In my last post, I discussed the triggers of allergies in pets, as well as some of the options you have to help reduce your reactions to them. Remember, the total allergen exposure level is what matters, this is cumulative and so with more pet's in the house, or with longer periods of build up, allergies can trigger if the allergen levels exceed an individuals threshold.
Many people sneeze in reaction, and this is probably because of the allergic reactions to dust, grasses, pollen, smoke feathers, air pollutants, perfumes or even foods.
Here are some things you can do to help reduce these allergens in your home :
Wash your hands after touching any animal, and make sure you avoid touching your face --particularly your eyes and nose-- before your hands are clean.
Groom your cat frequently to remove excessive hair from building up around the house. The last step which a lot of people who do groom their cat's forget, is wiping the cat with a damp towel after grooming.
Give your cat a little a rinse once a week, either with distilled water, or some of the sprays designed to reduce dander and shedding.
Purchase a good air purifier with a HEPA filter. It is said, that if you can breathe about 8 hours or more of good quality air per day, you can tolerate more exposure to allergens during the day. Put one in your room and don't let the cat's in!
