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Original poster

Anyone with cat allergies successfully had a cat?

26 replies

hettie · 21/10/2019 14:05

I know, I know....DH is allergic, DC desperately want a cat... I've researched low protein producing cats (the protein most people are allergic to) such as the Russian blue. However, I don't know anyone whose done this. Any positive stories?

OP posts:

Hefzi · 21/10/2019 14:15

I'm allergic but have had cats all my life but OTC antihistamines keep the worst of the symptoms away: it's horrific for a few days after I've been away for a while, but once it settles down, it's a permanent runny nose, the odd sneeze and mildly Itchy eyes.

Obviously, though, a more serious allergy it wouldn't be viable, so it depends on the severity of his symptoms. Without AH, my nose streams 24/7, I cough, sneeze and wheeze, and my eyes are obscenely itchy- so it's unpleasant, but not actually dangerous.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 21/10/2019 14:18

I'm allergic to cats but have two. It was bad initially but settled after a couple of months. They don't affect me at all now, as long as I don't actually rub my face in them, or touch my eyes after stroking them.

It certainly wouldn't stop me having little fluffy overlords.

Andahelterskelterroundmylittle · 21/10/2019 14:49

Allergic but had a cat all my life too.My symptoms however never involved respiration.

I read somewhere ( non scientific) that within a couple of weeks your tolerance will improve .I've just been careful in how I handle etc

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Empra123 · 21/10/2019 14:51

Yes I'm allergic to cats as is DD2. But we were adopted by a cat about 3 years ago and we acclimatised to him within a few weeks. Need to take anti histamine if we get scratched but that's it nowadays

MrsMaiselsMuff · 21/10/2019 14:52

I've got one and initially was quite poorly (only took him in for a few days to help a friend!), but after a few weeks and continued antihistamines I rarely have a problem. I can react if he scratches me (the wound site will become inflamed) but I can live with that for the joy he brings

NumberblockNo1 · 21/10/2019 14:52

No. Ive tried acclimatising and visiting friends with so called non-allergenic cats (not really non, just lower I guess.)

Its awful being allergic to cats. Really awful. I take antihistamines when I stay with people but even so its much essier to breathe when I leave.

There is no way we can have a cat (and yes the kids want one and I do love them 😥)

RandomMess · 21/10/2019 14:52

Yes but I don't have asthma.

Couldn't breathe properly for 3 weeks and thought they would have to go but suddenly settled. Still itches if they lick me or even gently place a claw on my skin and can't touch my eyes if I've stroked them.

MrsMaiselsMuff · 21/10/2019 14:53

You're not going to acclimatise with visits to cat owning friends. It needs to be a constant presence over weeks.

Ironfloor269 · 21/10/2019 15:01

We've adopted a cat about a month ago. I had nine cats growing up and permanent runny nose, itchy eyes etc. but never put it down to car allergy. I just thought it's caused by dust (I grew up in a hot, humid Asian country).

But this cat we've just got triggered asthma in me during the first two weeks. I lived on Ventolin. I'm going to see the GP soon to maybe get a prescription for a prevented inhaler.

I've also noticed a slight improvement if I don't touch the cat, keep the bedroom cat free and wear a mask when cleaning the litter tray.

It's hard but I'm going to try everything possible to keep the cat.

NumberblockNo1 · 21/10/2019 15:20

Mrs maise - we tried that when I was a child and had to rehome the kittens. I honestly think people taking on a cat that knowing its likely they will have to rehome the cat are cruel.

NumberblockNo1 · 21/10/2019 15:21

Im asthmatic and honestly asthma is no joke. Damaging your lungs leaving long term problems is not really worth it.

redchocolatebutton · 21/10/2019 15:22

don't get a cat.
dh will be utterly miserable.
and it would be unfair having to rehome a cat for a known issue.

VenusClapTrap · 21/10/2019 15:55

I can’t speak from personal experience, but I do have two friends with cat allergies who adopted cats and acclimatised to them after a short period taking antihistamines.

Norwegian Forest Cats and Siberians are supposed to be low allergen.

BeBraveAndBeKind · 21/10/2019 17:19

Same here
I take a daily antihistamine and am really careful about not letting them rub on my face. My friend has a severe allergy that sets off asthma and she can't be around them at all though so it really depends on the type/severity of the allergy.

fiorentina · 21/10/2019 18:00

My DH is allergic but had them as a child and they had one in a shared house he was in for a while. When we got a kitten he was allergic for quite a while, on strong antihistamines and we got a strong Air filter going most of the time downstairs. Cat doesn’t sleep upstairs etc. He’s rebuilt a tolerance but there was a time I thought he wasn’t going to.

HoldMyLobster · 21/10/2019 18:18

We have two and DH and DD cope. DH had a recurrence of his asthma initially but he's built up a tolerance.

DD still reacts to other people's cats but not ours.

36degrees · 21/10/2019 19:06

Pet allergies can do a lot of invisible damage beyond making you wheezy. I built up a tolerance to my cats (just shorthaired moggies) but once I did a bit more research on some of the more long-term risks I am having second thoughts about potentially getting new ones when the time comes.

mrwalkensir · 21/10/2019 19:13

try a ragdoll, but maybe go round to a breeder with your husband and have a good snort of the adult cats? Then you can look to maybe adopt through ragdoll rescue....

Peopleshouldsmilemore · 21/10/2019 20:09

We inherited a Persian cat and despite my asthma and cat allergy, we got on very well. I think its to do with the different hair structure of Persians, and ragdolls I think, that is less allergenic. I still washed my hands if I'd been stroking him or else I got a slight skin reaction, but his hair around the house didn't affect me.

Doobigetta · 21/10/2019 20:27

My husband and I are both allergic. We have a Siberian. We still take over the counter antihistamines (but would have to anyway as also hay fever, dust allergies etc) and only have mild, manageable symptoms.

Original poster

hettie · 21/10/2019 20:37

Mmme, very mixed. I really really won't get a cat if there is any chance we'd have to re-home. Not fair on poor 🐈 He does have asthma, not used an inhaler in years...he needs to and stay with a cat family ...

OP posts:

Poppins2016 · 21/10/2019 20:44

I'm thinking aloud here, as I'm not sure whether this would be practical/worth the hassle for you or a potential rescue charity, but I wonder whether you could try fostering a cat(s) or kittens on a short term basis to see how your DH reacts?

Lucked · 21/10/2019 20:56

I am not sure I could go through it. I can handle cats for visits with antihistamine but I had to move home for a while after my parents took in a stray and it was awful. It just got worse and worse, I don’t have asthma but developed wheeze, was exhausted and my eyes were terrible - the optician was horrified when I went for my contact lens check up. This was a cat that didn’t come into my bedroom and spent most of the day outside.

Also I grew up with a dog and didn’t really connect my allergic traits such as runny nose and sneezing
with the dog as it was a constant in my life. It was only when I went away for university did I realise how draining the constant minor irritation was.

nearlynermal · 21/10/2019 20:56

I know a very seriously allergic man who has two Siberians and is fine. Expensive breed, though.

Original poster

hettie · 21/10/2019 22:03

Oh my... Just looked up Siberian moggies, very very cute but for that kind of money the cast would have to be cooking my dinner

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