Friends allergic to your cats and coming to visit?

[lady1297]

How do I prepare for a 5 day visit by friends who are allergic to cats? I have 2 cats. I've swept the floors, dusted and will mop the floors tonight. But what else should i do? I don't know what they expect, they know we have 2 cats. I can only do so much. Is there anything I'm not thinking of that I should do to help them not have issues? How do you handle these things?

[jnettie]

We have an air filter from Sharper Image that helps alot.

It may be too late now, but there is also a product called Allerpet-C (which I hawk so much on this site you'd think I own stock in it or something!) that you rub into their skin and fur. It binds to the allergens in the dander, significantly reducing allergic reactions.

Also, having a cat-free zone is always good. Keep the door to the guest room closed, and maybe another room in the house.

[greenbunny]

Don't clean the house immediately before they come, a day or so before is better. I think the act of cleaning stirs the dander and fur into the air more. My friends with allergies do much better if it's been a day or two since I've cleaned (I discovered this by accident, when they dropped by unannounced once and I hadn't been frantically cleaning to prepare).

[jajacobsen]

Make the guest room a cat free zone. Wash ALL the bedding, including the comforter and pillows, if possible, vaccum, dust, and close the door.

Bathe the cats (if possible) or at least thoroughly brush them to remove excess hair. During this heat wave, most cats are shedding excessively.

Make one chair in the common areas cat free . Vacuum or wash it, or maybe cover it in a clean blanket.

If these are not possible, then vaccum and dust the common areas thoroughly, covering the furniture in blankets which you can pull off when your guest arrives. Cover the furniture at night as well and remove in teh morning.


I had an overnight guest this weekend who is very allergic to cats and I did the above (including bathing the cats, which helped the most as it removed so much of the excess hair so they didn't keep dropping it all weekend). The weekend went fine. I have a Dyson model for pets hair/dander and I think it really helped.

[vwinkel]

I usually vacuum their beds - the comforter and pillows if the door to that room has been open. Like pp said, do this a couple days in advance and then shut the door to that room.

I have a nephew who is allergic. I keep Benedryl at my house just in case. They usually bring something with them, but just in case.

You might want to comb your cats a couple of days before hand to reduce the shedding as well.

[fuzzy]

Yes, keep the bedroom door closed, wash the bedding, etc. etc...

That said, don't drive yourself nuts over it (if you ask me, that is). Make reasonable accomodations, be polite, be a great host and all that, but your cats live there and your guests have been made aware of their presence.

[lady1297]

Thanks everyone! I have done most of the above mentioned. I still have to wash the bedding, but left that for last minute. I'll have DH brush the girls this evening in the basement and call it done.


That said, don't drive yourself nuts over it (if you ask me, that is). Make reasonable accomodations, be polite, be a great host and all that, but your cats live there and your guests have been made aware of their presence.

I think this is my problem. I want to be so accomodating that I'm forgetting that this is my house and my 'girls'. I almost feel guilty when we have guests that are allergic to cats. Like it is my fault that they can't visit us. And then I feel like it's that my house is dirty, so I go crazy cleaning thinking that will help.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I'll be writing them down and following them everytime people come to visit!

[Adaya]

I'm allergic to cats and I simply don't stay with people that have them because I don't want them to make a fuss. With that said, I wouldn't get too worked up. You're right, it's your home, they are your 'girls', and they know you have them. So they should understand that and be fully prepared themselves with Benadryl or whatever they need for their allergies.

But since they are coming, I agree with the cat-free zone and possibly having some Benadryl on hand in cae they don't have any of their own. That would be pretty thoughtful, and they'd always remember that if it came around that they needed to use it.

Just relax and don't stress yourself too much.

[SweetRed]

That said, don't drive yourself nuts over it (if you ask me, that is). Make reasonable accomodations, be polite, be a great host and all that, but your cats live there and your guests have been made aware of their presence.

As someone highly allergic to cats and with two best friends who have cats, I whole-heartedly agree. I do, however, love for my friends to remind me that they have cats before I come stay with them. On occasion, I've forgotten (I don't visit that often) and forgotten my allergy meds! Not that you should go out of your way to call them, but should you be speaking to your guests anyway, it couldn't hurt.

[lady1297]

I appreciate the info from those of you with cat allergies. I know they will be going shopping, they are going to need diapers and baby food for their little ones, so I'm sure if they forget the Benadryl or what they need, they will be able to pick it up. I would have if I had thought of it when I was out tonight. I did remind the wife that we had cats and she didn't say anything other than "Yeah, husband and mom have allergies, and babe does too, but that's because his mother doesn't clean" Still not sure what that means. I am assuming it is cat allergies, though.

The issue we are facing is they are staying in our master suite because they are bringing their two children and two pack n plays won't fit in our guest room. And one of our cats sleeps in our room. So, I bought Febreze Allergen and will spray that on the mattress and wash all the bedding in the morning. I swept yesterday and will have to leave it at that.

I'm just stressing too much. They won't be here in the house much (they are house hunting) so that will help a lot.

Should I sweep daily to keep the hair and stuff up, or just let it go so I don't lift it in the air?

[kugrrly]

I am allergic to cats. I think it is great that you looking out for her allergies. For the most part I think you should just try to keep your cats out of your room. Since they do sleep in your bed it may be a bit difficult. I am sure that may be tough, but it will really help out.

[fuzzy]

I think this is my problem. I want to be so accomodating that I'm forgetting that this is my house and my 'girls'. I almost feel guilty when we have guests that are allergic to cats. Like it is my fault that they can't visit us. And then I feel like it's that my house is dirty, so I go crazy cleaning thinking that will help.

:) Oh do I understand. We have four cats and a dog. My husband's best friend can no longer visit us because his child is so allergic to dogs and cats. For the longest time I was so hung up on this and seriously felt it meant my house was dirty. But it's not my house, it's just a fact of life -- the kid is allergic and no matter how much I clean, he still has a reaction. So we just see each other in different settings. It sucks, but it's life, ya know?

Any chance if you bought a nice new bed for the kitties that your one master-bedroom-sleeper might be persuaded to sleep elsewhere? It would be a win-win situation -- the kitties get new furniture and your guests get a cat-free room.

[jajacobsen]

I would definitely blitz the room the morning that they arrive - clean the floors, wipe down all furniture and change all the linens, including the comforter ( or have it wasehd/drycleaned ahead of time and keep it in plastic until you put it on). Then close the door after you are done. Remind your guests to keep the door closed. The cats will probably follow you into whereever you are sleeping if they are used to sleeping with you (ours do this if we can't sleep in our room for some reason) - especially if there are strange children in the master bedroom. This will work in your favor!

[mommydearest]

Our good family friends always stay in a hotel. We meet at restaurants, mall, museums, the hotel pool, or sit out on my back porch when they come. But, the husband cannot enter our house or its all over. Living near a big city, there has never been a shortage of things to do.

[newmommy]

Wow, all I can say is that you're a good friend!
Awhile back I had a fight over this with a few friends of mine and they thought I should just pop some allergy pills prior to visiting!

Just wanted to say you're a true friend!