How to manage allergies to your feline friend(s)

If your cat is starting to give you the sniffles, scratchy throat, itchy eyes, etc, it does not mean that Fluffy needs to get the boot. Before re-homing your cat for allergies, there are many simple things you can do that will make a big impact on alleviating your allergies. These little changes could make the difference between being able to live with Fluffy and feeling like she'll be the death of you. So before your cat is subjected to the heartbreak, stress, and whirlwind of finding a new home, try these suggestions!

Getting started:

When you become allergic to your cat, it is often because there are many other allergens in the envrionment and your cat rubbing in your face is the last straw. Which means that getting rid of the cat may not even cure your allergies. So before looking at how to manage cat allergies, it's time to look at ways of reducing all allergens in your home through some spring cleaning. You need to eliminate anything else in your house that could irritate your respiratory system, by doing a thorough dusting and cleaning to eliminate all accumulated dander, hair, dust, dirt, mold, etc.

Environment:

Wash your hands with soap after playing with the cat, and do not let the cat lick you as most allergies originate from their saliva.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to not allow the cat on your bed or in your bedroom. Your bedroom is where you spend a lot of time sleeping, and where you keep your clothes. If you sleep with your cat then you are asking to have an allergic reaction if you are already predisposed. It helps to have an allergen-free environment overnight to give your system a break, and often just not letting the cat in the bedroom can make huge difference in your overall allergies during the day.
Clean or remove all surfaces that can accumulate hair and dander. Removing carpets (if you have any laid down) will make a significant impact on the amount of allergens in your environment. If you do not have the option of removing carpets, or do not want to, then a weekly or a quick daily vacuum will help.
Curtains, duvet covers, bed sheets, couch cushion covers, blankets— anything that is fluffy and exposed to your cat should be washed often or weekly (depending on extent of allergies). Wash the cats bed and toys as well. Putting a blanket on a corner of a couch will help concerntrate the cat hair, as they will tend to stick to the blanket and not the whole couch.
Place HEPA air purifiers in each room of the house. Change the filters on the purifiers regularly, following the instructions included with the air purifiers.
Ask a family member or friend to do cat-related chores, such as vacuuming, cleaning the cat's litter box and grooming the cat.

Cat grooming and care:

If your cat is not already sterilized, sterilizing it can make a difference in your allergies, as well as causing many health benefits for the cat.
Diet and health can make an incredible impact on how much your cat is shedding. If you think your cat sheds excessively, a blood profile with your veterinarian might be a good idea. If you are feeding you cat a grocery store brand that is very high in fillers like corn, then your cat is not getting a well-balanced, nutritious diet and will have an unhealthy coat that will shed a lot more. Adding Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acid supplements to the diet will help keep their skin healthy and reduces shedding. If your cat is overweight or obese, then it has more surface area to create shedding and dander, and in some cases is not able to clean itself properly— along with the many other negative side-effects of an obese cat. With good diet and health, your cat will have a shiny healthy coat, and therefore will shed less!
Daily or weekly brushing will help control the shedding and dander. Brushing clears out the dead hair before it ends up around the living space and on your clothes. Even with short-haired cats there is always plenty of undercoat just ready to be brushed out.
Bathe your cat! If you can, weekly baths of just warm water will help remove the protein attached to the coat which creates allergic reactions.

What you can do for yourself:

There are many medications out there that are safe and effective for decreasing allergy symptoms. There are lots of non-drowsy allergy medications that you can take daily with no side-effects for most people. Talk you your doctor about medications you can take. You can also talk to you doctor about allergy shots that are also effective.

Last Resort - Responsible rehoming:

Finally, if all of the above fails, it might be best for you and your cat to go separate ways. But please do not just bring her to the nearest shelter you mapquested. Make the effort to place the cat with family members, friends, co-workers, friends of co-workers, etc. It is not easy re-homing an adult cat or kitten, but make it your responsibility; you owe your cat that much. Shelters are already overwhelmed with cats in need and euthanize at high rates, while rescues struggle to place the animals they have. Through connections, you can find your cat a home much easier than we can: an adult cat takes 6-12 months or more to place in a rescue.

Placing your feline friend responsibly:

Send out emails, and ask them to send it to their contacts, put up posters in the neighborhood and your office, post pictures on your facebook account and ask your friends to share them on their profiles, ask each of your friends or family member to ask at least one person in your favor.
Always screen potential adopters— call references, do house checks and follow ups. You want to make sure your cat won't end up in a shelter—or worse!—a few months from now. Make sure the adopter has a history of treating their animals humanely, or does not have a history of abandoning them.
If your cat is not already sterilized, sterilize it BEFORE re-homing.

Please remember that It is your responsibility to see your cat through to their new home.