I have two indoor cats and they leave hair all over the house. My 2 year old son is allergic to the hair. I don't really want to give the cats away if possible, so are there any ways of reducing the amount of hair they shed? And no, I don't think shaving them bald is an option!! Would getting them to go outdoors improve the situation, would they moult less?
2006-09-29 06:08:35 · 37 answers · asked by thelasttimeilookediwasdoingok 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Your son is probably allergic to cat dander. These are microscopic particles of protein that comes off cat fur and float about in the air.
You can try regular grooming of the cats (get a good fine wire brush the type similar to horse brushes but smaller) or you can bath the cats with anti-allergy shampoo which might help (but can be a traumatic experience for you and the cats).
You can also try air filtration units that can easily filter these particles - perhaps put one in your sons bedroom.
Good luck
2006-09-29 06:16:33 · answer #1 · answered by Henry 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, putting them outside won't reduce their shedding although some of hair might be shed out there.
People are allergic to the dander (a protein secreted through the skin) and not the hair of the cat.
Diet is a really important part of the shedding issue. Cats that have raw meat diets do not shed excessively and I have read comments from people that the raw diet significantly reduced human allergic reactions.
2006-09-29 06:17:54 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uhmm... assuming that your cats mean more to you than your sons health, the only thing you can realy do is vaccum everyday. I have a dust buster and that helps a ton for us, we have 4 shed monsters. Arm&Hammer makes an Allergen Reducer/Pet Hair Pick up powder to sprinkle on the carpet- it lifts the hair and allergens up so the vac can pick it up easier. I have a daughter with Asthma, and she's not allergic to cats, and cats aren't a trigger for her- and we are lucky with that-however I do use the carpet pick up, and whatever else u can think of. In all honestly.. find the cats a home where they won't be looked upon as a nusiance.
2006-09-29 06:26:55 · answer #3 · answered by dreamkillerkitten 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a long haired cat, so I understand your problem. First it helps if you brush the cats regularly. A great product to use is the Furminator http://www.furminator.com/ I know a lot of people who have had great results with it. Also, check around to see if anyone in your area grooms cats. Some places have special treatments that can help reduce the amount of dander your cats produce. (Most people are actually allergic to the cat dander, not the actual hair).
Secondly you need to clean your house regularly. A really good vacuum with a hepa filter will help. Make sure you vacuum every where that your kitties hang out. (sofas, chairs. . .) Also the "swiffer" works really well picking up animal hair on hard surfaces.
Letting them outside will not fix the problem. It just exposes the kitties to more dangers. And it could indirectly cause them to groom themselves more, creating more dander.
Good luck, I hope you can resolve this without having to get rid of your kitties!
2006-09-29 06:24:47 · answer #4 · answered by Steph 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am also allergic to animal hair and used to have troubles .
however if you are happy to be close to the cat i would suggest a thorough brush every night to remove any loose hair.
you could go for a chemical solution but this way you will visibly reduce the problem without the obvious distress to the cat which occurs when any expensive anti allergies solution is applied
I hope you find this help full.
2006-09-29 06:49:15 · answer #5 · answered by chris p 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! Letting them go outdoors will not improve the situation, they'll bring germs back home and might worsen the allergy.
I think an air purifier would help, I read from a book that says it's the skin shedding(skin renewal) that's causing the allergies, not the fur.
2006-09-29 06:16:47 · answer #6 · answered by click 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 2 indoor cats, I vacuum my house almost everyday especially the places where the cats like to hang out. Its a pain when you see hair all over the carpet.
2006-09-29 06:16:06 · answer #7 · answered by Sky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a brother who lives in California, He and his wife have 2 cats and because the climate is very samey ie no visible difference in the temperature/change of season type thing their cats moult a lot less. So keeping your cats in and keeping the termperature even might help. I'm not to certain - hope it helps
2006-09-29 08:54:05 · answer #8 · answered by kimbridge 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your cats do not go out, then don't introduce that now. Brush your cats every day and get your son something for the allergy. I have 3 cats. I comb them as much as I think of it and sweep my floors every day. People with allergies come in here and never even think I have cats. Carpets are bad for animals as well as people with animals. Hard wood floors are best for animal people. Dander stays deeply embedded in carpets and it's hard to get it out so no matter how much hair you get rid of, the dander has settled into your living space anyway.
2006-09-29 07:46:15 · answer #9 · answered by Cinderella 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use Science Diet Sensitive Coat formula. I have cats with beautiful low shedding coats and less dander. The dander is what causes allergies, not the fur. I think it's worth a try.
Also use high quality furnace filters and a seperate air cleaner. We switched to leather furnature because fabric collects dust.
Letting them go outside may cause them to track in new allergans on their coats and paws.
2006-09-29 06:16:14 · answer #10 · answered by Hetty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