What Makes the Best Air Purifier for Cat Allergies?

Cat allergies are among the most common of pet allergies, and someone suffering from cat allergies will usually have all the typical symptoms - sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing, etc. If you're one of the millions of unfortunate sufferers, you know the awful feeling living with a cat usually brings. You don't have to give away the pleasure of owning a cat; there are solutions to this.

Cat allergens can be found in a cat's "skin flakes" (dander), saliva, and urine. The allergens are spread all over the air and stick to any surface, so the allergens are very easy to distribute. Luckily, an air purifier can help drastically cut down the allergens and improve your quality of life. This guide gives you the information you need to find the optimal air purifier for cat allergies, backed by our research into what air purifiers to look out for!

Why Do You Need an Air Purifier for Cat Allergies?

If you have an allergy to cats, you are reacting to the proteins produced in their saliva, urine, and dander. When a cat licks itself, these proteins become airborne as microscopic particles and can easily enter your respiratory passages to cause an allergic response. As cats shed dander continuously throughout the day, treating the air in your home for allergens is the only way to assuage the root cause of these allergies. An air purifier can help with that.

Air purifiers use air filtration to remove particles in the air that can cause harm, including pet dander, dust, pollen, and odors. A good air purifier can reduce a significant amount of allergens to help you create a cleaner home, as well as a healthier environment that may alleviate issues related to allergies.

Key Features to Look For in an Air Purifier

When choosing the right air purifier for cat allergies, you should consider the following essential features:

1. True HEPA Filter

If you have an allergy to cats, a True HEPA filter is a necessity. True HEPA filters are certified to have the ability to catch 99.97% of particles in air down to 0.3 microns. Cat dander typically ranges from 1-5 microns in size, which means for someone allergic to cats, it is very important. A HEPA filter is able to trap the small particles and in turn help remove the allergens from the air, helping to bring relief from allergic reactions to your cats!

Nonetheless, HEPA is a generic term and not all HEPA filters are the same. Be sure to find a model that states they use True HEPA technology as some are using a lesser quality filter which does not handle the smaller particles.

2. Activated Carbon Filter

Cats can be cute, but they also stink, especially when not cleaning their litter box on a regular basis. An activated carbon filter will help to absorb and neutralize odors from your home (and not just cat litter odors). An activated carbon filter uses charcoal to trap odiferous smells and has the capability to trap odors from litter boxes or other smells caused by your "little" feline friend. Activated carbon filter is especially beneficial if you are looking to have your home odor-free because you have allergies.

3. Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)

The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is a measurement that shows how effective an air cleaner is at removing particulates from the air in a given area. CADR is reported for different pollutants, including dust, pollen, and smoke. When shopping for an air cleaner for cat allergies, you should focus on the dust CADR because cat dander can be similar in size to dust particles. In general, the higher the CADR, the better the performance. Look for an air cleaner that has a dust CADR of at least 200-300 for decent allergen removal.

4. Room Size Compatibility

The effectiveness of an air purifier will depend on whether the purifier is adequately sized to your room. If the purifier is too small, it will not be sufficiently effective at filtering allergens. Be sure to check the manufacturer's recommendations for room size and compare that with the size of the room where the purifier will be used. When selecting a purifier for large rooms or large open spaces, consider a larger air purifier with a higher CADR.

5. Noise Level

Noise is a big issue if you'll have your air purifier running in your bedroom while you sleep. Some air purifiers can be quite loud and make it difficult for you to relax or even sleep. When choosing an air purifier, on top of finding out the effectiveness against cat allergies, you should also look into how noisy they are. Most of the time higher-end brands are fairly quiet or have low noise outputs while still being effective.

6. Maintenance and Filter Replacement

An air purifier performs best when it has clean and functioning filters. Do not only consider the pure performance of the filters, assume that you will keep the replacement filters clean, and choose a model that has easy-to-change filters, with information too about how often they need to be replaced. A HEPA filter would typically be replaced every 6 to 12 months, with activated carbon filters being every 3 to 6 months. If you can find a model with washable pre-filters, this will help preserve your other filters, saving you money.

Recommended Air Purifiers for Cat Allergies

After considering the important features above, here are three top-rated air purifiers for cat allergies that are proven to deliver excellent performance:

1. Nuwave OxyPure Portable Air Purifier

The Nuwave OxyPure Portable Air Purifier combines incredible power and portability, which makes it a good option for anyone dealing with allergies. The air purifier has a True HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter, so it can work to remove cat dander and odors from the air in your home. It works great in smaller rooms or apartments, and it also makes it easy to move from room to room when needed.

Key Features:

• True HEPA filter for removing airborne allergens
• Activated carbon filter for neutralizing odors
• Portable and easy to move around
• Effective for rooms up to 350 square feet

Price: $139.99
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2. Nuwave Forever Smart Air Purifier

The Nuwave Forever Smart Air Purifier is notable for its filtration system, which lasts longer than traditional filtration systems, so no ongoing filter change is required. The air purifier has a True HEPA filtration system with advanced filtration technology to capture cat dander, dust, and other allergens. It also has smart sensors that automatically adjust the air purifier based on the air quality.

Key Features:

• Smart sensors for automatic adjustment
• No need for filter replacements—Forever filter technology
• True HEPA filter for allergen removal
• Suitable for medium to large-sized rooms

Price: $499.99
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3. Nuwave OxyPure Zero Plus Air Purifier

If you want a more advanced option, the Nuwave OxyPure Zero Plus Air Purifier delivers the highest level of filtration for large rooms and also very effective for whole houses that have more than one cat. The OxyPure system in Nuwave uses multiple layers of filtration, including True HEPA, activated carbon, and a special anti-microbial filter, making it an extremely effective air purifier for feline allergens. With Zero Filter Replacement, you won't have to replace filters every year or so, making it an economical solution that is also better for the environment.

Key Features:

• Multiple layers of filtration for maximum allergen removal
• Zero filter replacement technology
• Ideal for large rooms and homes with multiple cats
• High CADR for optimal performance

Price: $799.99
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Final Thoughts

Selecting an effective air purifier for cat allergies can significantly increase your quality of life, allowing you to breathe better and enjoy time with your pet. You'll want to use air purifiers that have True HEPA filters, activated carbon filters, and adequate CADR ratings. You'll also want to consider the size of the room, how much noise you can tolerate, how much maintenance you will want to do, etc. If you invest in a solid air purifier, you should be able to enjoy time with your cat without too much trouble with your allergies, it will instead be just an inconvenience.

If you decide to stick with a quality model like the Nuwave OxyPure Portable model, Nuwave Forever Smart, or Nuwave OxyPure Zero Plus, you can protect your home from allergens that pose significant risks to your health, allowing both you and your cat to live in a cleaner and healthier environment.

Visit Nuwave today for the most trustworthy home appliances brand on the market!