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Do you suffer wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes and itchy eyes and arms around your cat? For me, these allergy symptoms are a small price to pay for the company of my cats – although some mornings when I wake with a heavy head and red eyes I wonder! Cat allergies are not caused by cat hair as most of us assume. They are caused by a protein found in cat saliva, urine and skin cells, or dander. The immune systems of people with allergies mistake this harmless protein for a dangerous invader like a virus or bacteria and mount a full scale attack on it. Here are some tips for minimising our allergy symptoms without giving up our cats. Made your bedroom a cat free zone Reduce the load of cat allergens in your bedroom by washing or replacing bedding, curtains and pillows. Then cover pillows and mattress with allergen-proof covers. Open windows wide at least once a day to air the house and dilute the allergen load. Send your cat outside, preferably into an outdoor run, to disperse some of the dander Eliminate allergen traps such as carpet, rugs and upholstered furniture as you can. Carpet accumulates up to 100 times more allergens than vinyl or wood flooring. If you can’t take it up steam clean it regularly and vacuum with a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter or us and allergen-proof vacuum cleaner bag. Brush your cat outside and/or in an outside enclosure to minimise contamination of your home with dander. Wipe the dander away with a moist cloth or wipe to remove saliva and dander. Spray the house with anti-allergen sprays Use a low dust cat litter and ask non-allergic family members to clean the litter box frequently Take the anti histamines, decongestants, eye drops and aerosol inhalers your doctor recommends. Antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E also have anti-allergen effects.

We should always be prepared for the unpredictable. Storms, fires and floods can come at any time and affect pets as well as people. Many pets were lost in the fires of 2003. Some were injured or died, others never found their owners and were re-homed or euthanased. Make sure that your cats are microchipped and that your contact details on the register are up to date. If you have time attach a tag with your mobile number and address, and your vet’s phone number to your cats’ collars so that if someone without access to a microchip scanner picks them up you can be contacted. Have an emergency kit packed in advance. Include non-perishable food like dry cat kibble, water in spill proof containers, a cat carrier, litter tray and blankets as well as a first aid kit. The first aid kit should have gauze swabs, bandages, disinfectant, cotton wool, scissors and a towel to wrap your patient in. Even the most placid animal may react unpredictably when in pain. Decide where your cats will go if you have to evacuate. You may have family or friends outside the danger zone who would look after them. If you leave your cats at home leave them in the safest enclosed room in the house, usually the bathroom, with food and water. Leave a notice on the gate or door of the house with your contact details and saying that there are pets inside.