Header pretty much says it all.
2006-07-31 08:26:57 · 10 answers · asked by Wandering Farmer 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
You either get your friend to take allergy medications, or you get your friend to take allergy medications and try the following things with your cat:
If it's long haired, consider getting a lion clip on it to reduce the amonut of fur that will be flying off of it.
If it's short haired or you don't want to cut it's hair (I understand, I have 2 long haired cats), then you need to brush it everyday. Don't forget to vacuum weekly (or more often!) and get a really good de-fuzzing brush to remove hair from furniture, bedding etc.
Also, a study on kids + allergies found (by accident) that a cat that is bathed once a week for 4 weeks and then once every 4 weeks (once a month) after that will have the allergens it produces diminished by up to 80%. If you can't bath your cat, you can try using the wipe-on allergy stuff, something like this: http://www.petstreetmall.com/Cat-Allergy-Relief-Wipes/2104/1353/details.html (they have a similar product at PetSmart).
None of these are guaranteed to work. There is some studies that suggest that living with a cat will eventually desensitize a person to the allergens, but just as many studies show that it makes no difference. I would highly recommend that your friend see an allergy doctor to determine a course of medications to control the allergy, if they really want to be around the cat.
You can also try keeping a "clean" room, where the cat is not allowed to go, ever, and when your friend comes over, then they have a "safe" place to go. Unfortunately, that means that they don't get to spend any time with the cat. And if you have central heating or A/C, then it may make no difference as the dander can still get into that room.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
2006-07-31 08:38:43 · answer #1 · answered by dogmelissa 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a tough one. It will probably be impossible to eliminate all allergies, but you can reduce the symptoms a bit.
First of all, your friend should be on allergy medication. This will alleviate some of her/his symptoms.
Secondly, brush the cat. This is especially true if the cat sheds a lot. If you brush the cat every day until you're getting very little hair on the brush, it will help immensely.
The problem with allergies doesn't usually come from the cat itself, but from the fur in the air. If you can stop the cat from shedding any more than necessary by brushing it, it will help a lot. You will probably also need to clean the house very well now and then. The more often you clean it (meaning vacuuming all the rugs, sweeping the floors, vacuuming or otherwise cleaning the furniture), the less hair there will be floating around to aggrevate your friend's allergies.
My mother is allergic to cats but we have managed to keep four of them thanks to these methods. It's not perfect and she still suffers some, but it helps a lot, and our kitties are worth the stuffiness and watery eyes. ;)
2006-07-31 08:32:06 · answer #2 · answered by Sappho 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take it your friend is a roomate or frequent visitor? There are a few ways. Your friend could get allergy shots, which sometimes eliminates the problem, and there are products can reduce cat-dander issues. (Unfortunately, I don't know which ones they are). Or, if the friend isn't too severely allergic, he/she could just learn to live with it.
2006-07-31 08:35:18 · answer #3 · answered by Melanie Mue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By having the friend move out if they are living there. If the friend just visits I suggest meds + putting the cat away and vacumning before the friend visits.
2006-07-31 08:37:30 · answer #4 · answered by SoccerClipCincy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my sister has hypersensitive reactions and we've a cat as nicely. At petsmart the have a wipe which you wipe that cat with as quickly as a week to do away with the dander from the cat. The dnder is what motives the hypersensitive reactions to act up. it works too!
2016-10-01 07:40:33 · answer #5 · answered by syverson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they can't, unless you have mountains of space in your home and cleaners to clean up ALL your cat's hairs etc on a daily basis, if you dont do so yourself. it sounds like you may need to choose? yup, life's like that, i would have chosen my (human) friend ultimately, sorry but the kitty just wouldnt be able to give me valuable opinions and other such human interactions. Besides, would you be able to give kitty explanations as to why s/he needs to steer clear of your human pal for the day? your kitty will sense something is up and will become clingy, cats are very sensitive and astute (the flip side of cunning really)...oh well, i have fish, so maybe i'm just prejudiced? i hope not, i have love for all God's creatures...but i feel ultimately human pals are invaluable...GOOD LUCK! Whizzdom
2006-07-31 08:36:10 · answer #6 · answered by Wisdom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots and lots of allergy meds. I think the cat's going to lose.
2006-07-31 08:29:40 · answer #7 · answered by Mommymonster 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have your friend over for dinner. Serve up some filet of the cat! Use lots of pepper, I heard if you pepper it just right... IT TASTES LIKE CHICKEN!
2006-07-31 08:29:43 · answer #8 · answered by almondjoy_1000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
shave your cat everyday and put a clothespin on your friends nose everyday
2006-07-31 08:29:56 · answer #9 · answered by nastaany1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By keeping their distance...
2006-07-31 08:28:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