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Original poster

To keep Dear cats and hope DS grows out of allergy?

168 replies

Madreamer · 20/05/2011 15:21

DS (1 yr) seems to be allergic to my cats. I've had them for 7 yrs now and since he got mobile @ 6months he seems to be always have a runny nose when we r at home. He didn't when we went on holiday and it gets better at childminders. I'm convinced it is the cats and actually separated them (but still have common area which both use). Some lost some growth spurts as a result of his allergy. I got some commercial grade air purifiers (useful for pet dander, virus and bacteria, etc) but the room gets very chilly with them -as i have to use 2 at a time to make it work. I turned them off for the first time in 3 months for 12 hours and DS's nose is running again. Has anyone experienced this? If so what did you do about it. I want to be fair to DS and cats, what is the best option?

OP posts:
EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 20/05/2011 16:32

I had one of those special duvets as a child Ormirian. My parents dug it out of the loft a few years ago as their dog had allergies and needed bedding Grin

Bartimaeus · 20/05/2011 16:32

I'm sorry, it's a horrible position but I would first get your DS tested to check it really is the cats and then (big breath because I'm a cat lover) get rid of the cats.

I am allergic to pollen and it is HORRIBLE, I wouldn't want my child to go through that if it was at all avoidable. It's not just a runny nose but all the other irritations that go with it.

Don't want to scare you but my MIL is allergic to dogs and actually ended up in a coma after spending an afternoon with a dog Sad

hulababy · 20/05/2011 16:33

It sounds like your DS's health is being affected by your cats.

If this is the case then you definitely need to get him tested.

If he is allergic to them, is it fair on him to have to live his daily life like this, with his health at risk?

I know these ar your pets, but if the choice is to keep them or have a healthy son I know which I would choose.

HazeltheMcWitch · 20/05/2011 16:38

(Doin - you poor thing!)

Original poster
Madreamer · 20/05/2011 16:53

@trixy, that is so scary. I hope DS doesn't get to that stage.

All, I don't have carpets in my house only wooden floor. I have rubber mats for him to play on, but now he is old enough, i'm going to get rid of them as it is hard to clean them properly. Will try removing bookshelves and keeping the room bare + air purifers + up the hoovering to twice a week (don't think I can manage more for now) + keep cats out of room and see what happens.

OP posts:
Original poster
Madreamer · 20/05/2011 16:58

I'm going to go home and start moving things around right away! Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll post back once I see the results!

OP posts:
chippy47 · 20/05/2011 16:59

If it comes down to a choice between rehoming some cats and your Ds's health then there is no choice. And anyone who says differently is just wrong.

Sockshitter - does it really matter how long they have been there when it is a question of her DS's health????

Most people have had pets in their lives -then they die/get rehomed for other reasons. And they get over it. Do you need a better reason for rehoming cats than improving the health of your DS?

babybarrister · 20/05/2011 17:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lubeybooby · 20/05/2011 17:09

vallhalla I have a gorgeous himalayan like mr jinks in meet the parents, and two other shorthairs.

I have bathed them actually in the bath, but the petal cleanse stuff is leave on, it's fab.

As I say it removes the allergen (which is a protein in the dried saliva) as it sticks everywhere so you have to spray walls and furniture and use the leave on stuff on the cats. You can get stuff for laundry too

It's me with the cat allergy but I manage to keep three of them so it must work!

mathanxiety · 20/05/2011 17:14

It would be a shame to rehome the cats and then find it was mites or mould or something else..

I would be tempted to wetmop daily.

Lonnie · 20/05/2011 17:21

Rehome the cats

My SIL was like this and wouldnt rehome her cat when it turned out her son was allergic so every time he is around the cat or in the house his eyes are raw and itchy and I think my own judgemental thoughts.

Seriously not worth it imo btw no I am not a cat lover and but I am a dog lover and if my children were allergic to a dog we got the dog would go no shadow of a doubt

coorong · 20/05/2011 17:25

I cannot believe people are suggesting ridiculous cleaning regimes, completely rearranging a house, and dividing up a house into rooms for children or rooms for cats. If you think you child's allergic to cats, get them out of the house for a couple of weeks, get him tested and if his allergic, get rid of them.

