Siberian Cats

Siberian cats and kittens; Cattery in Edmonton, Alberta

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Tips for Reducing Allergic Reaction to Pets

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Pet Allergies Tip 1: Change Your Environment

  • Keep Your Bedroom Pet-Free. Something as simple as making your bedroom a pet-free sanctuary “can significantly decrease levels of allergens” in that space, says Alan Goldsobel, MD, a spokesman for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Goldsobel also suggest switching to special bedding designed to be less permeable to allergens.
  •  Consider a HEPA Filter. HEPA filters remove tiny airborne pollutants, like dust mites, pollen, and pet dander, from the air you breathe. “Dander is so airy and light that HEPA filters can filter it out of the air,” reducing your exposure, Chiu tells WebMD. Within a given area stand-alone filters are typically more effective than a whole-house HEPA system, Chiu adds. As for those air de-ionizers/purifiers often hawked on late-night infomercials, they may make allergies worse by releasing harmful ozone gas.
  • Learn to Love Housework. “I try to vacuum the bedroom frequently and change furnace filters to reduce the dander in the air,” says Herrig. Other allergy sufferers tackle pet allergies by shampooing rugs regularly, changing people and pet bedding frequently, wiping down walls where pets rub, and dusting often. And to reduce the number of places where allergens can build up, Goldsobel suggests converting to hard-surface floor and minimizing the amount of upholstered furniture in your home

Pet Allergies Tip 2: Change Yourself

  • Wash Your Hands. Some people bathe their companion animals in an effort to reduce pet dander, but this approach is “very transient” Goldsobel tells WebMD. While washing does decrease the amount of shed allergens, the effect lasts mere days — while the cat’s bad mood may last far longer! More effective is giving yourself a scrub by washing hands and face frequently.
  • Mediate With Medication. Over-the-counter allergy medications, such as antihistamines, can relieve mild allergy symptoms like nasal congestion and itchy eyes, but they won’t help asthma-type symptoms, such as wheezing and chest tightness. Talk to your primary care physician or an allergist if you think you’ll benefit from prescription allergy medication.
  • Consider Allergy Shots. If you know you’ll be around pets long-term — for example, your young kids have a new puppy — you might want to consider allergy shots. These shots are also called allergy vaccines. Allergy shots help you develop protective antibodies so that you won’t have an allergic reaction when exposed to an allergen. Allergy shots require patience, however. It can take almost a year of weekly injections before you convert to monthly maintenance doses, then another 3-5 years of monthly shots before you no longer have allergy symptoms — and need no more medication.
  •  Understand Your Environment. No matter how religiously you clean, you’ll still be exposed to dander. Pet allergens are “sticky,” making it easy for people to carry them on their clothes. This explains why you’ll find them in places that have no pets, such as schools, workplaces, and pet-free homes.
  • Expand Your Definition of “Pet.” If, after Fido or Fifi have passed on, you still crave a pet’s companionship, think creatures without feathers or fur. Allergy experts recommend turtles, geckos, lizards, snakes, fish — even tarantulas.

Finally, “don’t give up hope,” says Anthony Herrig. With a few lifestyle changes and a little help, you can enjoy pets all your life!

Source: Web MD

Living with Cat Allergies

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DSC_4748Does interacting with your feline companion bring tears of agony instead of tears of joy? In addition to itchy, watery eyes, do you exhibit other symptoms such as runny nose, rash, hives, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, asthma or other breathing problems?

Contrary to popular belief, cat hair itself is not allergenic. The cause of allergy to cats is a protein called Fel d 1 emanating from sebum found in the sebaceous glands of cats. The protein attaches itself to dried skin, called dander, that flakes off and floats through the air when cats wash themselves. Although you may never be able to eliminate all your allergy symptoms, following these suggestions can help make living with your cat a more enjoyable experience.Like an estimated 2 percent of the U.S. population, you suffer from an allergy to cats and, like about one-third of those people, you’ve chosen to keep your cat companion. But at what cost?

