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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

DD had a reaction when we visited potential adoptive kittens

21 replies

Thingvellir · 07/01/2017 17:31

Does this mean adopting is a definite no? She has been around cats in the past without issue, and has also had a medical allergy test for cats (scratch test) which showed no allergy. Is it likely she would be fine after a few weeks exposure or would taking kittens in be unreasonable?

We had our heart set on adopting cats now we've finally moved to a house that's appropriate for them, but if DD is allergic we clearly would not be able to

Just wondering what you wise cat people of the Litter tray think....

OP posts:

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feelingsleepy · 07/01/2017 17:33

I'm allergic but we've always had cats since I was little and managed fine. Depends how badly she reacts and in what way. I wouldn't risk it with asthma personally but for me as long as I wash hands after stroking them and make sure my kids do the same then it's fine. I just get swollen eyes/mild rash if I touch my face. How did she react?

Soubriquet · 07/01/2017 17:34

What sort of reaction is it?

Could she be ok with taking antihistamines?

My dh is allergic to cats only his triggers his asthma so could be deadly. We still have a cat however. He has discovered that long hair cats don't give him the same reaction.

Maybe you need to see a variety of cats to see if she reacts

Ilovecaindingle · 07/01/2017 17:36

A friends dh showed massive reaction to the specific breed of low allergy cats they bought - think over a grand each - and his Dr gave him anti allergen tablets for 3 months til his system became immune. He is fine with them now after about 6 months. The cats are so gorgeous!! Her dm told her to keep them and move dh out if he was still reacting!! Ob doesn't apply to a ds /dd!!

CleverQuacks · 07/01/2017 17:39

I am allergic to cats, get puffy eyes, sneeze, wheezy etc. We got a cat this year and it was awful at first but I survived with antihistamines. Now I have no reaction at all and dont need the tablets. It's like I am immune to her now.

Jokeaboutmyhotchoc · 07/01/2017 17:41

My oh is allergic, we still have cats. He just got used to them after a few weeks!

notapizzaeater · 07/01/2017 17:42

Agree DH was bad near cats, eyes / nose streaming, eyes puffed up but we gut a cat. Used the cat wash stuff for the first couple of weeks and now perfectly fine.

pklme · 07/01/2017 17:45

I'm thrilled to hear about getting over allergies. My DH worked away from home for a while and whenever he came home he got a cold- 'twas the cat, of course. We rehomed her, along with her kittens, she had only moved in with us a few months before basically to have her kittens I think. I'm thrilled to think we could have a cat again! I took DH to a rescue centre and he started sniffling again. A friend who isn't usually allergic only reacts to one cat in particular, so it can vary.

lovelearning · 07/01/2017 17:45

Go for a hypoallergenic breed

www.petmd.com/cat/wellness/evr_ct_hypoallergenic_cat_breeds

Hoppinggreen · 07/01/2017 17:46

When we got our latest 2 cats (5 years ago) we visited and DD had a bad reaction despite us having 1 cat at home and we had 1 more when she was born.
They belonged to a friend so we agreed to take them on the basis that if it badly affected DD they would go back. After 2 days Of antihistamines she was fine and is still ok now. If they sleep on her pillow ( not allowed)she can get a bit sneezy but that's all. She does still react to other people's cats even now.
I have to say though if cat exposure affected her breathing I wouldn't risk it at all.

Thingvellir · 07/01/2017 18:23

Oooh encouraging replies everyone!

The reaction was itchy nose and watery eyes. And she sneezed twice. She is not asthmatic so not a breathing issue at all (if that were the case I would not have hesitated to reverse the decision to adopt).

We visited two litters today - the reaction happened at the first one where there were a lot of cats in a carpeted room. I felt a bit itchy there myself.

The second place she didn't really react (this place had the ones we'd choose to adopt). But she was still a bit watery eyed from the first place we'd been at 10 mins before.

My feeling is that she would desensitise after a week or so, maybe a couple of days on piriton at the start. This was my experience years ago when we last adopted cats (pre DC and pre us moving abroad and having to give up having cats for a while - our old cat now owns my DSis). I was itchy and watery eyed for a week or so then fine for years with those cats.

