HEPA filter to help wife’s allergies

Da_Crojanz

My wife and I are looking after my mum’s cat whilst she is in hospital. He’s a lovely and sweet natured cat but after a few days with us my wife is showing allergy symptoms. In the past she’s spent many a weekend in a much smaller house with him so has been used to him without many problems before, but after about 4 days the itchy eyes and throat started.

I’m thinking about a HEPA filter but there are so many to look at. Could anyone offer any recommendations? Also, is one needed for every room and does it need to stay on 34/7? He only really uses 4 rooms so was hoping that if I got one and just moved it between rooms it would do enough.

It also needs to be battery or DC powered and not too large. 

On top of that, what else could we do? Are any particular antihistamines better than others? Also doing our best to keep on top of hoovering and linting.

Emmia

Da_Crojanz said:

My wife and I are looking after my mum’s cat whilst she is in hospital. He’s a lovely and sweet natured cat but after a few days with us my wife is showing allergy symptoms. In the past she’s spent many a weekend in a much smaller house with him so has been used to him without many problems before, but after about 4 days the itchy eyes and throat started.

I’m thinking about a HEPA filter but there are so many to look at. Could anyone offer any recommendations? Also, is one needed for every room and does it need to stay on 34/7? He only really uses 4 rooms so was hoping that if I got one and just moved it between rooms it would do enough.

It also needs to be battery or DC powered and not too large. 

On top of that, what else could we do? Are any particular antihistamines better than others? Also doing our best to keep on top of hoovering and linting.

I'm allergic to dogs and use normal hayfever tablets for that, but even with the tablets I can't touch the dog and wash my hands really frequently. Hopefully your wife doesn't encourage the cat to sit on her or anything like that, and I'd be keeping the cat out of your bedroom.

Hayfever tablets aren't expensive and should help with the physical symptoms - but you may want a purifier as well in the bedroom overnight.

It's tricky to know which ones to recommend, I tend to go for generic Cetrazine, or Allevia as I find them most effective - but you might need to buy one with each active ingredient to try to find which one deals with the reaction best, and avoids drowsiness/side effects.

sheramber

You may find that after a while you wife stops reacting. 

A work colleague no longer reacted her own cats but still reacted to any other cat.

Rodders53

It's cat's dander (skin, saliva etc.,.) that is the issue so hepa filter of the air is a waste of time.  Hepa filters in hoovers may help reduce it on furniture and floors etc,.  No handling or especially grooming of the cat by her!

Non drowsy OTC antihistamines:

Fexofenadine Hydrochloride 120mg -- Branded as Allevia and Treathay may be others (fairly large tablets, not especially cheap but a 'recent' drug).

Loretadine 10mg - branded Clarityn cheap as chips from all good bargain stores

Cetirizine Hydrochloride 10mg - brands include Allacan, Benadryl Allergy, Piriteze Allergy, Zirtek Allergy also cheap as chips.

Try one or all of them, in turn to see which suits.  Not everyone responds the same to each drug.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antihistamines/ is worth a read, too.

My wife found that the drowse inducing Piriton worked best for her when visiting her parents' cats.

Soot2006

No oral antihistamines work for me. Well, they work, but they put me to sleep lol.

Beconase nose spray + optricom eyedrops are a gamechanger. I switched almost 10 years ago and have no longer suffered. You can get both on Amazon - bonus.

Rather than investing into a hepa filter, grab a black friday robot hoover instead!

Da_Crojanz

Thanks for the responses. All very much appreciated.

Most of the listings for filters outright highlight per allergens e.g dander as something they remove? Surprised at the comment they will do nothing - is this from experience?

My wife has interacted with and groomed the cat for years without any problems - she is his preferred groomer and in the past she was grooming him in a MUCH less clean environment - my mum isn’t the neatest so her flat is thick with cat hair and I imagine dander ia everywhere. My wife has also spend plenty of weekends with the cat in the past and he was allowed in any room he pleases with minimal issues. She’s never had animal allergies before elsewhere.

We have only noticed this issue since he moved in with us and it started after a few days. He is barred from our bedroom and we’re quite vigilant about vacuuming but will definitely look at a hepa filter for that! Much appreciated as had no idea they existed.

Has anyone got any experience at all of the air filters?

Just to add - I’m aware much of the above suggests it might not be him she is allergic to!

Savvy_Sue

Could be worth talking to pharmacist to see what's available. I'd suggest vacuuming rather than filters too.

Am I dreaming that there are wipes you can use on the cat's fur?

Slinky

Savvy_Sue said:

Could be worth talking to pharmacist to see what's available. I'd suggest vacuuming rather than filters too.

Am I dreaming that there are wipes you can use on the cat's fur?

Not wipes, but liquid called Petalcleanse. You put it on a cloth and wipe the cat with it once a week to remove the saliva from fur. It worked for us with my old cat when I first met my husband who was allergic to cats at the time. Gradually over time he became less sensitive and after about 4-5 months use of the product he had no problem and were able to stop. He does appear to still be allergic to cats though, 20+ years later as our last cat died in February, and the new cat we've had 8 weeks is causing him the runny nose again. We're not sure if it's the lack of cat contact he had for several months that's triggered the problem. We are trying again with Petalcleanse.

Savvy_Sue

Another thought: earlier this year I bought some balm which is supposed to help with hayfever if you dab it round your nose, I think it would be a bit less shiny looking than vaseline which I think might also be suggested. I've also got some hayfever wipes, and my thinking - perhaps erroneous - is that the mechanism for easing allergy to animal has some similarities with hayfever, in that you are trying to prevent the irritants getting up your nose and down your throat. 

Bluebell1000

We found Petalcleanse worked well, definitely recommend trying that.

I've also seen adverts for a special cat food https://www.purina.co.uk/brands/pro-plan/cat/liveclear which claims to reduce allergens, but it looks like you need to use it for 3 weeks before getting any improvements.