| Cat Allergies |
From "Pet Care"
episode PCW-104 |
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Amanda J. Luke, the editor of Cat Fancy Magazine, has a few suggestions that may help lessen allergic reactions to the family cat. If you are one of the 3 million Americans who are allergic to cats, or if you are actually thinking of giving your cat up for adoption, perhaps you should try some of these tips. They may provide some relief -- relief in this sense meaning your symptoms will abate enough that you can actually live with the cat without serious discomfort. First off, you should know that it isn't the hair or dander that you are allergic to: actually, the saliva that your cat deposits on her fur (more specifically, a protein in that saliva called aminoglobulin IGA) is the real culprit. In many of the tips that follow, you are asked to brush or wipe down your cat. Please remember to wash your hands thoroughly afterward and do not touch your face or your eyes unless you have washed your hands. Bathing Your Cat Bathing the family cat once a week seems to work for some allergy sufferers. Materials: Brush
Towel
Mild shampoo
Pitchers of warm water
- Place a towel in the sink (an elevated sink works best for this task) for your cat to claw so that she doesn't slip on the slick porcelain and start to panic.
- Before you wet her fur, use a brush designed for cats to gently remove any mats that have formed. Otherwise, when they become wet they will tighten and be very painful.
- Lather with a mild shampoo (an oatmeal shampoo works best, but if you're in doubt about a brand, ask your vet).
- Rinse thoroughly with the containers of warm water. (It's important to have the water already drawn, as the sound of water running can terrify a cat, and you don't want to make this process any more frightening than necessary.)
If you prefer a less traumatic (for both of you) solution, commercial pet wipes are available, or you can rub your cat's fur every day with distilled water on a sponge. Here are a couple more helpful suggestions: - Change your furnace filter on time (or better yet, ahead of schedule)
- Invest in a good HEPA filter (many sizes are available)
- Remove carpet, draperies, etc., if possible, to cut down on places where allergens can hide.
- Don't let your cat sleep in the bedroom with you. Eight hours is too long for you to be bombarded by allergens.
Finally, if you have asthmatic reactions to cats, you really can't keep them as pets -- it's too dangerous to your health. Guest: Amanda Luke
Editor, Cat Fancy Magazine
Web site: www.animalnetwork.com Web site resources for Cat Allergies: Allergies to Cats at catcaresociety.org Pet Assergies at petallergy.com Household Tips for Pet Owners With Allergies at ivillage.com
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