Living With Cat Allergies
First, make an appointment with an allergist to make sure you’re dealing with a cat allergy. Some blame hay fever or a reaction to mold on the cat. The only way to know for sure is to be tested by an allergist.
Once it’s confirmed, there are some steps you can take to minimize the symptoms:
- Bathe your cat once a week. If your cat is upset by bathing in water, try one of the over-the-counter cat-allergen-reducing dry shampoo products that are toweled on the cat and then brushed out.
- Vacuum daily with a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
- Install an air cleaner onto your HVAC system.
- Use HEPA filters for your HVAC system.
The goal with the above is to minimize the amount of dander you’ll come in contact with, which will help to reduce your symptoms.
Additionally, you can alleviate the symptoms, such as congestion, itchy eyes, and sneezing, with medication.
How To Live With Pets Youre Allergic To
So what can you do to help yourself if youre living with pets youre allergic to? One way is to maintain certain physical boundaries, preventing those pets from going in certain parts of your home and keeping as much of their allergenic proteins away from you.
Ideally, you dont allow them into your bedroom and, especially, on to your bed, Dr. Hong says. This is, after all, where you sleep and allergic reactions would certainly play havoc with your ability to get good rest. Additionally, dogs and outdoor cats can bring in pollen from outdoors on their fur.;
You should also keep them in areas of your home where the floors are hard surfaces, like linoleum or hardwood, so that its easier to clean up after them. The same goes for furniture, Dr. Hong adds, saying, Its better to have them in areas with furniture that you can wipe down as opposed to upholstery.
Home Remedies For Fleas On Cats
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Fleas can be a natural part of life with a pet. Fortunately, between over-the-counter sprays, powders, and flea collars, there are endless solutions to help eradicate a flea problem in your home. However, while commercial flea medications and treatments can certainly help tame a flea problem in your cat, there are also an array of do-it-yourself approaches that cat owners can take to banish the bugs without the use of chemicals or potential side effects to your cat or other members of your family. If youve already had a consultation with your veterinarian regarding your feline flea problem, here are some at-home remedies you can try that may help get rid of your cats flea problem for good.
Before trying any of these at-home remedies on your cat, consult your veterinarian, who will know best which route you should take.
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Can You See Pet Dander
No, you cant see pet dander because these airborne particles are extremely small and cant be seen with the naked eye. Pet dander particles are microscopic, measuring around 2.5 microns in diameter. Thats why smaller than the human eyes 40-micron detection range.;
Just because you cant see cat dander or dog dander doesnt mean its not floating in your seemingly clean indoor air.
How Do Allergy Shots Work

Allergy shots, or allergy immunotherapy, is basically like a vaccine. A vaccine contains a small dose of virus and exposes to your body so that your body gets used to it. Similarly, allergy shots contain a small dose of the thing youre allergic to so that your body doesnt freak out and starts to consider it a friend, not a foe, upon exposure.
The difference between a regular vaccine and allergy shots is that you have to gradually increase the dose of the allergy shots for your body to start building immunity around it. This is so that when youre constantly exposed to it in high doses like at home around your cats if you have cat allergies, your body doesnt react to the cat dander.
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Ways To Get Rid Of Dog Allergies Forever
Owning a pet comes with plenty of perks from companionship to stress relief, unconditional love, and many other bonuses.
In most cases pet owners consider their pets as part of their family.
But what do you do when one of your family members is always making you sick?
We`re referring to the allergy-causing pet dander which can cause unpleasant and uncomfortable health complications like sinus pain, itchy eyes, a runny nose, or even skin reactions.
Have you ever thought you could outgrow your dog allergy?
While you may not exactly become immune to dander, well discuss some simple ways you can get rid of dog allergy symptoms.
Our website is reader-supported. We research all reviewed products carefully to give you the best choices possible, and if you buy via links on our site we may earn a small commission.
Please note that this advice is for informational purposes, and is NOT professional medical advice. If you suffer strong or severe allergy symptoms, we strongly encourage you to see a qualified medical specialist about your condition.
How To Manage Pet Allergy Medications
Over-the-counter drugs are also one way to help you deal with your pet allergies and they can be pretty effective. Nasal steroids are typically the number one treatment for allergies and those help with nasal congestion, dripping and draining, Dr. Hong says.
Other options include antihistamines, like Benadryl, which are good for alleviating itching and sneezing. And allergy shots are another helpful option but Dr. Hong notes that theyre not effective for everyone. Those shots mostly help those allergic to cats and dogs but you may see less success with dogs.
Depending on the pet and the person, more serious allergies could develop, leading to increasing sinus infections. It can also cause asthma to flare up for some and even cause more upper respiratory infections.;
While medications can help with many of these symptoms, Dr. Hong says, the downside to relying on those medications should be top-of-mind, especially since some can result in drowsiness. For kids, those medications can keep them from being able to focus on schoolwork. The same goes for adults, who may be at work but also not able to focus.
And Dr. Hong also advises us to remember that while drugs may help us feel better around animals were allergic to, those medications arent cures. Rather, she says, they simply mask our symptoms.;
Also Check: Can Cats Be Allergic To Dogs
How Many Allergy Shots Do You Need To Get
Typically, youd get small doses of the allergen, with gradually increasing doses every 2 to 4 weeks for 12 months. Then once your body is well-equipped to take on the cat dander without reaction, you will get a dose of the allergy shot ever 3 to 5 years thereafter to do a similar treatment all over again.
