Can cat allergy come on slowly?

[beanpip]

Hi

We got a cat 2 weeks ago and everything seemed fine until a week ago when DS(5) started sneezing like mad and has had a runny itchy nose since.

Is it possible for an allergic reaction to come on that slowly? Or am I just being a mad mum and DS just has a cold!?

sorry sounds like it could be allergy. he shd improve outside the house if allergic.

put him in clean clothes and go straight out for the morning somewhere cat free obv - if he still sneezes it's a cold!

Could be an allergy. I grew up with a cat in the house and was ok, but when visiting my parents after leaving home I was a sniffling mess. Probably had an allergy as a kid but developed a tolerance while living in the house with the moggy.

Yep, sounds like cat allergy to me! Is he scratching at all? Often the bit under the chin gets very itchy too.

Allergies start any time in life. DS has been fine with our guyinea pigs for 2 years and now suddenly has started sneezing when he gives them a cuddle. When he was having allergy tests two years ago he came up negative for guinea pig and positive for cat.

DH was the same as knottylocks, he is okay with an animal he has lived with for a few weeks,as long as he doesn't touch his face after stroking one, but he was in an awful state when he went to my sisters who has two cats.