How to get rid of Cat dander, so that somebody allergic to cat's wouldn't get any allergic reactions?

The thing that is really bad with cats and cat allergies and cat smells is their hair.

There’s a product called the Furminator that you can get for cats or dogs (specific kind for each) that gently removes their undercoat (the sheaf of unattached fur that clumps under the still-growing attached fur), and prevents shedding like nothing else. Very little loose hair = No shedding = no cat oils melting all over everything = no dander either.

Other brushes do similar things, but I’ve had the best luck with the furminator. It’s hard core. Googling for it brings up images of pets with a-pets-worth-of-recently-removed-excess-hair nearby.

Duct tape. What up with all these cat questions?

Wash the cat weekly – it is the only recognised “successful” way recognised by allergy experts. Cats can get quite used to being washed in the same way that dogs can.

(But have fun the first couple of times…)

@DarkScribe: Step one: Put on full-body armor?
One of thousands of pictures and techniques

There is a product called AllerPet that you can spray onto the cat and rub the stuff into their skin. We use it on our cat and my husband can tell the difference if I haven’t done it in a while. That’s just in case you can’t manage to bathe the cat.

Another helpful thing to do which can accomplish almost as much as the bathing weekly is to take a wet or damp washcloth and rub the cat down with it—daily if possible.

The main reason that the bathing and washing help so much is because it’s not the pet hair to which one is allergic. It’s the dander on the hair. This is a protein substance which is contained in the cat’s saliva which is deposited constantly by the cat continuously grooming itself.

It then dries and flakes off every time the cat moves. Obviously this is so light it’s in the air, on furniture, drapes, rugs etc. so frequent vacuuming and an air filter helps with that part of it.

But since most of it ison the cat, wiping down or bathing the cat gets rid of a lot of it. I’m guessing that’s what the Allerpet also does.

If you are seeing an allergist, you can also ask about desensitization shots made from your own cat’s proteins.

That’s a fairly new development but it makes a lot of sense. The common thing which is done is shots based upon a generic cat (or dog) substance. To me it makes so much more sense for it to be made based upon the same cat as to which one is allergic.

But ask your own Doc to see if it’s an option in your area.

The trouble is, the cat has already left it’s dander everywhere. I need a way to clean up after it. Furniture only.

There is one more thing which may sound really obvious but I’ll mention it anyhow.

The room in which the allergic person sleeps should be totally off limits to the cat at all times. Think of how much time is spent sleeping and imagine all the dander which can accumulate on bedding. The bedroom door MUST be closed to the cat day and night.

I realize that takes a lot of the fun out of things. I can’t imagine not having my little fuzzball sleeping with me on cold winter nights. But then fortunately I’m not allergic.

And it’s better to limit contact with the cat in the bedroom than be forced to give the cat up altogether.

Imho doctors are too quick to suggest getting rid of the cat. There ate so many things which can be done to mitigate the effects of allergies nowadays. Unless in the rare case where someone’s allergies are so severe as to be life threatening on a daily basis, most people can keep their cats provided they are willing to be diligent in their preventative efforts. Just my opinion fwiw.

I was writing while you posted this so all I can suggest is to thoroughly wipe down every hard surface and then vacuum like crazy. VERY thoroughly.

I know that some brands are designed for homes with pets but can’t remember which ones.

It might be worth it to hire a cleaning company for the first time.

@Buttonstc has given some great advice. I recently found out I have a cat dander allergy, and s/he basically said everything I was told.

GA @Buttonstc

My allergies only make it come out when I get a sinus infection, it’s rare for my allergies to bug me..other than hay fever from outdoor allergies.

With the cats, we stopped letting them sleep with us, bought hypoallergenic sheets/pillowcases, and I treated the symptoms of the allergies….I would use a neti pot to clear out my sinus of the bad allergers. I also just washed my hands more, which helped.
And yes, you need to vacuum much more often than people without allergies.

@casheroo

I forgot about the good ol’ netti pot. They had a real shortage of them temporarily last year when Dr. Oz had someone demonstrate how to use one :)

But what I wanted to ask you about is how did you get yourself to use it.

I have tried numerous times but it’s just so weird that I chicken out midway thru.

How did you get past that weirdness? Or did it just come naturally for you?

I also have really bad allergies and sinus congestion but fortunately for me not to cats.

So how did you get yourself to get over the netti pot weirdness? I’m tired of having to take Sudafed all the time.

@Buttonstc Well, when I was in severe sinus pain, I will try anything and everything. I just push through the pain, because it hurts when my sinuses are irritated, and sometimes so clogged I can’t get the water through. The act of it just doesn’t bother me.
I have allergies to many things, but they only affect me maybe once a year, usually starting in May to August. I end up having to take antibiotics because without fail, it turns into an infection. But then I’m cured.
And I’m totally a Benedryl kind of gal.

1. Get rid of said cat.
2. Buy a leaf blower.
3. Start at the front end of the house, work your way to the other end, blowing everything in your path out the back door.
4. Problem solved. =)

@Buttonstc: Have you tried Nasonex? I was taking a lot of sudafed during the day, and benadryl and sudafed both at nighttime, so much that I think I developed a resistance to them, and they seemed to stop working for me. My allergist gave me Nasonex, and the first day I tried it was one of the happiest days I can remember. My allergies NEVER bother me anymore (even though I’m allergic to dust mites and mold, which are ubiquitous in my house). It’s like a miracle. I don’t even take the recommended dose, I take like ¼ or 1/5 of that.
sorry for the infomercial, I just REALLY like that stuff

@La_chica_gomela Nanosex sounds like porn for tiny medical robots.

@evelyns_pet_zebra: It’s not “nanosex”—it’s “nasonex”, (as in nasal, as in nose?) Freudian slip? ;-P

@Chica

Do you know if it is steroid based or not?

I guess I’ll ask my Doc about it but I generally hate nose sprays for a few reasons. The first is the smell. They usually add something to give it a “nicer” smell and that usually aggravated things more.

The second is that one can develop a dependence or addiction to nose sprays if used longer than a week to 10 days.

It’s scent-free! (I hate those too, ick!) And I know it’s safe for extended use because that’s exactly what my doctor told me to do (and the directions say). (I think she said to use it twice a day at first, actually.

The drug name is mometasone furoate monohydrate. I’m not sure if it’s steroid-based, but you could easily check.