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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

Has anyone got rid of their CAT because of a child's allergies?

52 replies

morningpaper · 20/11/2008 08:30

My cat has thus far been with me for longer than both my husbands put together!

But one consultant of DD's advised me to get rid of it, because DD has a lot of asthma and recurrent pnuemonia.

The cat is half wild so would not be able to be re-homed really. Has anyone got rid of a cat for this reason?

OP posts:
mamadiva · 20/11/2008 08:37

Is it a male cat?

I am allergic to the scent that amle cats give out but Im fine with females.

And Yes Im being serious.

Original poster
morningpaper · 20/11/2008 08:38

no it is a girl

OP posts:
TheGoat · 20/11/2008 08:40

would it definitely make a difference?

normally i would be all 'get rid of the beast' but dd recently guilted me into a cat which i turned out to be allergic to and i decided to tough it out.

belgo · 20/11/2008 08:40

I love cats. But dh is allergic so that means we will never be able to get one, it's just unfair on him. My parents used to have a cat and dh would spend the whole time sneezing when he was there, and he couldn't sleep if we stayed over night.

mamadiva · 20/11/2008 08:41

Aah shame

As much as we all put our DC's first its a shame when we need to do something like this especially as youve had her a while

We had to get rid of our male cat when I was younger due to allergy but my mum gave it to a family friend so we could still visit, I was alright aslong as I wasnt right up near it all the time and washed my hands everytime I touched it.

Original poster
morningpaper · 20/11/2008 08:43

there would be no way of knowing if it would make a difference until after the event

Maybe I should get rid of the children? They are relatively new

OP posts:
belgo · 20/11/2008 08:45

even after my parents cat had died, dh still experienced his allergic symptoms for quite a while in their house, presumably fur was still on the sofa, carpets curtains etc.

belgo · 20/11/2008 08:45

is she definitely allergic to cats? Maybe you could get her tested?

TheGoat · 20/11/2008 08:45

could you put it in a cat home for a few months to see if it makes a difference?

i would keep the children they are moderately less stinky the older they get.

TheGoat · 20/11/2008 08:46

i did alot of research on the cat alergy thing it does take months for the allergens to clear out after the cat leaves.

Original poster
morningpaper · 20/11/2008 08:47

Well DH is allergic to cats (has been tested) but I make him take drugs every day - he is also allergic to dust mites and every natural thing, so he is doomed anyway.

DD2 has skin allergies with cats and DD1 has asthsma - so they are all feeble.

The cat is quite FERAL though so it isn't like she is regularly stroked or anything... and she isn't allowed in the bedrooms or upstairs, so she stays downstairs where there is no carpeting.

OP posts:
TheGoat · 20/11/2008 08:49

could you just keep her outside? [sensible country girl emoticon]

belgo · 20/11/2008 08:50

my dh is also allergic to laods of things, I was really surprised when the test showed positive to nearly everything, I thought he'd been making a fuss about nothing, and that he just didn't like cats.

TheGoat · 20/11/2008 08:50

i do hope you regularily berate your mil for not breastfeeding your dh until his 10th birthday.

Original poster
morningpaper · 20/11/2008 08:53

I couldn't keep her outside - she likes BEING AROUND PEOPLE if not actually socialising with them

and another problem is that she has the loudest meiouw in the world* (seriously) - to the extent that people come and investigate if you shut her outside because it sounds like someone being tortured - and has learnt to knock doors (yes again seriously)

she is REALLY NOISY!

*I thought this was cute when selecting from a basket of kittens. Fule.

OP posts:
Original poster
morningpaper · 20/11/2008 08:53

oh yes TheGoat although she did 9 months which was quite good for the 1850's

Every time my DD is ill my mother says "What a waste all that breastfeeding was!"

OP posts:
belgo · 20/11/2008 08:54

how old is your dh?!!

Original poster
morningpaper · 20/11/2008 08:54

lol Belgo

My DH went to eh allergy clinic and was allergic to every single allergen, including the hypoallergenic PEN they used to draw around the samples on his skin

They said they hadn't seen that before

OP posts:
TheGoat · 20/11/2008 08:55

what a helpful and constructive thing for your mother to say!

Original poster
morningpaper · 20/11/2008 08:55

sher v. practiced in such matters

OP posts:
belgo · 20/11/2008 08:56

My mother also says things like 'I though bf children didn't get eczema' (dd1 had eczema)

TheGoat · 20/11/2008 08:56

i think you do have to get shot of the cat btw. sorry.

belgo · 20/11/2008 08:57

yes as much as I love cats and know how hard it is to see them go, I think you should try and rehome her.

TheGoat · 20/11/2008 08:58

maybe you could get one of those ghastly hairless things - if only for the comedy effect.

Original poster
morningpaper · 20/11/2008 08:58

no I want a DIFFERENT answer

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