With your felines, find ways to keep allergens at bay

Springtime is the beginning of seasonal allergies for many of us. As the snow melts and the flowers, grass and trees sprout, so too does the sneezing.

If you know you are a seasonal allergy sufferer, do not blame your newly acquired feline for exaggerating the symptoms. There are many steps you can take around your home environment to minimize allergies that are seasonal and animal related.

Remember, in multiple feline households (or any animal household) your vacuum is your best friend and best defense against pet hair, dust and dander. Vacuum frequently, but with an efficient vacuum, so that your are not just blowing more allergens into the air.

A vacuum equipped with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate assisting) filter is a good choice, or a vacuum with a disposable electrostatic bag also works well. If you have a choice between high-end paper or cloth, pick the disposable cloth. It will be stronger and cleaner and more efficient than paper. Remember, anyone can market a vacuum geared for pet hair, but it still may not be as allergen free as it should be.

You may not be the only one that has allergies in your household. Please remember our felines can have allergies to household dust and protein dust from their food bowls if they are not kept clean and vacuumed around the area. Frequent washing of the floor around their food areas keeps your allergies and your feline's allergies in check.

Besides pet areas, your rugs, drapes and upholstery collect allergens. Strive to limit fabric and regularly vacuum or steam clean them. A light hand-held steamer works for a light touch-up, but a professional service can offer a deeper cleaning.

For those of us with felines, cleaning is not called "spring cleaning." The reality is more like 24/7 if you want to win the battle against allergens for both you and your felines's benefit.

If you really want to minimize allergens, perhaps you should keep one room allergy free by denying your feline access to that room. Try to keep hypoallergenic bedding and pillow materials in that room, too.

Your furnace can also be a guilty culprit in spreading allergens around the house. Certain furnace filters are more efficient for handling pet allergens. Look for filters with higher efficiency ratings. These filters are usually twice as expensive but will be worth the relief. 3M makes some higher rated allergen diffusers that trap pet hair and dander efficiently.

Changing the filter often is key to allergy relief. An air purifier fitted with a HEPA filter may also be an aid in removing allergens from the air.

Some pet owners bathe their animals to reduce allergens. This is tricky because you can dry out your pet's coat if you wash too often. Brushing and combing in-between baths also helps.

In the end, you may have to get allergy shots or take some over-the-counter medication to combat the sneezing. At the end of the day, it is worth it to be able to snuggle up with our favorite felines.

Featured felines

Mittens is a male who is mostly gray with some white, born in April 2013. When Mittens was in a cage, he came to the door to check you out, then would become shy. This was a game he played since he really enjoys being petted. Now in a room, he is all over the place. He sometimes peeks around the couch at you to see if you are one of his friends, and he has a lot of friends because he warms up to people quickly.

Rock is a longhair, black and white, male born in June 2012. Rock is a very happy, friendly cat. He is usually not one to run up to you immediately, rather he waits for you to approach him, then he is all love and follows you around for more attention. He is a beautiful cat with low maintenance fur. He keeps his fur beautiful, but I'm sure he would love to have someone brush him. He seems to have a wild twinkle in his eye, meaning he seems ready to play all day and would therefore be a great addition to any family.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W, Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit (501c3), all volunteer, no-kill animal shelter dedicated to the welfare of stray, abused and abandoned cats and dogs. For information, call The Buddy Foundation at (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.