Can Cat Dander Make You Itch? (Can A Purifier Help?)

If you fear that you have a cat allergy you may be wondering if cat dander could potentially make you itch, and what you can use to reduce the cat dander (click here for my best solution, on Amazon #Ad) …

Can cat dander make you itch?

Cat dander can make you itch. This can either be making your skin itch or even your nose, or eyes. The protein that lives in the cat dander is known to cause this kind of allergic reaction and is quite a common problem for people with cat allergies.

Use these Air Purifiers to reduce cat dander & odor

Name	Image	My Rating
01. Winix Air Purifier (Best Overall) Click here to see the price on Amazon #Ad
02. Honeywell Air Purifier Click here to see the price on Amazon #Ad
03. Envion Air Purifier Click here to see the price on Amazon #Ad

So, now you know. But, what is the best way to get rid of the cat dander? Can you suddenly become allergic to cats? What is the best purifier (Winix, Honeywell, or Envion) to reduce dander? Keep reading for these answers, and much more…

What can you use to get rid of cat dander?

There are several ways to get rid of cat dander. However, some of the more popular methods include thoroughly cleaning the house, cleaning the air ducts, or investing in an air purifier. All of these methods can be used simultaneously for the best outcome.

Many cat owners opt for an air purifier because it’s easy to use and works in the background, passively. Meaning, it’s one of least labor-intensive methods to not only control dander but odors that cat leave behind.

How do you tell if you are allergic to cats?

To tell if you have a cat allergy you will need to look out for some known symptoms. This includes sneezing, runny nose, scratching, or eyes running. To be sure you can consult a professional to confirm, but some of these symptoms are obvious and noticeable only when you come into contact with cats.

Once you confirm you have an allergy you will need to look into the best way to control it. It can be tough if you have just moved into a house that had cats before you moving in or a real cat lover with allergies.

Can you suddenly become allergic to cats?

It is possible to become allergic to cats suddenly. Meaning, you may not see any signs way into your adult life. This could be because you always had it and luckily avoided triggering it, or it has just started to happen. So, this is a known behavior with allergies.

The reality of Dander & Allergies

When it comes to allergies, people are often confused about exactly what causes the problems. Yes, the purifier will help, but what is the issue? and how is the purifier going to help? Let me address this now, ok?

What actually causes these pet allergy symptoms?

Many people feel that their issues with allergies, whether that is sore eyes, streaming nose, skin reactions, etc is linked to the cat fur breathed in. To be honest, most of the time this is NOT the case!

One of the biggest culprits is actually the cat Dander. What now?

What is Cat (or Pet) Dander?

Cat Dander is tiny minuscule flecks of skin that come off your cat. To be honest, it’s not just cats, it happens to many different pets. Such as dogs, hamsters, birds, etc. Either way, the same concept.

One of the problems with this dander is the fact that it gets worse with age. Meaning, as your pet gets older, they are more likely to shed more dander into the atmosphere.

Cat Fur Issues

I need to say that cat fur is still an issue, for some people. I am just stating that the dander is usually the prime suspect. The good thing is, regardless of which one is affecting you, the purifier can still help.

What is an Air Purifier?

Before we get into this article, it is important for me (in my opinion) to correctly define what an Air purifier is. So, I will dedicate this section to this.

An air purifier is pretty much what it says on the tin. It will clear the air of unwanted things such as cat dander, smells and help to reduce allergic reactions (more on this later).

What are the advantages of an Air Purifier?

You may be wondering, apart from the obvious things, like getting rid of cat smells (Click here to learn how to get rid of cat smells in your house), what other benefits these purifiers have, right? Let me explain…

Rooms of all sizes

Firstly, depending on which type of purifier you get (more on this later), these devices have the capability to cover various sizes. So, if you live in a large house, with massive rooms, no worries, you can still find a solution for this.

Aesthetically pleasing

The great thing about these devices is their design. They are made to look good, not just to serve a purpose. This means that you can place them almost anywhere in your house and it won’t look out of place.

Energy Efficiency

The reality is, you will need to keep these bad boys on all day and night. So, it’s important that it does not cost you an “arm & a leg” in power costs. Fortunately, they are very energy efficient (more on this later).

Compact

Earlier I mentioned that these purifiers are great to look at. However, I failed to mention how compact they are, in most cases. Meaning, they will not need to hog a whole shelf of your valuable workspace.

Flexibility

Another great thing about these devices is their flexibility. But, what do I mean by that? Simple, you can typically lay them horizontal or even verticle.

What should you be looking for in a great Purifier?

Before you make your selection, you need to know what features/qualities you should be looking out for, so you can make a good selection. Are you with me? For that reason, I have a selection of features/qualities that I will bring to your attention.

How strong is it?

Each purifier is not the same. Even within the same brand. Why? Because they have different power ratings. What now? Well, depending on your requirements you can choose a powerful unit or a less powerful one.

