While this may seem like a silly question, the truth is that your dog actually could be allergic to your cat. Technically speaking, male and long haired cats put out more allergens than female and short haired cats. This allergen is known as Feld1 (pronounced feldy-one). This protein is actually found in your cat’s saliva and to a lesser degree, in their anal sacs. When a cat licks himself, this saliva dries and then flakes off before floating away. Cat allergen is very lightweight and also very sticky. It can stick to walls, furniture, carpet and even curtains. It is also very potent. It will stay active in a home environment for at least 10 years.
Treating Your Dog’s Allergies To Cats
In this type of situation, your best bet for helping to alleviate some of your dog’s allergic reactions and decrease the amount of allergen in your home, your best bet would be to bathe your cat regularly. (No easy task, we know). If your cat will tolerate it, it is recommended that you try to do this at least once a month. Some pet owners have found that using handheld shower products makes the bathing process a little easier and a lot less intimidating to kitty. In addition, products like Allerpet and Danderseal are great for sealing allergens to the body.
Another option to help reduce the amount of allergen in your home is to use products such as Allersearch X-Mite. Allersearch is a powder that can be ordered online from Aller-caire and then sprinkled onto your carpet and furniture. After letting it sit for a few hours all you have to do is vacuum it up. The powder contains ingredients such as tannic acid, which make it very effective in denaturing a cat allergen down to a dog level. It should be noted that this product has been known to potentially stain white carpet and fabrics, so proceed with caution when using this product and test it on items before sprinkling it everywhere if you don’t want to ruin your white décor.
Also available on the market today are Allersearch sprays for surfaces. These should never be sprayed on cats. This cat-allergic spray can be used in areas that kitty often frequents. HEPA filters are another great option for reducing allergens in the air. They have been known for trapping a large amount of the cat allergen that floats through the air. One of the best HEPA filters that can be found for a reasonable price is the Cloud 9 Sterile Air.
In addition to trying these products and bathing your cat on a regular basis, you might also consider speaking to your veterinarian as he or she may have other additional advice or information on canine allergies and with helping your dog feel a little better living around kitty and all the allergens that come with.
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