Pets are an important part of many people’s lives. Many of us keep them as best friends to spend good and bad times with. But pets can cause allergies, and that can be not very pleasant.
This article will look at what causes cat allergies and how air purifiers help avoid such problems.
Do Air Purifiers Help With Cat Allergies?
Air purifiers have proven to clean air from various particles effectively. The working system of air purifiers makes it possible to reduce a considerable percentage of allergens.
If you have cats, you’re probably familiar with problems such as dander, odor, and hair around the house. These elements add pollution to the air and can trigger many common allergies.
Luckily, air purifiers equipped with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters remove most of the small particles like dust or dander, thus combating your cat allergies. But that can allow hair to remain a problem still. That’s when you need to purchase an air purifier with a pre-filter designed to capture bigger particles. For detailed information on choosing the air purifier that best fits your needs, click here.
What Causes Cat Allergies?
Cat allergies can be caused by various factors, including cat dander, pet hair, dust bunnies, or pet saliva and accidents. Below, we will provide more thorough information on each of these triggers.
Cat dander
Most hairy pets shed dead skin cells, which are known as dander. Because of their shape and microscopic size, these cells are very likely to trigger allergies which can cause inflammation of nasal passages, itching, runny nose, sneezing, and more.
Along with other house-cleaning procedures, choosing a particular room to wash your pet in and using air purifiers to remove allergens from the air can help.
Pet hair
Pet hair can also trigger some allergic reactions. Allergy symptoms are similar to those caused by cat dander. But, unlike dander, pet hair is a little easier to remove in more traditional ways.
But, air purifiers can also help with the matter. Some air purifiers have additional filters and are effective in helping with pet hair cleaning. You can find more details about it here.
Dust bunnies
Dust bunnies are clumps of dirt that can often be home to pet dander, hair, and other household allergens. Plus, dust mites feed on pet dander, thus multiplying and producing more allergens in the air.
The best way to remove them is by sweeping and moping your house. Air purifiers do help with that, but unfortunately, they do not entirely take care of it.
Pet saliva and accidents
Pet saliva is another possible allergen, which can cause allergic reactions when cats lick themselves and matters of their saliva get stuck into their fur. Pet accidents can be the cause of allergies too. Cat urine contains proteins that might cause an allergic reaction. An air purifier helps with these issues too, but you should also wash your pet regularly.
Can an Air Purifier Help with Cat Dander and Hair?
Air purifiers can be effective in removing both cat dander and cat hair. However, various filters may be more or less successful in eliminating specific issues. Read on to learn more about it.
HEPA filters
HEPA filters are the most effective tools to remove small particles as small as 0.3 microns from the air, and they also act as a net for larger particles. But this type of filter is most effective for eliminating smaller particles, so if that’s your issue, we’re confident you’ll be satisfied with an air purifier with HEPA filters.
Ionizers
Ionizers release ions into the air, creating compounds with pollutants and falling as a whole. After that, you can manually remove the pollution left. Since ions are microscopic particles, ionizers help fight dander, but not so much pet hair.
Carbon air filters
Carbon air filters are highly effective in removing gaseous pollutants from the air, but that is not much the case with particles such as pet dander or hair. However, some may choose a carbon filter to help get rid of pet odors. Read more about air purifiers and pet odors.
UV light air filters
As the name suggests, UV filters use short-wave ultraviolet light to eliminate bacteria and viruses. This type of filter effectively removes harmful particles, such as mold, bacteria, and viruses; however, it is not as successful in eliminating pollutants such as dust or allergens. They’re also ineffective against pet odor.
How Do You Find a Good Air Purifier for Cat Allergies?
There are many air purifiers developed today. Some of them are more effective than others on specific functions. That’s why you should choose the air purifier that best suits your needs.
One of the most important factors is the type of filter it uses, as they differ. Here you can find more information about the best air purifiers for pet owners to help you make the right purchase.
Other Ways to Reduce Cat-Related Allergens
Of course, you can contribute to the reduction of cat-related allergens by other activities which consist of simple hygiene routines, such as:
- Clean your house regularly;
- Bathe your pet;
- Brush your pet;
- Use a hard flooring material;
- Keep your pet in certain areas.
The Final Verdict: Do Air Purifiers Help with Cat Allergies?
Air purifiers do help with cat allergies. They can help remove dander molecules, pet hair, odor, and other allergens from the air. Still, you should keep up with the other hygiene procedures (with some of them advised above) for the best results.
