DEAR MISS MANNERS: I recently bought a fairly expensive set of deck furniture (sofa and chairs), which I use frequently. The problem is that there is always cat hair all over the furniture.
I don’t own a cat because I am severely allergic and can’t have cat hair anywhere close to me without taking allergy meds (which only lessen the symptoms, not eliminate them). My children are just as allergic.
I’ve seen my neighbors’ white cat in my (fully fenced) yard every day, which is fine, since I’ve never had to touch him, and he generally stays on the outskirts. That’s the only cat I’ve seen in my yard.
Against my better judgment, I tried to clean the furniture with a roller brush, but the cat hair will not come off. I can’t use my vacuum, because then it would have cat hair inside it and I’d have to get rid of it.
I might have to throw away my furniture at this rate. How responsible are my neighbors for this problem? And if they are responsible, how do I bring this up without offending them?
I just want to use my deck. I’m getting hives as I write this.
GENTLE READER: So many people use allergies as an excuse to avoid animals (and food) they do not like that Miss Manners thinks you would jump at the chance to use them legitimately:
“I wonder if there’s a way to keep Snowball out of our yard. Unfortunately, my family is severely allergic, and she got onto our furniture. We’re having real trouble getting the hair out, if you have any tips.”
At this point, decent neighbors would take pains to control their pet and offer to clean -- or replace -- your furniture.
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Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.