5 Ways to Help Friends with Cat Allergies

Do you want to host guests but worry about cat allergy sufferers? Today, we share our top five tips to help keep both your cat and your guests happy and healthy.

1. Clean your home right down to the nooks and crannies.

Allergies are triggered by a protein called Fel d 1 found in a cat’s saliva. It attaches to the skin during self-grooming. When your cat sheds, the protein falls off with it. To get your house allergen-free, you need to clean up more than cat hair; you need to reach those near-microscopic flakes of pet dander.

About four days before your company arrives, scrub your home meticulously. Wash the linens in hot water, mop the hard floors, use plenty of furniture polish on the wood surfaces, and vacuum the rugs using HEPA filters. Pet allergens especially like to hide in carpet, so if steam cleaning is an option, make sure to take it.

Before the party begins, you may also wish to wipe down your cat’s fur with a specially-designed wipe to remove lose hair and dander.

2. For overnight guests, declare the spare room a cat-free zone.

Several days before your friend arrives, block the cat’s access to your spare bedroom. Make sure to wash the guest bedding in hot water, wipe down the hard surfaces, and even cover the bedroom furniture with sheets.

An excellent idea is to plug in HEPA air filters in the spare bedroom at least two days before you entertain. Let these amazing air filters work their magic, leaving the room near-allergen free.

3. Keep the litterbox fresh.

Did you know some people’s “cat allergies” are actually reactions to cat litter dust and not to the dander of the cat itself? It’s especially important to keep the litterbox clean and fresh while allergy-prone guests are visiting. Modkat recommends a clumping, non-clay, natural litter. It is eco-friendly, safe for your cat, and works best with our reusable litter liners.

Make sure to clean the box itself and not just replace the litter. We suggest wiping down the box with a natural enzyme cleaner.  Modkat’s track-free litterbox design can also help minimize litterbox allergy triggers.

4. Keep allergy medicine on hand.

Make sure over-the-counter antihistamines are within easy reach of visiting allergy sufferers. Ask your guests for the name of their preferred anti-allergy drug. Loratidine, a non-drowsy antihistamine, is a popular option to help ward off the sniffles and sneezes. Benadryl® can be effective, too. Keep two or three medication options handy so your guests can be free to enjoy their visit and the cat doesn’t have to be isolated.

 5. Think you can't have a cat due to allergy concerns? Consider a hypoallergenic breed.

While no cat is 100% hypoallergenic, several breeds contain substantially less Fel d 1 protein in their saliva.

Balinese, Oriental Shorthair, and Javanese breeds, for example, are low-allergen cats similar to the popular Siamese. The Devon Rex and the Cornish Rex are low-volume shedders and the Sphynx is hairless, meaning all three breeds reduce human exposure to pet hair.

Curiously, though, the long-haired Siberian cat is among the most popular of the hypoallergenic breeds. It has no effect on 75% of cat allergy sufferers.

For any breed, a light-colored female cat will produce fewer allergens than a dark-colored intact male.

Follow these simple tricks and tips to help ensure your guests enjoy sniffle- and- sneeze-free get-togethers in your home. Happy guests mean your cat never has to feel unwelcome either.

“It looks nicer than any other hooded or open option we considered.”

Browse Award Winning Litter Boxes