  1. Designate your bedroom as a cat-free zone. Begin your program of allergen reduction by washing bedding, drapes and pillows. Better yet, replace them. Use plastic covers that are designed to prevent allergens from penetrating on your mattress and pillows. Allergen-proof covers are available from medical supply outlets. Don’t expect results overnight. Cat allergens are one-sixth the size of pollens, and it may take months to reduce them significantly.
  2. Restrict your cat’s access to designated areas inside your home. If you have a safe outdoor enclosure, allow your cat some time outside where dander will waft away in the wind. Brush your cat in the fresh-air enclosure to prevent loose, allergen-carrying hair from dispersing through your home.
  3. Eliminate allergen traps such as upholstered furniture and rugs. Carpet can accumulate up to 100 times the amount of cat allergens as hardwood flooring, so replacing the wall-to-wall with wood will keep allergens from accumulating as much. If ripping up the carpet is not an option, have it steam cleaned as often as needed.
  4. Vacuuming blows as many allergens through the air as it removes, so when you vacuum, use an allergen-proof vacuum cleaner bag or a vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter.
  5. Get some fresh air. Highly insulated homes trap allergens as well as heat, so open the windows to increase the ventilation in your home, and run window fans on exhaust. (But remember to always screen windows so kitty stays safely indoors.) Also, clean the air inside your home. Although nothing will remove all of the allergens present, running an air cleaner with a HEPA filter will help.
  6. Wipe the dander away. Bathing a cat often is suggested as a way to reduce the dander, but experts disagree on its effectiveness. “Bathing a cat was once believed to be helpful,” say Dr. Robert Zuckerman, an allergy and asthma specialist in Harrisburg, PA, “but the cat would have to be washed almost daily.” Instead, daily use of products such as Pal’s Quick Cleansing Wipes™ will remove saliva and dander from your cat’s hair and are less stressful for felines who prefer not to be rubbed in the tub.
  7. Spray allergens away. Anti-allergen sprays are a convenient way to deactivate allergens, including those produced by pets. Allersearch ADS, made from plant-based, non-toxic substances, can be sprayed throughout the house to take the sting out of household dust by rendering allergens harmless.
  8. Clean the cat box. Cat allergen is found in urine and is left in the litter box when your cat makes a deposit. To help prevent allergic reactions to the litter box, use a brand of litter that is less dusty and have someone in the household who is not allergenic clean the box.
  9. Take your medicine. Over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines, decongestants, eye drops and aerosol inhalers will help reduce the symptoms, although they do not eliminate the allergy. If you prefer to take a holistic approach, try Nettle tea, a bioflavinoid called quercetin or acupuncture. In recent studies antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E have demonstrated significant anti-allergen effects.
  10. Get tested. An allergy specialist can determine the exact source of your allergic reactions by a simple prick of the skin on your arm or back.
  11. Look at the whole picture. Because allergies rarely come individually wrapped, other culprits, such as dust mites and pollen, may be causing reactions, too. “An individual rarely has a single allergy,” says Zuckerman. “A cat owner may be able to tolerate contact with the cat in winter, but when spring arrives, all the allergies together may prove unbearable.”
  12. Build up resistance. There is no cure for allergy to cats, but immunotherapy may help increase your tolerance. Immunotherapy involves getting allergy shots once or twice weekly for up to six months, then monthly boosters for three to five years. Some individuals develop complete immunity, while others continue to need shots, and still others find no relief at all.

Coping with an allergy to cats is nothing to sneeze at. It’s a commitment. After all, shelters receive cats for this reason every day. Hopefully, following these tips will make a world of difference.

Karen Commings is the author of “Manx Cats” (Barron’s, 1999), “The Shorthaired Cat” and “Shelter Cats” (Howell Book House, 1996 and 1998, respectively).

Source: https://www.petfinder.com/cats/living-with-your-cat/cat-allergies/

 

Contract


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Kitten Purchase Agreement   

This contract refers to a registered and purebred Siberian Kitten, sold as pet.

The Breeder has the right, at her discretion, to cancel this contract at any time before delivery of the cat. In this case, the full deposit will be returned to the Purchaser.

Should the Purchaser cancel this agreement before the cat is delivered, or fail to pay the outstanding balance at the time of the pick up, the kitten may be withheld, or sold to another person, and the Purchaser’s full deposit will be retained as a cancellation fee.

PRICE OF KITTEN: $1299 (un-neutered);  

Deposit is due once application is approved  $200.00 / non-refundable. The remaining amount is expected 24-48 hours prior to kitten pick up. No personal cheques are accepted.

PICK UP:   kitten must be picked up by the buyer at 12 weeks old.

Pre-Placement Veterinary Care: The breeder will ensure that the kittens are checked by a licensed Veterinarian at least once before leaving to their new homes. Our kittens will receive a minimum of 2 sets of vaccines as recommended by our Veterinarian (one of these vaccines will be breeder administered).  The new owners are expected to take the kitten to their own vet for a checkup within 30 days of purchase  for the health guarantee to be valid. The kitten will need a final vaccine at 16 weeks of age to complete the booster series.  Please schedule this appointment with your vet.  The kitten will be de-wormed at approximately 6 and 12 weeks on a preventative basis. The use of the FIP, FIV, Ringworm, or Giardia vaccines will void all genetic and FIP health guarantees as these vaccines can have serious long term effects on the immune systems, and potential risks that outweigh the benefits.  Please, DO NOT GET RABIES SHOT AT THE SAME TIME AS THE FINAL VACCINE. Its too much stress for their developing immune systems.

Returns: Our Cattery will accept the return of a kitten within a 2-week period of time. A refund will be provided (minus deposit, which is retained by the breeder as an agreed upon “contract-cancellation fee”) The kitten must be returned in a healthy condition. Purchaser agrees to pay veterinary costs if the kitten needs medical attention upon its return.  Purchaser also covers all return/shipping costs.  If an older kitten/cat is returned we will offer partial refund of the purchase price (based on the price we are able to re-sell the kitten for).  If it is necessary to re-home this kitten at any age, breeder will assist in finding a suitable home. 

