How can I help my visitors who are allergic to cats?

A few years ago I had a friend from out of the area drop by one afternoon for a visit. My house was relatively clean, so all I had to do was tidy up a bit and I was ready. Oh yeah - I locked the cats up in my bedroom, because I knew he was allergic to cats. (You know where this is going, don't you?) It wasn't 10 minutes after he had arrived that he started sneezing violently, his nose got all runny, and his eyes were red and tearing. We had to spend the rest of his visit sitting outside on our deck, where he got some relief from the cat dander.

Yes, dear readers, cat dander is the culprit in allergies to cats, whether your reaction be wheezing, sneezing, or breaking out in hives. Not a pleasant prospect in any case. I was reminded of this story when a reader wrote to ask me, "How can I help my visitors who are allergic to cats?" Even though she is not allergic to cats, her sister is, and she would like to be able to visit with her at home for once without having to worry about Sis having a sneezing fit. Whether you're allergic to cats or your friends are, this article might bring you some relief.

Pictured here is Jaspurr as a baby. He's a love, but packed with nasty dander allergens.
_{Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy}