasured member of the family,  is usually not an option, so what can we do?

First of all, get an allergy test from your Doctor or Allergy Specialist if at all possible. Just imagine how you would feel if you got rid of a much loved pet and then found out that you had a food allergy all the time!

Cat allergy symptoms include

•    Breathing difficulties soon after stroking or even being near kitty
•    Runny or congested nose
•    Sneezing or coughing
•    Itchy or red eyes
•    Hives or a rash on the face or perhaps the chest
•    Redness and irritation on the skin where the cat has licked you

But you’ll notice that these symptoms are general allergy symptoms and could be from Dust mite allergy or even a food allergy

If the Allergy is proven to be an Allergy from a cat it will be a “feline protein” that is triggering your immune system into overdrive. Mostly this will be from the cat’s natural behaviour of licking you or other parts of it’s environment or perhaps from it’s dander – tiny flakes of dead skin from your pet. This is similar to dandruff from us and not a problem in itself. Unless you are hypersensitive to it of course!

Obvious Remedies include controlling where your cat goes in your home. If you really do have a Cat Allergy and you have a pet cat it is essential to keep your cat out of the bed room – not just at night but during the day too. A little firmness and explanation may be needed to reconcile children with this. A strict routine of vacuuming and washing carpets and floors helps to keep level of cat dander and saliva down to acceptable levels. All this extra work for a cat? Yup their lovable creatures so just smile and do the work eh?

Also you may be able to get an Anti Allergy solution from a vet so that you can wipe your cat and remove some of the “feline protein” that triggers the allergic symptoms. I have not tried this in spite of my breathing problems due to cats but I found Allerpet Solution which can be sprayed, combed or wiped on your cat. You may want to check this out because it looks like a very easy way to sort out your allergy (if it works!)

Lastly – the obvious point of washing your hands after touching your cat! This might be a nuisance but if it helps to reduce your allergy symptoms, then I guess it’s worth it.

I have not recommended expensive equipment such as a HEPA filter. I think it’s important to try simpler more cost effective ways forward first.

A HEPA vacuum cleaner may well be worth getting if your vacuum needs replacing anyway, because a standard vacuum cleaner blows a lot of dust causing particles up into the air.

Years ago I used to vacuum the carpets wearing a simple face mask and then go for a walk outside to let the dust particles in the house time to settle down. It seemed to be helpful but in the long term my own allergy symptoms were best treated with nutrition and especially Vitamin C and Quercetin.

Each person is different and has to work out a way forward that best suits them. If you can find a sympathetic health professional you could find even longstanding allergy symptoms vanishing fast.

Please leave a comment below and share your own experience of feline and even other pet allergies.