How to Avoid Cat Allergies
Using Air Purifiers to Help Those Allegeric to Their Favorite Pet
To understand how an air purifier may help with cat allergies we need to understand the cause of cat allergies. Many people have cat allergies which range from mild to very strong. The only true way to avoid cat dander which triggers allergies is to stay in a plastic bubble. Cat dander is everywhere you go. People who own cats unknowingly leave cat dander at work, in stores, banks, restaurants, and any other place they visit.
Cats and Allergies
Many people think cat allergies are caused by the amount of hair a cat has, which is a wrong assumption. The length of a cat’s hair has no impact on cat allergies. Cat allergies are based on cat dander which comes from:
- Dust on the cat’s hair
- Dead skin cells on the cat’s hair
- Cat’s dried saliva on the hair
- Urine from male cats
Cat Dander and Allergies
Cat dander comes from glycoprotein found in the sebaceous glands in the cat’s hair root and in the cat’s salivary glands. It is also present in the urine of male cats. Cat dander can be found in places where cats never lived. This is because cat dander attaches to the clothing of someone who owns a cat and the cat dander rubs off their clothes wherever they go.
When cats groom themselves, the dander on their hair becomes airborne. The dried saliva on the hair releases and becomes airborne as well. Any dry urine on the hair of male cats also becomes airborne. When you dust, vacuum, or disturb areas where cats lay – more cat dander enters the air. The combination of all these actions causes cat dander to be spread around the home.
Help with Cat Allergies
For people who are have cat allergies, taking the cat out of the home will not solve the problem. Cat dander will remain in the air, on furniture, clothes, and on carpets for up to six months after the cat is removed. The only way to get rid of cat dander is to wash everything which can be washed and replace everything else. Except for washing, the rest is unreasonable. The only way to control cat allergies is to do two things:
- Bathe the cat at least two times a week
- Purchase an air purifier
Air Purifiers for Avoiding Cat Allergies
Purchasing an air filter will not work. Air filters will only remove particles as small as 0.3 microns. Cat dander is typically 0.1 microns in size. So unless the cat dander clumps together it will fly right through even the best air filtering systems.
What is needed is an air purifier which has an ionizer and Hepa air filter combined. An ionizer creates negative ions, which changes the polarity of airborne particles such as cat dander. This causes the dander particles to magnetically attract to each pther. As a result, they become large clumps and are susceptible to filtration by a Hepa filter.
The combination ionizer and Hepa filter air purifier brings cat dander under control. Anyone with cat allergies should have this type air purifier in their bedroom and main living area to help control their allergies. These actions will allow them to enjoy their cat, without suffering from allergies. For more information visit Indoor Air Quality.
