Whether you’re wondering how to get rid of cat dander in a new house or you’ve recently noticed your furry feline friend might be giving you allergy symptoms, it’s time to learn how to identify cat dander vs dandruff and how to remove it from your home.

Luckily, you won’t have to rehome your cat, but you will learn how to minimize cat dander and our best suggestions on getting rid of cat dander if you’ve recently moved.

What Causes Cat Dander And Why Is It Important To Control It?

Small fragments of dead skin cats shed, along with proteins from their saliva and sebaceous glands, make up cat dander. Allergy sufferers respond to these proteins. Dander is often more common in cats with dry skin, poor grooming practices, or certain medical issues such as allergies or skin disorders.

Because cat dander can cause allergies, respiratory problems, and discomfort for those who are sensitive to it, it's important to control it. Excessive dander can build up in the house and degrade air quality. Dander's negative effects on your family’s health can be reduced by grooming your cat regularly, feeding them a healthy diet, and ensuring your home is clean.

What Does Cat Dander Look Like?

Cat dander is microscopic, and invisible to the human eye, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t living on most surfaces. Cat dandruff can be visible and will mostly appear as white, semi-transparent little flakes on your pet. Sometimes dandruff will also have bits of hair or fur stuck to it. One of the best ways to minimize cat dander, is to regularly wash your feline friend. They may not appreciate baths, but piling on dry shampoo will only cause dander and dandruff to accumulate whereas baths will assist their regular grooming and can help remove loose hair and dead skin cell build-up.

What is the Difference Between Cat Dander vs Dandruff

One of the biggest differences between cat dander vs dandruff is that cat dander is microscopic. Although dander is invisible to the human eye, it is made of skin cells that shed naturally from your pet. Dandruff, on the other hand, is visible, since it’s composed of skin cells that build up and clump together, sometimes along with bits of hair.

How to Get Rid of Cat Dander in a New House

Congratulations! You’ve just become a new homeowner. Imagine the excitement of moving into your new house just to find that you or a family member suddenly begin suffering from allergies

You may not be aware that the previous owner was the dedicated owner of 3 cats, and suddenly, you’re scrambling to figure out how to get rid of cat dander in a new house.

Here are some easy steps that will teach you how to start minimizing cat dander to relieve those uncomfortable allergy symptoms.

1. Clean everything from the top down
2. Wash all fabrics
3. Wipe down all surfaces
4. Thoroughly clean floors
5. Replace air filters

Start Cleaning from the Top

Cat dander can latch on to any and all surfaces, from walls to curtains. If you’ve moved into a new home, you may be considering repainting or making changes to the home anyway. The best solution to minimize cat dander instantly is to start by using a damp microfiber towel to wipe down your home’s walls. Starting at the top means any dander that doesn’t cling to your microfiber rag will hopefully end up on the ground, which will be the last step in your thorough cleaning spree. It can feel daunting to have to wipe down all the walls in your home, so start with the bedroom of the allergy sufferer as well as common areas they may spend the most time in.

Wash All Fabrics

Since cat dander can live on fabrics, if your home has curtains or blinds, these will need to be washed. Most curtains can be easily washed in a washing machine, and even some blinds can be taken down and sprayed clean with a hose outside before being hung back up. If the previous owner left behind any upholstered furniture or rugs, consider shampooing these thoroughly. At minimum you’ll need to vacuum and use a lint roller to minimize cat dander particles.

Wipe Down Surfaces

Wipe down all surfaces including countertops, any furniture or mantels, window casings or shelves that have been left in your new home. Any area can become a home to those microscopic cat dander particles and using a damp microfiber towel with a gentle cleansing spray will help minimize the spread of those tiny particles.

Thoroughly Clean Floors

Whether they’re carpet, tile, or real hardwood, your floors will need a deep clean since this is where most of the cat dander, as well as dust, pollen, and other pollutants often settle. Consider renting a carpet cleaner or a steam cleaner if your home doesn’t have carpet. A steam cleaner will often let you add cleaning agents that help eliminate bacteria also found on the floor. While you do this, make sure you’re wiping down all baseboards. These will probably have accumulated a decent amount of dust, dander, and dirt over time, especially if the house wasn’t cleaned once the previous owner moved out.

Replace Your Air Filter

Air filters work to remove pollutants that affect your indoor air quality. Choosing a higher MERV rating will help ensure that smaller pollutants, like cat dander, are also captured. At minimum you’ll need a MERV 11 air filter to capture pet dander, although a MERV 13 has the added benefit of helping prevent the spread of airborne bacteria and viruses. If you’ve moved into an older home, you may actually want to consider cleaning your air ducts. Dirty air ducts can store pet dander and other pollutants including mold spores that have slowly built up over time.

These steps to getting rid of cat dander in a new home should help alleviate lingering cat allergy symptoms, but it may take a few cleaning sessions to properly remove all irritants. Although it may seem extreme, if you’re wondering how to control cat dander so you can avoid rehoming your pet, repeating the process often may be necessary.

Can Diet Changes Help Reduce Cat Dander?

The proper diet can potentially reduce cat dander by improving your cat's overall skin and coat health. 

A well-balanced diet high in omega fatty acids is good for your cat, promoting good skin and lessening the dryness that can cause excessive cat dander. High-quality proteins give their coats a healthy gloss. Supplementing their diet with fish or flaxseed oils with a vet's supervision can improve the moisture on their skin and reduce shedding. Always give your cat fresh water to keep them hydrated. Before you make any significant diet changes for your cat, speak to a veterinarian. 

