Everyone knows what dander is. It’s very common in humans (called dandruff) and, unfortunately, it’s also common in animals. When a
homeowner sees a cat continually scratching, or has evidence of dander around the house, it is important to find out exactly what the problem is as there are many diseases which could also cause this problem. If the problem is Cat Dander it’s sometimes difficult to find a complete cure.

Cats’ skin, under the fur, is very similar to humans. It has cells and it sheds this skin on a daily basis. When this skin becomes exceedingly dry, it will float through the air and land on anything in the vicinity. This could be carpeting, curtains or any surface, including people.

Unfortunately, there are other things involved, not just dry skin. The saliva from a cat usually contains Fel D1. When grooming itself this, or other things it has come in contact with, will attach itself to its skin. When this skin flakes off and lands on a person, it may cause an allergic reaction.

This makes a very unpleasant situation for the cat owner. The Fel D1 can also be found in the cat’s urine and the litter box.This dander may be inhaled, by family members, through the mouth or nose as it flies through the air. An allergic reaction is usually indicated by severe sneezing, runny nose, nasal or sinus congestion or itching, similar to hay fever. In severe cases, a person may get a skin rash or hives.To help control the situation suggestions have been made that the cat be thoroughly bathed once a week, especially washing their face and ears. Washing the cats face and ears with hypoallergenic pet wipes between baths can also help. Of course, it’s important that one’s hands be washed following any handling of the cat.

There are very few over the counter medicines for this problem. People offering home remedies have several suggestions. It would seem that if
the dander were caused by dry skin the solution would be to try to find out what one could do to correct that particular problem.

Checking with a veterinarian would be the best step if there is a severe problem with someone in the home having an allergy from this problem.

They would know of any special medicine or treatment that could bring about a cure or at least alleviate the situation. Cat dander is no fun for the cat or for the family so a solution should be found as soon as possible.

Cat grooming is not a subject that most cat owners give much thought to but as we all know, cats spend a great deal of their time licking their paws and rubbing them across their face or getting into unlikely positions in order to lick their backs, chests and other parts that we won’t mention here. Collectively, this activity is known as grooming. Short haired breeds of cat can usually groom themselves successfully without human intervention, but long haired cats such as Persians will definitely need help.

The grooming process is very important as it not only keeps the cat clean but removes loose hair. Without combing, a lot of this hair would end up in your cat’s stomach. Since hair is not easily digestible, it often forms hairballs and although cats often cough up hairballs, they can clog up their insides, leading to all sorts of health problems. Of course a good combing will get rid of a lot of the dirt etc. which a cat picks up daily and is also a great chance to look out for fleas and ticks.

If you think that your cat will hate being brushed, you may be amazed at how much he actually relishes the experience. Naturally, it is much simpler to get your cat used to grooming equipment when he is still a young kitten. Very lightly brush or comb over your cat’s coat, following the lie of the fur from the neck to the tail. Never brush against the lie of the fur as most cat’s dislike this intensely. If he begins to get irritable, stop brushing him and play with him for a few minutes until he is relaxed. Do not groom his face or paws with the brush or comb, as most cats do not like this.

While you are grooming your cat, have a look at his eyes and ears too. His eyes bright, without any discharge and his ears should be clean. Very dirty ears can indicate that your cat has ear mites. This condition can cause irreparable damage to your cats ears so be sure to take him to the vet to be checked over if you think that he may have mites. Grooming very long haired cats can be quite difficult as their coats can become matted, if left unattended for too long. If your cat will submit to you cutting away the matted parts, then that would be preferable. If he won’t stay still long enough for that, you may need to take the cat to a professional animal beautician or even to the vet, if he requires sedation.