A woman, sitting on a couch, reaches over to a side table a grabs a tissue, and blows her nose.


[Narrator] Many people are allergic to cats.


A person is picking up white pet hair from a couch and ottoman.

[onscreen text] Trainer's Secret: Not all allergies come from cat hair.


[Narrator] Dander, which is typically pointed to as the culprit, often contains allergens but it's not the direct source.


Quick cuts of cats in various places around a house.

[Narrator] When it comes to cats, the source of the allergy usually comes from the cat's saliva, skin secretions and urine.

[Narrator] So here are some things you can do at home to help reduce your allergies.


Hands washing themselves under a faucet.  Woman spraying a kitchen counter with cleaner and wiping.

[Narrator] Wash your hands frequently with soap and water and clean any areas your cat has been in contact with.


Person and cat sitting on the floor, while the person uses a dematting tool on the cat's chest.  A thought bubble from the cat reads: "This will help a lot."


[Narrator] Next, brush your cat daily.
Removing that loose, dead hair, can reduce shedding by up to 85%.
Ideally, the person in the home who is allergic, should not be the one who does the brushing.

Woman in yellow rubber gloves and cat sitting on are both sitting on a kitchen floor while the woman uses a dematting tool on the cat's side.


Woman in yellow rubber gloves sprays and wipes down the kitchen floor.

[Narrator] However, if the allergic person has to brush the cat, it's best to use rubber gloves and make sure you wash your hands and any contact areas thoroughly after brushing.

Woman inserts a HEPA filter into a wall vent.
[onscreen text] Trainer's Secret: Use a HEPA filter in your vacuum too.

[Narrator] It's a good idea to change out your A/C air filter with a HEPA filter, which will remove most of the allergens in the air.

Man standing at a kitchen counter pours kibble into metal food dish.  A cat walks by on the counter and eats the food.


[Narrator] Now research shows that cats who are on all natural diet with added Omega-3 fatty acids, seem to cause less allergic reactions in people. But always check with your veterinarian before making any changes to your cat's diet.

Montage of a woman vacuuming carpeting and upholstery.

[Narrator] Often, simple housekeeping chores can help reduce allergens. Try to frequently vacuum your carpet, furniture and drapes.

Woman sprays cleaner on coffee table and wipes the table down.

[Narrator] Dust furniture with a cleaner that captures the dust, rather than just dispersing it.

Woman picks up cat bed from floor and walks out of frame.

[Narrator] And wash any bedding that your cat uses a couple of times a week.

Cat sitting on bed gets up and walks off.  Woman removes pillows from the bed.


[Narrator] If your cat sleeps on someone's bed, wash that bedding regularly as well. Your washing machine will remove most of the allergens.

Woman sitting on couch next to a cat tree with cat laying in the tree.  Woman grabs a tissue from a tissue box on the couch and blows her nose.  Thought bubble from cat reads: "Bless you."


[Narrator] Lastly, if you've taken these steps to reduce allergens in your home and you're still having a problem, you should see your doctor.

Woman sits across from a doctor in a lab coat and talks.

[Narrator] He or she may be able to provide you with a prescription medication that can help relieve your symptoms.


Woman stands next to cat tree and pats the cat laying in it.