Answers for Allergic Cat Lovers With Guest: Diane Morgan, author of "The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover. Original Air Date: 07-31-2009

1

Poor Kitties. It is not their fault that millions of people worldwide are allergic to them. Many people think that being allergic to cats means giving them up, suffering along, staying far away from them or banishing anyone from their lives who is allergic. Afterall, once your beloved cats are in your life, its hard to think of giving them up. So is there really anything that can make much difference if you are highly allergic to cats? Yes! Diane Morgan, author of "The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover" is my guest this week and will tell you about the treatments and strategies to use on yourself, your home and your cat that can make a huge difference.

2

Interestingly, you can be allergic to your cat and not really know it since you don't have severe symptoms while around your cat, yet you may experience continual mild symptoms that you discover go away after being away from your house for a number of days or weeks. That may be the tip off. A condition named, perennial allergic rhinitis is a common result of breathing in airborne particles of animal dander (dead skin cells). This often causes the sneezing...

3

runny nose......

4

and overall miserable feelings of being allergic.

5

Diane Morgan's book describes many treatments for cat allergy sufferers and discusses the seven breeds of cats that are least likely to cause allergy symptoms.
(Photo of Book cover from The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover. © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. Used by permission.)

6

Okay, kitty, Open wide. Show us your tongue. It is not the cat's fur itself that causes allergies, as commonly thought, but is due to a protein in their saliva, called Fel d1.

7

When your cat licks itself to clean its fur, the saliva is depoited on the fur, where it coats the dander (dead skin cells). The dander dries, floats away in the air and is breathed in by an allergic person.

8

One of the worst things an allergic person can do is sleep with their cat. A strategy you may not like at all, but will find very helpful is to keep your cat out of the bedroom.

9

A Photo of Susan Frank's cat Willie who had to stop sleeping next to her on her bed due to her allergies. Soon after he was bought a nice padded, heated cat bed. Much better than a towel on the radiator. Purrrrrr.

9

Before taking extreme measures or ending or not starting relationships due to cat allergies, look into the numerous different medicines available today and many different ways for changing things in the home that can prove to be highly effective. You may beable to keep the cat and the relationship.

10

Some research is suggesting that if you expose your child when they are very young to animals, this may reduce the chances that the child will develop allergies as they get older. Of course, caution must be used when pets are around the infant and never leave the infant and pet alone without supervision.

11

Bathing your cat two to three times a week can remove up to 84 percent of the allergins on its fur. Contrary to what this Persian cat seems to feel about it's bath, bathing a cat does not have to be a traumatic experience for the both of you. Firmly grasping the cat by the nape of its neck while washing it and having someone help you bathe the cat makes it easier.

12

There are seven existing breeds of cats that appear to have less allergy producing affects on some people. This cat is a Sphynx. They are called hairless cats. They still produce allergens but have no coat of hair for dander to cling to.
(Photo taken from The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover. © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. Used by permission.)

13

This is a Cornish Rex cat. This cat is considered virtually shed-free and leaves less allergen covered hair around your home.
(Photo taken from The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover. © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. Used by permission.)

14

This cat is a Devon Rex.
(Photo taken from The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover. © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. Used by permission.)

15

This is a Siberian Cat, the hypoallergenic cat that has semi-long fur. They appear to have little dander, shed less and have a lower amount of the protein Fel d1 in their saliva.
(Photo taken from The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover. © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. Used by permission.)

16

This is a Balinese cat. They produce much less Fel d1 (the protein in their saliva) than most other cats.
(Photo taken from The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover. © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. Used by permission.)

17

A Javanese cat. They have a single coat of fur (no underneath hairs) which means less hair and less allergens in the air.
(Photo taken from The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover. © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. Used by permission.)

18

This is an Oriental Shorthair cat.
(Photo taken from The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner: Allergy Management & Breed Selection for the Allergic Cat Lover. © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. Used by permission.)

19

By utilizing many of the treatments and tools available and having the willingness to make some changes, you and any other allergy sufferers in your life can enjoy a much better experience with the cats you love.

Diane Morgan is an assistant professor of philosophy and religion at Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. She is also an award-winning writer who has authored numerous books on canine care and nutrition (including The Living Well Guide for Senior Dogs, Sneeze-Free Dog Breeds, Good Dogkeeping and The Quick and Easy Guide to Bird Care) as well as many other breed books, horse books, and books on Eastern philosophy and religion. In her spare time, Diane is an avid gardener (and writes about that, too). She lives in Williamsport, Maryland, with her human and animal family.

To Order "The Sneeze-Free Cat Owner"

Additional Resources