4madboys · 20/05/2011 17:36

as an adult with allergies and knowing how awful mine are when i visit someone with a cat or a dog (or they come to my house, just the fact they have been near a pet means i react) i would rehome the cats. yes its hard they are your other 'babies'

but ultimately your son is your priority and it can be nice for him to have a runny nose etc, and he is too young to tell you if he has itchy eyes,a sore throat etc which he may well do.

really allergies are HORRIBLE and there is a chance they could get worse and he could develop asthma, eczema, hayfever etc, he may do this anyway, but surely his home should be a haven for him away from allergens when at all possible?

yes of course there are always dustmites but you can do you best to clean, the cats DONT have to be there, whilst the dust is impossible to illiminate iyswim?

sorry you have this problem, but do put your sons health first.

bluebellewood · 20/05/2011 17:39

I am allergic to cats. I feel awful when exposed to them. Please consider rehoming your cats, your son's health is of paramount importance. I know how you will feel as although I am allergic to cats I am fine with dogs. However I discovered my son was allergic to dogs when he was a similar age to yours. My much loved dog had to be rehomed. I still miss him, and feel bereft as I have always kept a dog but I do not regret the decision.
I'm so sorry for your plight.
PS I don't post often, just linger around! But I felt strongly about this issue.X

ajourneyofgiraffes · 20/05/2011 17:39
  1. Have it medically confirmed your child is allergic to cats. 2. Have cat free zones in your house. 3. Clean your house more often. 4. Try anti-histamines for your child. For the record, I am not a cat lover, I am allergic to cats, but I would never get rid of an animal until I had exhausted all possible ways to prevent having to turf them out.
MillyR · 20/05/2011 17:45

I think this thread is utterly ridiculous and selfish.

Yes, all of these adults have the choice to be allergic to cats and live in a house with them, much in the same way that adults have the choice to compromise their health by smoking.

But it is not your health you are compromising; it is the health of your child.

Find out what they are allergic to, and then sort out whatever the cause of that allergy is.

trixymalixy · 20/05/2011 17:48

Madreamer, it was absolutely terrifying and a real wake up call for us.

The CPL rehomed them and apparently they went to a lovely gay guy who collected Prada handbags. Don't know why that particularly made me feel better about it, but for some reason it did!!

I still have a cupboard full of anti allergy fabric sprays, additives for the washing machine, grooming mits and petal cleanse. It's of no use to us and you are welcome to them if you are anywhere near Glasgow.

LucretiaInShadows · 20/05/2011 17:54

I'm allergic to my cats. My nose began to run when I started playing with next door's cat, aged about 2, and only stopped when I went to uni and lived in catless halls. I had mild asthma as a child which I grew out of.

I now have permanently itchy eyes and runny nose, but I'd rather put up with that than get rid of the cats.

It depends how bad he is - only get rid of the cats if he's suffering more than enjoying the cats.

BalloonSlayer · 20/05/2011 17:55

Our allergy doctor said that it takes a year to get all cat dander out of the carpets after removing a cat.

I have family members that have suffered utter misery for years through asthma and other allergies, but as soon as the cat went they were significantly better almost immediately.

They need to go. Sorry. Keeping them is being cruel to your son. The cats will be happy somewhere else if you re-home them carefully, you know what cats are like.

MotherPanda · 20/05/2011 17:57

I would say that children need to be around the cats to build up an immunity. Children who are kept in spotless animal free homes are more likely to have weaker immune systems.

As long as he's not having serious trouble (ie not being able to breathe etc) then i would say its ok, and that it will get better.

I think my DH has hayfever, but I'm not getting rid of our rabbit - and he has gotten used to it. I believe its easier with children.

Iggly · 20/05/2011 17:58

Mother where did you learn that? I have a feeling it might not be true - my hayfever hasn't got any better and I don't avoid pollen much or take anything!

CurrySpice · 20/05/2011 18:02

As someone who suffers from a severe cat allergy, I cannot over emphasise what an utter misery it is :(

Personally I cannot imagine why you would want to put your ds through even one day of it. His health must come first I'm afraid.

I am puzzled why you say he's missed growth spurts through it though. How on earth would you know that?!

trixymalixy · 20/05/2011 18:02

Why would you get rid of your rabbit if your DH has hayfever?!?!!?!!PMSL

MotherPanda · 20/05/2011 18:04

trixymalixy - Rabbits like a lot of hay for bedding and eating. We used to have her indoors all the time, but now she lives outdoors in summer and indoors for the rest of the year - so lots of fresh hay in the house.

MotherPanda · 20/05/2011 18:07

I was watching... erm.... whats it called - that open university science program they have... yes! Bang goes the theory a few weeks back, and they said that allergies are on the rise because of people being obsessivley clean in there houses etc, it means children do not build up immunities.

You are much less likely to suffer from allergies if you grew up in a rural area, or a farm say, because you are in contact with animals and dirt a lot more.

They are trialling this special kind of pig tape worm tablet that you can take which should help to build up adults immune systems. I'll see if its still online to watch and link it.

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