As you can see, its quite a commitment. When the doses start increasing, you need to get several shots at one visit. So if you hate needles, this definitely aint for you. You might be looking at around 100 shots in total throughout your immunotherapy journey. Most people purportedly stop going because its so time-consuming.
Use A Dust Mite Spray
Aside from having allergic reactions to pet allergens, quite often people have reactions to the microscopic creatures that feed on those allergens such as dust mites.
Reducing dander around your home will help reduce dust mite numbers, since they will have less food, however you can reduce the occurrence of dust mites further with special sprays.
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Make Sure To Brush Your Pet Regularly
Most pet stores carry pretty much every pet grooming supply you need. Brushing a pet helps spread healthy oils on their fur and skin to the rest of the body. As a result, your pets skin and hair stay healthy, and that often means reduced shedding.;
Its a bad idea to brush your dog inside your home. All the dead skin and hair would end up on the floor only to get kicked into the air later.;;
Whats the best brush for grooming a shedding dog to reduce pet dander?; According to Pets.WebMD, its crucial to match the brushing tool to your pets coat type. Bristle brushes are the all-rounder choice for all coat types. For short-haired pups, use a brush with stiffer bristles and a long-bristle brush if theyre long-haired. As for pets with a curly or wooly coat, use a wire-pin brush. And if you own a short-haired dog who loves massages, go for a rubber comb.
This video teaches how to brush a dogs coat correctly.
Can you brush a cats fur? Yes, you can even though cats are naturally great groomers. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, brushing a cats coat removes dirt, grease, dead hair, and skin flakes the skin. Whats more, cat coat brushing promotes blood circulation while improving the health of the skin over the long term.;;
How To Get Rid Of Allergies: 7 Helpful Remedies

Allergies are caused by the immune system overreacting to harmless substances in the world around us. Common allergens include pollen, animal dander, dust mites, and certain foods. Several strategies can reduce allergy symptoms, including medications, natural remedies, and lifestyle changes. For most people, allergies can be managed, but not cured.
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Can You Really Live Without Your Furry Friend
Contents
As a pet lover, you cant imagine living petless. Theres that special bond thats developed between you and your cat or pooch over the years.; Its a real emotional connection.
I cherish the emotional support my pup gives me. And their loves always been genuine and unconditional. Id even say I get a bit of stress relief when my pet plays with me after a hard day at my job.;
Sadly, most doctors advice is to give Milo away if youre allergic to pet dander. Living petless is the best way to get rid of animal dander in your house, they said.;
But do you really want to see your boy dog go awayforever?;
Fortunately for you, below is a list of dander elimination tips, and giving Cooper away isnt one of them. But wait
How To Repel Stray Cats With Water
Another thing that most cats dislike is water. If youre looking for one of the best ways for keeping stray cats away from your porch, then squirt them with a little bit of water. Keep a full spray bottle nearby so you can do it yourself, or set up a motion-sensor sprinkler to do the job for you.
This is such an effective method of how to repel stray cats that there are animal-specific sprinklers you can purchase. These devices sense the presence of the critters and spray right at the unwanted visitors.
As a bonus, it can be quite entertaining to sit on the porch and watch the cats approach. You get to see how fast they run away when they hit the area covered by the sprinkler.
Also Check: How To Tell Kitten Sex
Know And Avoid Your Triggers
It is absolutely simple but the question is how you can find out the triggers of your allergy. Some people even dont know what contributes to their irritating condition. It is until you recognize the causes that you are ready to remove it.
All the above home remedies for allergies are some useful tips to help your deal with some types of allergies. It is recommended that you should know some which are available for you to do at home in case the worst scenario may happen. And one more thing to keep in mind is that if you realize that you cannot control it anymore, it is time to see your doctor without hesitation.
How Often Do You Get Allergy Shots
At first, youâll go to your doctor once or twice a week for several months. Youâll get the shot in your upper arm. It’ll contain a tiny amount of the thing youâre allergic to — pollen, pet dander, mold, dust mites, or bee venom, for example.
The dose will go up gradually until you get to whatâs called a maintenance dose. After that, youâll usually get a shot every 2-4 weeks for 4-5 months. Then your doctor will gradually increase the time between shots until youâre getting them about once a month for 3-5 years. During that time, your allergy symptoms will get better and may even go away.
If your symptoms donât improve after a year of shots, talk with your doctor about other treatment options.
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How To Get Rid Of Cat Allergies Naturally:
Medical researchers found that stinging nettle was effective at treating allergy symptoms in patients involved in a study. Used for centuries to treat allergies as well as arthritis and muscle pain, stinging nettle just might be the ticket for you to better enjoy your furry friends.
Hypoallergenic Cleaning Supplies And Fabrics
A wide variety of hypoallergenic products are available, eliminating allergens on surfaces without irritating you while cleaning. These include anti-allergen sprays, unscented cleaners and detergents, and dust-trapping cloths . If youre sensitive to fragrances, look for products marked hypo-allergenic, unscented, or free and clear.;
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Can Pet Allergies Go Away
Allergic reactions can change over time, even disappearing in some cases. Most people with allergies first develop them as children or infants. But as they age, some individuals seem to leave their hay fever, pet allergies or even food allergies behind. And even when they dont disappear, allergies vary significantly.