Treatment for Symptoms of Cat Allergies

You Can Keep Your Cats!

Suddenly becoming allergic to your own cats can be a little startling. Actually, suddenly developing a whole slew of indoor and outdoor allergies can be a little startling, too, but luckily there are ways to deal.

When you found out that your own pets are a main cause of your allergy symptoms, you might have been told to get rid of them. Well, there’s good news: You can keep your cats! It just means being diligent about keeping your house cleaner than ever, which is good for the rest of your indoor allergies, anyway.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce your indoor allergy symptoms and keep your cats at home, where they belong.

1. No more cats on the bed. Actually, keep them out of your bedroom altogether. You probably spend the most time in your bedroom, so this is a relatively easy fix to help you get some relief. The only caveat: Your cats will probably meow and scratch at the door to try to get in. Don’t let them in! Giving in to this behavior, even occasionally, reinforces it. Instead, do what you can to protect the door and flooring in that area. A throw rug or a square of spare matching carpet will protect the existing rug or hardwood floor.

2. Rip up your wall-to-wall carpets and install hardwood or vinyl flooring. If you own your house, that is. If you rent and are stuck with carpet, move on to step 3.

3. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Often. Cat dander is everywhere—in the air, in your carpets and on your upholstered furniture. If you don’t have a decent vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter, now is the time to invest. Vacuum the rooms your cats frequent at least once a week—twice is better—and vacuum your upholstered furniture. Dusting each room once a week will help, too, especially if you’re allergic to dust mite allergen. Wearing a dust mask will help protect your nasal passages and sinuses from kicked up dust and dander.