On the subject of four legged pets.

[trev_nightsong]

Ok, so I know I have a ton of folks out here on my friends list who are very knowledgable pet owners and tenders. And, since in a week from today my GF will be moving in with me and my son, and our cat...I need to ask a couple questions. She is alergic to cats, or their dander to be more precise. I know that bathing a cat on a regulra basis helps

Comments

Silly dontpokethebear...

[bryna_pixie]

You don't need to call a PetSmart when you know someone who's worked there for years! ;-)

They make spiffy little wipes, some sprays, and foaming "waterless" shampoos, which are much easier for kitties that aren't used to being bathed on a regular basis. You can try a regular full-bath shampoo if you think your kitty and you will tolerate a bath.
And, yes, they do make these things specifically for Allergy-Sufferers. Just look for things that mention Allergies or Dander on the label.
(Many cat-allergies are actually triggered by the dried saliva on the hair/dander, transferred when the kitties bathe themselves, not the hair/dander itself. The special shampoos and such help remove that saliva... but really, most cat shampoos will do that... as long as it doesn't also dry out the skin too much, which will create more dander and self-bathing. Technically speaking, of course.)

Also, switching to a high-quality premium food will help reduce the shedding of both hair and skin. Just like people, if you're eating a healthy diet (omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E!) your skin and hair will look better and really be healthier... Pro Plan, Science Diet, Blue Buffalo/Spa Select, Eukanuba, Nutro Natural Choice, AvoDerm (this one is GREAT for skin and coat!) Stay away from anything by Friskies, Whiskas, Fancy Feast, or Purina (with the exception of Pro Plan, which is as good as Purina gets.)

When I go to work tomorrow I'll get you an exact name/brand/whatever of shampoos/wipes/sprays to look for at your local store. (I'm sure you don't want to go all the way to 6 Mile & Haggerty to see me specifically!)

For Starters

[bryna_pixie]

Check this out.

Re: Silly dontpokethebear...

[trev_nightsong]

Ahh thank you very much. I may get a shampoo, and give the fiesty feline a bath first to see how it goes, and then we can use the spray stuff after as maintnance. I didnt realize the food made 'that' much of a difference and he's been eating a purina indoor cat formula...when we head to the store for the bath stuff, we'll get some of the better food as well. And while the 6 and haggerty store 'is' a bit far out...I've been known to travel to visit friends *chuckles* Thanks muchly. I'll take notes with me when I head to the store.

Re: Silly dontpokethebear...

[bryna_pixie]

I'll only be there tomorrow and Friday, after that I'll be at the one on Haggerty & 14 Mile.

I did see 2 products today that specifically mentioned "allergies" or "allergy sufferers," one was a spray and one was a wipe. But like I said, they're all pretty similar.