Flea allergies: Even one flea bite can cause your cat’s immune system to go into overdrive, which can lead to biting, itching, and sores. To solve this problem, make sure you give your cat regular flea preventative treatments.

Food sensitivities: Certain grains such as corn can cause allergic reactions. Low-quality meats or meat byproducts can also cause sensitivity. If you suspect your cat’s food is an issue, feed her a premium-quality food with meat as the first ingredient and grains other than corn.

Chemical sensitivities: Cats can be very sensitive to chemicals and artificial fragrances such as those used in detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and plug-in air fresheners. Try removing these products from your home and see if that helps.

If all else fails, take a look at the article veterinarian Dr. Patty Khuly recently wrote in her blog about using Zyrtec (cetirizine) to treat cat allergies. Talk to your vet and see what he or she thinks about this. Remember, do NOT give your cat any medications without veterinary supervision!

Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.

Use only lukewarm water (hot water can be counter-productive and stimulate more dander production) and a mild cat shampoo. Some of the cat shampoos on the market are even soap-free. Bathing every other week will condition the skin and hair while removing dander and saliva. Keep the water flow warm and gentle and eventually your furry friend may even look forward to bath time!

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

There’s always pet insurance, but studies show only about 2-3 percent of insurable pets actually are insured. This may be because the monthly cost of the insurance outweighs the total benefits you receive. Or, in these times of budgeting every penny, a monthly fee may just be too much.

Luckily, there are other alternatives for meds. If you belong to a medication savings club at a local pharmacy, you can find out if the medication prescribed for your pet has a human equivalent. This should be covered under your plan. If you have a Walgreens near you, you’re really in luck. They cover many human-equivalent pet medications and you can even put your pet on your account. Another option is using a discount pet med online service such as www.1800petmeds.com or www.petcarerx.com. You’ll often get free shipping and up to a 50% discount. These options will almost certainly cost you less than filling a prescription at the vet.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

Washing also applies to areas without zip-off covers – if you can’t remove the cover, keep a big towel or blanket covering the area where the cat spends most of his time hanging out and wash that cover at least once a week.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

The carpet types that are easiest to clean are those that have low pile height and density, fluorocarbon-coated fiber and high-denier filament. What’s the absolute best? Easy-to-clean hard-surfaced floors: linoleum, vinyl, stone, tile, bamboo or wood.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.