I think we will go for it, but train DD in not touching her face until she's washed hands after being with the cats. Also no bed/pillow sharing! Going to sleep on it and call the Cats Protection tomorrow

OP posts:

Imissmy0ldusername · 07/01/2017 18:53

Sounds like it was an over-exposure to too much cat floof - I can be the same in certain situations. My friend breeds bengals, and being in her house would set me off. DH & I took on one of the bengals (because she was bullying the rest of the bengal family), on the basis that I would have to take antihistamines permanently, but it was worth it (because this cat has always been my friend). Took about 3 weeks until I desensitised. With me, it was runny nose and minging eyes, as opposed to asthma.

I do think that if you can take the cat on for a few weeks and see if your DD desensitises, then you should do it. But only if you have a firm commitment from the place you are getting the cat from that they will take it back if your DD's symptoms don't reduce.

Good luck op!

Wolfiefan · 07/01/2017 18:57

I have two cats. I'm allergic to one. Have had cats for most of my life and never reacted before.
Don't let cat in her room.
Avoid cat near her face.
Wash hands after touching cat.
Damp dust.
Have heard of petal cleanse wipes but not tried.
My allergy has got rather a lot better. That doesn't mean DD's will.
Can she spend a few minutes just with the kitten you plan to adopt?

Imissmy0ldusername · 07/01/2017 19:16

I also find that the hoover has become my best friend. We have recently let our cat into the sleeping area of the flat, and my allergies have resurfaced. Today has been the day of washing all the bed sheets and hoovering everything. I've had all the windows open all day, and my allergies have dissapeared. I know that it's unlikely I'm going to ever be able to wear eye makeup with all my allergies, but in all honesty, I'm happy with that - I just want all three of us in the flat (me, DH, and el moggo) to be happy.

iminshock · 07/01/2017 22:44

I think your daughter's health is too much of a risk

Badcat666 · 08/01/2017 11:41

Sounds like she is reacting more to the amount of cat fluff in the house rather then the cats themselves!!

Mr BC was allergic but if I do a proper clean and dust down surfaces each week he is fine!!

(When he goes to see his parents he comes back all puffy faced and sneezing due to the dogs and lack of cleaning in the house)

Thingvellir · 08/01/2017 12:25

Thanks BadCat - we plan to keep the cats mainly downstairs at least for the first few months while they are small - it is all hardwood and tiles down here and easy to keep clean.

Imin - I do apreciate its a risk, which is why I'm agonising over it! However it is a risk of discomfort while we give it a trial rather than a risk of permanent injury/ill effect. Not much better I know, but different. The thing is that I genuinely believe that she will improve with exposure, this has been my personal experience, and also many other people I've spoken to and pp.

We are so keen to have cats that to not give it a go and therefore never have cats again without trying it seems extreme. Yet if DD does not get better I will feel awful having put her through suffering the runny nose for naught.

On balance I have decided to bring them in and hope I'm right about desensitising. If I am wrong we will return them to the charity for rehoming and pay all costs for this.

The Kitties we've chosen are sooo cute and lovely, it's a shame that our adoption process is causing us so much angst! (I realise I may come accross as rather selfish towards DD here as well - she is just as desperate for a pet as we are though and I would like her to have the opportunity to try)

OP posts:

Badcat666 · 08/01/2017 13:05

oh, you can get wipes to help with allergies as well. Helps with removing dander and saliva which can be the main cause. I've used some in the past when Mr BC and I moved together and seemed to help as well.

It's just a matter of building up her tolerance if she does have a cat allergy. If your daughter is old enough to take a one a day antihistamine it might be a good idea for her to have one for a few weeks just in case, your pharmacist might be able to point you to the best one (or google!)

Badcat666 · 08/01/2017 13:06

and pics! We demand pics when you get them!!!

TheoriginalLEM · 08/01/2017 13:08

Allergies tend to worsen, not improve. I think you are heading for heartbreak if you take these kittens on. What happens to them if it doesn't work out? I;m sorry if this isn't what you want to hear but I am pretty incredulous that you would even consider this.

TheoriginalLEM · 08/01/2017 13:10

My DP was always a bit sensitive to cats. I work with cats, I now have to get changed before I go near him when I get home as his eyes swell, gets chesty and feels like he has flu. We used to have cats of our own, of course I SUPPOSE I could make him take anti-histamine with all their side effects because I want a cat, but well, I'm not going to do that.

RandomDent · 08/01/2017 13:15

I had a cat as a child. At six, I was fine. From about 15 I became horribly allergic from the same cat, sore, swollen eyes and wheezing. And my mum kept the house spotless. I wouldn't risk it just for a cat.

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