One of the most common reasons people give for why they have to give up their cat is allergies.

Whether the sufferer is a baby, child or adult, we suggest that you see an allergist to obtain a firm diagnosis. Allergy testing is a simple process and the results will let you determe the specific allergens1 and the level of reactivity. Many allergy sufferers are allergic to multiple subtances. You might well find that cat dander is not one of the problems, or that it is only a minor problem.

SInce the impact of different allergens is cumulative2, eliminating a few of the causal agents may eliminate the cat allergy symtpoms.

Even if the patient is diagnosed definitively with an allergy to cat dander, he or she can most likely live comfortably with cats. The tips below are extremely effective in reducing the amount of allergens in the home. They come from Mercia Tapping, cat lover and president of allergybuyersclub.com.

• Confine your cat to one area of the house – and don’t make it your bedroom! While you may feel bad about limiting your cat’s living space, it beats surrendering it to a shelter where its fate is uncertain.
  

  Patchy
• Replace curtains and drapes with solid blinds, and replace carpeting with wood floors or tile.
• Use HEPA air purifiers in the rooms frequented by your cat. Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner. Vacuum flooring and furniture regularly.
• Use a vapor steam cleaner to kill allergens that get embedded in carpets and upholstery. Wipe down walls and other flat surfaces regularly.
• Apply Allerpet or PetalCleanse to your cat’s coat to reduce allergens .
• Wash your hands immediately after petting your cat.

In addition, discuss the possibility of hyposensitization therapy with your allergist. This treatment, which is similar in concept to a vaccination, uses injections of a serum made up of precise amounts of allergens to desensitize the patient's body to the allergens. Many people have found it effective and we recommend you try this before decidiong you need to give up your cat.