How to Choose an Air Purifier to Reduce Cat Dander

Cat lovers who are also allergic to cats find themselves in a predicament. They want a pet cat but they cannot live with the dander, made up of dead skins cells that are shed after cats lick themselves. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the proteins in dander are sticky and do not lose their strength for months, causing sensitive immune systems to react with inflammation and even asthma. Keeping a cat outside may help reduce allergens but not completely. Choose an air purifier that suits your specific needs.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the size of your room or your home with a measuring tape. Compact air purifiers are efficient in smaller spaces of less than 900 square feet, with a ceiling no higher than 8 feet. They are just as powerful as full-size models but cost less and fit easily in smaller spaces. If you have a severe allergy to your cat, consider confining the cat to one room of the house and use a compact air purifier for just the one room.

    • 2

      Check your air-conditioning unit to see if you can install a HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air filter, which is the type of filtration recommended by the Humane Society. If you can, a compact air purifier will be suitable because it will not need to work as hard. However, many air conditioning units spread dander and cause more allergies. Choose an air purifier with a HEPA filtration unit to remove the cat's dander.

    • 3

      Choose an air purifier for the noise level. Many air purifiers make quite a bit of noise as they filter the air. Check the noise level at each setting, especially if you plan on using the unit in the bedroom at night.

    • 4

      Examine the air purifier's filter. Determine how difficult it will be to change and how expensive the new filters will be. An air purifier with a filter that is easy to change and not too expensive is ideal: if you live with a cat and have allergies, the air purifier is going to be used most of the time.

    • 5

      Choose an air purifier that is energy-efficient. With a cat, the air purifier is run nearly all day. An energy efficient model is ideal. Check if the purifier has a FDA approval. Some units are considered medical devices and the FDA needs to approve the particular model.