What Household Cleaning Practices Can Reduce Dander In The Home?

Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to capture tiny dander particles when vacuuming your carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture. Dust surfaces using damp towels to capture dander and prevent it from dispersing into the atmosphere. To get rid of dander, wash your cat's bedding, blankets, and other items they come into contact with in hot water. Cat dander is microscopic so you can’t always see it. It might show up in your house as tiny white flakes. 

Maintaining enough ventilation reduces the dander buildup, while using an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help remove it from the air. Mopping hard floors is recommended,  and washing drapes or curtains. Limit your cat’s access to sensitive locations like your bedroom, if possible, to reduce your exposure to dander. You can reduce the cat dander in your living environment if you keep your house clean. 

Are There Any Medical Treatments Or Products To Reduce Dander?

Medical treatments and products that help reduce cat dander exist to help your cat, especially if they have an underlying skin condition. Special shampoos and sprays for cats can moisturize their skin, reduce dryness, and minimize dander production. Dander-reducing wipes are also available. A veterinarian might suggest medicated shampoos, antihistamines, or Omega-3 supplements like omega-3 fatty acids to cats whose allergies or underlying skin disorders are causing large amounts of dander. Following certain prescription diets can reduce dander in your cat. Consult with a veterinarian about which before introducing a new diet or treatment to ensure they are safe for your cat.

How Often Should I Bathe My Cat To Control Dander?

Bathe your cat once a month or as your vet suggests to reduce dander. Bathing can sometimes deplete your cat's skin of its natural oils, which can cause dryness and possibly increase the production of dander. Using a moisturizing shampoo specifically for cats can keep their skin healthy while cleaning the coat. A veterinarian might recommend a special bathing plan, using medicated shampoos, for cats with sensitive skin. To maintain their coat and reduce dander without overbathing, use dander-reducing wipes. 

Can Environmental Factors Contribute To Cat Dander Production?

The amount of cat dander can be influenced by environmental conditions. Wintertime dry indoor air or residences with low humidity levels dry out their skin, which increases shedding. A cat's skin might get irritated and dander can worsen because of poor air quality, and exposure to dust, smoke, or other pollutants. Extremes in temperature can also have an impact on your cat's skin, which could increase dander. Dander can be reduced by keeping your cat's living environment clean, using air purifiers, and changing the air filters in your AC unit.

Why Should You Replace Your Air Filter If You Have a Cat?

If you have a cat, it's important to regularly check and change your air filter to prevent cat dander from getting worse. An air filter with a higher MERV rating helps ensure cat dander and other small pollutants get captured. A MERV 11 air filter can capture cat dander. MERV 13 filters don’t just trap pet dander, they also prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading in the air. While you’re changing your air filter, also consider getting your air ducts cleaned. 

Does Brushing Vary Based On A Cat's Fur Type?

Brushing techniques and frequency can vary based on your cat’s type of fur.

• Short-Haired Cats: To eliminate dander and loose hair, short-haired cats usually need to be brushed once or twice a week with a soft-bristle brush or grooming glove.
• Medium-Haired Cats: To avoid tangles and control shedding, brush your medium-haired cat two to three times a week with a slicker brush or comb.
• Long-Haired Cats: Cats with long hair, like Persians or Maine Coons, need frequent brushing to avoid tangles and mats. Their thick coats can be managed with a slicker brush and a wide-toothed comb.

Brushing that is appropriate for your cat's hair type keeps their fur manageable, encourages healthy skin, and reduces dander.

Can Allergies In Cats Cause More Dander?

Cat allergies can result in skin irritation, itching, inflammation, and increased dander. Excessive scratching, grooming, and shedding are the results of these symptoms. Chronic skin conditions including redness or dryness can worsen dander. Veterinarians offer treatment for cat allergies and the underlying causes with antihistamines, hypoallergenic diets, and medicated washes. These lessen cat allergy symptoms and dander.

How to Reduce Cat Dander

There are a few steps you can take to minimize cat dander in your home to keep your cat allergy symptoms at bay.

• Wash your cat – this may seem like a feat in itself but washing your cat can help minimize the amount of cat dander and dandruff that ends up laying around your house. It might seem unrealistic to battle with your cat each week, but if you can manage a monthly wash, this can help keep dander levels down.
• Clean your floors – you’d be doing this regardless of if you had a cat or not, but increasing the frequency of how often you wash and vacuum floors can definitely help reduce cat dander. Carpet fibers are excellent at trapping hair and dander, so adding in an occasional carpeting cleaning can also help remove the stubborn particles.
• Keep your cat out of your room – although most of us love snuggling with our pet, allowing your cat into your bedroom and on your bed will just lead to more cat dander accumulating in your personal space. Laying down to sleep and resting your head on the same pillow your cat spent hours napping on will aggravate your allergies, and you’ll end up feeling worse than if you kept your door closed and your cat out of your bedroom. If your cat insists on sleeping with you, make sure you wash bedding frequently, or at least twice a week.
• Upgrade your air filter – choosing a better air filter for cat allergies, such as a MERV 11 or MERV 13 filter will help trap the very pollutants that are triggering your symptoms. Having the best air filter for cat dander means you’re removing other pollutants from the air as well, such as pollen, airborne viruses, and mold. Improving the air you breathe indoors will help improve overall home wellness.

We hope our tips on how to get rid of cat dander help provide some guidance on keeping your home cleaner. For more ways to improve your indoor air quality and breathe easy, check out some of our other helpful tips.