I know the dilemma this issue presents -- I really don't have an answer. At one time, we had three dogs (all fairly small -- none over 30 pounds). We don't have kitties -- we live in a rural area that is plagued with coyotes, who are usually fatal to kitties, so we don't have them. Our furbaby canines have all left us, one by one, and after losing the last one I just didn't have the heart to get another. We are still cleaning dog hair! I'm asthmatic, so I could never have a kitty in the house for that reason and the reason that our canines were insanely jealous! I desperately try to keep quilts clean --but I do wash and dry before gifting!