Declawing: Kitten/cat must not be declawed. Declawing surgically removes the ends of the cat front toes to the first knuckle. Declawing can alter your kitten’s personality, health, and behavior. Our  kittens have had their nails trimmed from an early age and are used to having this done; please continue to trim the nails and provide adequate scratching posts and acceptable places for scratching.

Indoor Pet:  Purchaser agrees that the cat will live indoor, and will not be allowed outdoor unsupervised.

Genetic Illness and Health Guarantee: The kitten is guaranteed to be of sound health upon arrival into Purchaser’s care, including up to date vaccinations and a health record. There is a 3-year guarantee provided in case of loss of a kitten due to a genetic disease such as HMC and PKD in which case a replacement kitten will be provided upon proof of death from a certified veterinarian (autopsy results are required). (HMC: Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy/PKD: Polycystic Kidney Disease); if the kitten/cat dies due to genetic disease within 3 years from the date of transfer it will be replaced with a kitten of like quality within the following 12 months of receipt of diagnosis via necropsy by an authorized lab.

NO refunds will be provided. In all cases, the Breeder’s liability shall not exceed the value of the kitten.

Guarantee does not apply to parasites as these are generally easily treatable.

Guarantee does not apply to other illnesses or injuries. Kittens and cats are living creatures and as such they may become injured, or ill at any point of time in their life. The Buyer agrees to provide health care for the lifetime of this pet, and is prepared to cover all the costs associated with the cat’s health and wellbeing. If a cat is diagnosed with illness, the owner is responsible for providing the necessary care for the animal; however, the breeder would like to be informed of the cat’s health status.

Health monitoring of our breeding cats and their offspring is very important to us, and cats that do not produce healthy kittens are removed from our breeding program.

FIP- ( feline infectious peritonitis) is not a genetic disease, but a virus. Unfortunately, FIP is fatal. Most cats that develop FIP are under two years of age. There is no diagnostic tests for FIP. It is our understanding that a compromised immune system may play a role in developing FIP , making some kittens more susceptible to this illness. Our FIP guarantee covers kittens (does not apply to adults) for death due to FIP – up to the 2nd birthday. Confirmation of diagnosis via necropsy by an authorized lab is required. Seller will replace the kitten with another of like quality within 12 months from the date of receipt of confirmed diagnosis. No cash refunds are provided.

 Release of Liability: Seller is not liable for expenses incurred (including medical) due to or as a result of the above cat/kitten’s actions. Seller does not guarantee hypoallergenic qualities, eye color or shade, coat color or shade, coat length, size, weight, quality, or personality of cat/kitten. Buyer understands that while our kittens are socialized up to the time of their placement, continued socialization and interactions will help determine the cat’s personality as an adult.  There are no cash refunds for any of the above stated reasons. Except as stated in this contract, breeder makes no statements as to the ultimate quality of this cat at maturity, or life-long health status of this pet, nor does breeder assume any other financial obligations for this cat.

Registration: Registration/ Breeder slip from TICA will be provided upon request. It is the owner’s choice if they want to request a pedigree from TICA (at their own cost) based on the registration slip provided by the breeder.

Spaying and Neutering: we offer Early Spay & Neuter program (ESN) on request. There is a $250 fee for ESN surgery. This cost is to be covered by the new owner prior to kitten pick up. If whole kitten is purchased, the new owner agrees to spay/neuter it at 4-6 months of life, or prior to reaching sexual maturity (first heat in females).

Proper Care: Buyer agrees to provide proper housing, diet, fresh water, parasite control, and general health care for the Kitten for its lifetime, including the completion of routine immunizations and boosters and prompt veterinary care for any illness, or condition requiring medication or surgery.

Transition to new home: The Kitten is ready for their new home at 12 weeks old; It should be isolated from other pets for a minimum of 72 hours to allow the Kitten to acclimatize to its new surroundings. Any changes to the kitten’s diet should be made slowly, as sudden diet changes may result in episodes of diarrhea. Buyer agrees to feed a high quality, preferably, grain free diet; canned food and/or balanced raw meat diet.

Transfer of Kitten: Buyer agrees that the Kitten will at no time be sold, leased, or transferred to any pet shop, animal dealer, animal research facility, animal shelter, nor anyone who has ever been convicted of neglect or cruelty to any human or animal. Buyer agrees not to abandon the Kitten. It is the intention of Seller that this be a permanent placement. If at any time Buyer becomes unable or unwilling to keep the Kitten/Cat, Buyer’s first course of action shall be to contact the Breeder. If immediate re-homing is not necessary, the Breeder shall work with the Buyer to find a suitable home. If immediate rehoming is needed, the Buyer shall return the cat/kitten to the Breeder including all registration documents. No refunds are provided.

 Shipping Charges & Agreement: we do not ship kittens.

In signing this document, Buyer acknowledges that he/she has read and understands the terms of this agreement, and that Buyer agrees to all of the terms and conditions of the above sale. By signing this contract, the Breeder and the Purchaser consider it to be legally binding. Purchaser & Breeder agrees that in case of any legal action all proceedings would take place in Edmonton, Alberta.

Please read  “Allergies” article on our website.