Let me explain what factors will dictate this choice for you:

Room sizes.
The number of pets.
Allergies (if any) in your household.

These are the factors that you need to take into consideration before choosing the best power level for you. Obviously, you may not always need the most powerful device on the market, because your needs may be minimal, are you with me?

Feature Set

Each model has different features that you need to consider. Such as:

Temperature control.
Odor control.
Colour of the air filter.
etc.

These are some examples to consider before you make your choice. Obviously, some features will be more important to you than others.

Sound Level

Sound is another key factor, in my opinion. Remember, you will have this thing on 24-7, so if it’s noisy, it might drive you insane! Features such as the following exist:

Volume control.
Timer settings (different volumes at different parts of the day).
Ultra-quiet modes.
etc.

The Best Air Purifier for cats (Winix vs Honeywell vs Envion)

In this section, I will reveal my 3 best air purifiers for cats, which are based on Winix, Honeywell, and Envion. I will explain the good things as well as some nuances that I need to let you know ahead of time to help you choose an ideal one for you.

Winix Air Purifier (Best All-rounder)

Click here to see the price on Amazon #Ad

Pros:

Light sensor, to detect when to flip into sleep mode.
Energy-efficient, you save your bill costs.
Destroys cat odor (Ideal for cat smells)
User manuals are well written.

Cons:

Prefilter is a bit flimsy.
Bright blue LED light can be annoying.
Fan speed: Seems to be a drastic difference between full speed & lower setting.

What I like about this Winix

Firstly, this is a great air purifier. It deals with stinky cat odor very well. It also has a clever light sensor. This sensor is ideal if you are like me and tend to fall asleep going down a youtube rabbit hole and forget to manually change the device. Why? Because it will automatically change itself to sleep mode.

In addition to this, it is very good for energy efficiency. It will help to reduce costs, in comparison to other devices. Also, it has a great user manual, with helpful diagrams for people that need these things, like me! 😉

What I don’t like about this Winix

Firstly, it has a washable prefilter, which is good. But, as you wash the device you see how flimsy it is. Maybe it’s just me, but I could see how this could be a potential headache for the future. Not a deal-breaker mind you.

The device comes with a bright blue LED light, like most devices. However, I need to put more emphasis on “bright” LED lights. It is, in my opinion, a bit too bright.

The fan speed is interesting. It works very well, don’t get me wrong. It’s just one thing, the speeds. In particular, from the top speed to the next level down. It seems to be a drastic change in speed. It almost feels like there should be a setting in between.

Honeywell Air Purifier

Click here to see the price on Amazon #Ad

Pros:

Very quiet (you might forget it’s running).
Collects a lot of dust.
Washable prefilter.
Captures most airborne particles (e.g. Smoke, pollen, dander, etc.)

Cons:

It makes the room feel cold.
Prefilter does not seal around the edges well.

What I like about this Honeywell

One of the best things about this device is the fact that it is very quiet. It’s great for this. Even in the highest setting, it’s quiet. The manufacturers claim that it will capture most particles that float through the air such as smoke, pollen, dander, etc. I can say it’s great for dust.

What I don’t like about this Honeywell

The fans work well, however, the fan makes the room feel cold, in my opinion. This really may not be an issue for most people, in fact, they may see this as a feature, especially in a hot country. Another observation is the edges around the prefilter. It is a minor issue, but the foam strip that is stuck around it doesn’t seal very well. Obviously, it’s far from a deal-breaker.

Envion Air Purifier

Click here to see the price on Amazon #Ad

Pros:

Energy Efficient.
Purifies the air in medium or even large rooms (up to 500 sq. feet.)
Runs very quiet.
Removes airborne allergens (+ mold spores & Flu viruses)

Cons:

The LED light is quite bright.
Not very easy to maintain & clean.

What I like about this Envion

According to the manufacturers, this device has the ability to purify a medium or even large room. In fact, they state it will cover up to 500 sq. feet. I love the fact that it runs very quietly, you won’t notice this “bad boy” running!

Also, it is energy efficient. Which is an important factor, in my opinion. The manufacturers state that it uses less energy than one of those small fluorescent bubs.

What I don’t like about this Envion

Firstly, I have to comment on the blue LED light on the device. It’s a bit too bright in my opinion. And, it would be a good additional feature if you could turn it off.

Also, if you a clean freak, like me, then you will get frustrated while trying to clean this thing. I am not if it’s just me, but there is no obvious way to remove the blades and thoroughly clean them. I am sure there is a way, but it shouldn’t be this hard.

What’s my best Air Purifier Winix, Honeywell, or Envion?

This is my favorite choice (Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad). Simply because of its amazing light sensor that can force it into sleep mode, energy efficiency clears odors well and comes with some well-written instructions.