| Our Persian cats bring us joy and companionship on a | | | | zone in the home, preferably a bedroom, and strictly |
| daily basis; however, being a pet owner is never | | | | prohibit the pet's access to ito Use a high-efficiency |
| easy. They also require veterinary care, sometimes | | | | HEPA air cleaner in the bedroomo Consider using |
| training, love, attention and even tolerance. Tolerance | | | | impermeable covers for the mattress and pillows |
| is especially necessary if you find yourself a Persian | | | | because allergen particles brought into the room on |
| cat owner who is allergic to the pet. | | | | clothes and other objects can accumulate in themo |
| Studies reveal that approximately 15 percent of the | | | | Use HEPA air cleaners throughout the rest of the |
| population is allergic to dogs or cats. It is estimated | | | | homeo Avoid dust-and-dander-catching furnishings |
| one-third of Americans who are allergic to cats | | | | such as cloth curtains and blinds and carpeted floorso |
| (which is about two million people) live with at least | | | | Clean frequently and thoroughly to remove dust and |
| one cat in their household anyway. | | | | dandero Wash articles such as couch covers and |
| It is clear the benefits of pet companionship | | | | pillows, curtains, and pet bedso Use a microfilter bag |
| outweigh the drawbacks of pet allergies, however, | | | | in the vacuum cleaner to effectively catch all the |
| living comfortably with a companion animal despite | | | | allergenso Bathing your pet on a weekly basis can |
| being allergic to he or she requires a good | | | | reduce the level of allergens on fur by as much as 84 |
| understanding of the allergic condition and an | | | | percent. Products that you spray on animal's fur are |
| adherence to a few rules. | | | | less effective than a weekly batho Even cats can |
| If you are person allergic to animals, you may | | | | become accustomed to being bathedo Check with |
| experience reactions to any cat or dog. Cats tend to | | | | the vet or breeder you purchase your Persian cat |
| be more allergenic than dogs for allergic people. There | | | | from to determine which shampoo is besto You can |
| are some people more sensitive to dogs than cats. | | | | follow the link in the resource box of this article to |
| Bathing and grooming a dog or cat regularly may help | | | | find other Persian cat grooming tips and types of |
| reduce allergens, just the same as washing bed linens | | | | shampoos other owners use and have used with |
| often and proper dusting may reduce allergens. | | | | successo Do not be quick to blame the family pet |
| I have had tremendous success with air cleaners in | | | | dander for allergieso Ask your allergist to specifically |
| my home. | | | | test for allergies to pet dander. Your problem may |
| The sources of irritation to pet-allergic humans | | | | not even be due to the family Persian cat or the |
| include:o Glands in the animal's skin secrete tiny | | | | dog.o Many allergy sufferers are sensitive to more |
| allergy-triggering proteins called allergens that linger in | | | | than one allergen, therefore if you are allergic to |
| the animal's fur and also float easily in the airo | | | | dust, insecticides, pollen, cigarette smoke and cat |
| Allergens are present in the animal's saliva and urine | | | | dander, you will need to reduce the overall allergen |
| and may become airborne when saliva dries on the | | | | level in your environment by concentrating on all the |
| fur | | | | causes, and not just the pet dander allergy.o |
| The severity of reaction to these allergens varies | | | | Immunotherapy can improve symptoms, but will not |
| from one person to the next and ranges from mild | | | | eliminate them |
| sniffling and sneezing to life-threatening asthma, and | | | | If you already know you have an allergy to cats, be |
| can be complicated by simultaneous allergies to other | | | | sure to consider carefully whether or not you can live |
| irritants in the environment. | | | | with the allergy before bringing home a new Persian |
| If you or a family member's allergies are miserable, | | | | kitten. |
| but not life-threatening, you can take the following | | | | Source: The Humane Society |
| steps to reduce symptoms:o Create an allergy free | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. |