Kitties reactions to HEPA Filters & Air Purifiers

[Cleo]

A while back I dragged my HEPA filter out of the closet into my bedroom, turned it on and my 2 year old Molly went beserk. A small room fan makes more noise than the HEPA but for whatever reason she freaked. Unplugged it and pushed it to the side.

Over the weekend we picked up an Ionic Breeze Air Purifier at the Sharper Image. Too bad it was an impulse buy and I didn't research it first. It got a low rating with Consumer Report but I have 60 days to take it back.

So this one is noiseless and does not blow cool air like the HEPA did and this time around it was my 3 year old Keeks who freaked. Do these things emit a high pitched frequency or something?

So I pack that one back up in the box and plug the HEPA back in thinking Molly may have gotten over it. Wrong. She cried all night, nonstop. A few people have told me to "let her get used to it, she's a brat, let her tough it out, don't give into her, blah blah blah". Sorry but I don't need a sick kitty as the result of stress that certainly can be avoided, right? I'll just keep puffing on my inhalers.

So while I test drive a few air purifiers out there in the hopes that one model will please both kitties as well as my lungs, does anyone have a clue as to why my two cats had the reactions they did?

Thanks!
Cleo

[davet]

just a guess but there probably is a high piched whine from the motor that bugs your cat...why don't you ask your vet if you can give a touch of bendadryl to your cat before turing the filter on...in acts like a sedative and may relax her till she gets used to it....if it down't work, no harm done other than that youmight have to have a radio on or something to cover the motor whine which your cat hears due to more sensative ears than yours....

[Yzma]

what if you turn it on and your cats are like as far away from it as possible? like in different rooms? that might help with getting them used to it a bit....

[Tina B and crew]

We had one in the cat room at the office and the cats didn't seem to be bothered by it at all...so maybe it's just certain cats and certain machines

[Mona]

I have one in the living room and one in our bedroom, which Chloe climbs up on top of all the time.

These are Alpine Air and one hepa air filter box.

They do not seem to be drawn to or irritated by them though. I wonder if the Ionic breeze gives off a high pitched sound only heard by animals?

MOna, Honeybun and Chloe

[Cleo]

Thanks guys. I'm still not sure about the Ionic Breeze machine giving off a high pitch or not but we all slept well in the bedroom last and Keeks didn't seem to be bothered by it after a while. Even though it's only been a short time I think I'm noticing a difference in the air quality when I walk into my bedroom. Maybe it's just mind over matter but before I spend the money on a machine in each room, I'll still test drive it.

Thanks again!

[LisaLisa]

Hi Cleo,

I hope all goes well with your kitties. I was thinking about buying an Ionic Breeze. My friend has one and has a dog Otis doesn't have any problems with the noise (but then again, he's not a cat). My friend thinks that it makes a difference in the air quality.

Please let us know how it goes.