Can Air Purifiers help with cat allergies? (Experts’ Views)
A lot of people love pets but can’t get one because they have allergies. Even worse, some pet owners have had to give their pets out to friends or relatives for the same reason. If you fall under one of these categories, there is a solution to your problems. Air purifiers! If you’ve been asking, “Can air purifiers help with cat allergies?” the answer is yes.
An air purifier can help to keep your cat allergies under control. Air purifiers are the best way to remove cat dander (tiny dead skin flecks shed from the skin of furry pets), hair, odor, and other particles from the air.
These tiny flecks are impossible to see, lightweight, and mostly float in the air. The medium-sized dander which is also very tiny, eventually settles on your couch, beddings, carpets, etc. These particles can get into our eyes, nose, or mouths and cause allergic reactions when they come in contact with our body.
What type of air purifier is best for cat allergies?
Air purifiers are your best bet if you have cat allergies but can’t bear the thought of letting your feline friend go.
They help purify the air by removing dander, pet hair, and harmful particles, preventing them from settling on surfaces and causing harm to us.
Different air filters use different technologies and come in different shapes and sizes. Some of them are:
- The HEPA filters
- Activated carbon filters
- UV filters
- Negative ion filters
- Ozone filters
- HEPA filters:
The best air purifiers for cat allergies are HEPA filters.
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. These filters trap at least 99.9% of particles larger than 0.3 microns.
Most of the particles caught in a HEPA filter are invisible to the human eye. It can trap mold, viruses, bacteria, and other micro-particles with its technology.
Although it is very efficient in trapping and removing airborne particles, it is unable to remove odors, gases, and chemicals.
It doesn’t generate ozone or any by-product so it is considered safe to use.
- Activated carbon filter
The Activated carbon filters can also be used for cat allergies if you are more concerned with removing odors. Activated carbon is a type of carbon that has been developed to produce an exceedingly porous and absorbent carbon, with a huge surface area.
Activated carbon filters have a large number of atomic pores with good absorbency and chemical bonding. They are a particularly effective technique for catching pollutants such as chemical emissions, gases, smoke, and odors because of these qualities. Once caught, these contaminants are not discharged back into the atmosphere, preventing backflow.
Perfumes, as well as toxins found in household cleaning products, are removed, making the environment much more breathable, which is especially beneficial for asthmatics, newborns, children, and the elderly.
- UV filters
These categories of air filters do not get rid of airborne particles but are very effective in killing pathogens like bacteria and viruses. Because UV technology does not effectively remove airborne particles, it is frequently used in conjunction with particulate filter systems.
Although UV technology is good at killing viruses and bacteria, it is best used together with a filter system. Too many microbes are veiled from the light by particles in the absence of a filter system. As a result, most UV air purifiers first filter the air with HEPA and activated carbon, then use UV as a final stage of filtration.
- Negative ion filters
An ion is a charged natural particle that can be positive or negative. They receive or lose an electron to obtain this charge. Oxygen atoms that have gained an electron are known as negative ions.
Negative ion filters capture airborne particles like pollen and dust using magnets until the newly created particle is too heavy to stay in the air. As a result, the particle falls and sticks to another solid object in the room, such as a window or a wall.
Negative ion air purifiers transfer the dirty air to the corners of the room rather than purifying it. This form of air purifier is incapable of completely removing dangerous particles from the air.
- Ozone filters
These air purifiers produce the gas ozone. Although various claims have been made to persuade the public that these devices are safe, health specialists have denied these claims. Exposure to ozone might trigger asthma symptoms and can potentially damage the lungs if levels are high enough.
Ozone reacts very slowly with harmful particles making these filters almost ineffective. Also, because ozone does not remove particles like dust and pollen, most ozone air purifiers feature negative ion technology, which masks rather than cleans the air.
Ozone air purifiers are unlikely to completely clean the air unless concentrations of ozone are substantially higher than the public health guidelines.
The UV filters, negative ions, and ozone filters are considered ineffective for cat allergies. This is because they are unable to trap airborne particles and purify the air to make it clean and safe for humans
Do you need an air purifier if you have a cat?
Yes, you need an air purifier to help remove tiny particles like cat dander, hair, and odours from the atmosphere. The protein contained in the urine, saliva, faeces, and dander of cats can send trigger sensitive immune systems, manifesting as allergic reactions in the human body.
If you wouldn’t want these particles getting into your nose, eyes, or mouth, then an air purifier with a HEPA filter is something you should have in your home.
Even if you’re not allergic, you might have a friend or family member that could be allergic therefore it isn’t compulsory but it is necessary to have at least one air purifier in your home if you have a cat.
How do you clean a room if you are allergic to cats?
Having cat allergies can be discomforting. A lot of cat owners can relate to the itchy skin, runny nose, sneezing, and other allergic reactions that come with living with cats.
If this is something you relate to and you’re not willing to part ways with your feline friend, there are some things you could do to minimize these allergy symptoms.
- Keep all surfaces clean and tidy
- Use rugs that can be washed easily with hot water
- Clean the house thoroughly with vacuum cleaners regularly
- Wear a protective face mask to vacuum
- Brush the pet outdoors to get rid of dander
- Use an air filter with a HEPA filter to keep the air clean
These steps could help reduce the presence of allergens in the house and consequently reduce allergic reactions.
Can you live with a cat if you are allergic?
You can live with a cat if you are allergic unless you suffer from severe allergies. A lot of people who own cats suffer from mild allergies.
Studies show that 67% of households have pets and 30% of the population are allergic to pets. Most pet owners simply put up with the allergies or treat them with medications So if you have a pet and you’re allergic, you can continue living with your feline friend unless the allergies are severe.
You can manage these allergies by filtering the air in your room regularly using HEPA air filters. Some other proven ways you can manage these allergies are:
- Keep your cat out of your bedroom
- Dust and vacuum frequently
- Do away with rugs and carpets
- Consider taking medications
Do you need an air purifier in every room?
You do not necessarily need to have an air purifier for allergies in every room but it is recommended that you do.
Air purifiers can circulate to other rooms if placed in a room, although this depends on the room size and the air purifier.
Getting an air purifier for every room can be a bit pricey, so instead of opting for cheap, ineffective purifiers, it is advised to go for one quality purifier and keep it in the room you spend more time in, probably your bedroom.
Conclusion: Can air purifiers help with cat allergies?
Air purifiers can help with cat allergies. It is one proven way cat owners who are allergic use to control their allergies.
So far, we have learned the causes of allergies, the ways you can reduce the presence of allergens in your homes, and how air purifiers can be effective in reducing cat allergies. Now you know the answer to the question, “Can air purifiers help with cat allergies?” and have knowledge of the causes and prevention of these cat allergies.
In case you find this article interesting, you may also want to take a look at a similar one “can air purifier help with odor removal?
