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

[Madreamer]

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?

I don't normally wade into AIBU, but i am totally shocked. the idea that you have a commitment to your cats ("don't want to be a fairthweather friend to them" WTF!! ), over and above the health of your son is absolutely shocking.

you've asked if you ABU and a lot of people with cat allergies have been on to tell you how they suffer with it. That you would even think about keeping them when you believe that's what's causing him health problems, means you've got your priorities as a mother completely wrong IMO.

i assure you blonde, it is definately not SALVIA which gives you those kinds of symtoms lol!!!

i blame my iphone :)

OP I really think you need to see your GP and arrange for an allergy test (or pay for one privately - but make sure you go to a reputable one, not one of the half-baked types that always seem to insist that everyone is allergic to wheat, gluten and dairy). That has to be your first step, regardless of what you decide to do.

Secondly, as a long-term hay-fever sufferer (who is also allergic to my own cat during hay-fever season), I have found that restricting dairy products, and in particular avoiding milk because of the lactose, has a hugely beneficial effect.

Finally, and sorry if this is not what you want to hear, if your DS has a strong allergic reaction to cats, there may be nothing you can do to ameliorate it other than rehome the cats. I had to rehome a cat once (with MIL) because my DSS had a cat allergy. Before he came to stay the cat was put in a cattery, the house was vacuumed to within an inch of its life, all soft-furnishings washed and everything damp-dusted etc and he STILL reacted the minute he walked through the door.

Hope you find a solution that works for everyone.

Some people are funny about animals. I get the commitment, it's good to be prepared to look after an animal for life. But this isn't about finding a reason to get rid of your pets. My next door neighbour told be the other week that she thinks that losing a dog is worse than losing a child.

She has 4 children

I may have this dilemma soon. DS has asthma (triggered by colds and viruses (virii?)) and I've noticed that he's had a runny nose for quite a while. I'm just about to book an appt to ask for allergy testing. If he's allergic to cats, then ours have to go. We've had them for years, and I love them. But this is my child we are talking about.

Allergies are serious! It's not just a little sniffle. They can be life threatening.

I also think, that if you cannot commit to cleaning sufficiently enough (and vacuuming once a week is nowhere NEAR enough) to keep the allergens at bay, then they need to go.

If I had pets or a pet that caused my child to be ill, I would have to rehome the pet.

Sorry but your child comes first not your beloved pets.

Dear all, thanks for the replies, I typed a long post yesterday and lost it all when the iPad lost battery. Yes, I think I'll get the allergy tests done. Just to say the growth spurt issue was a few months ago and is now resolved. He is a fairly robust child and doesn't get affected even by pollen in spring. I've moved one of the airprifiers higher so it cleans the air closer to ceiling. In the last 3 days he doesn't seem to have symptoms, but of course the purifiers are on 24/7. I do not want to be so protective of DS that I raise him in a sterile environment either. I want him to be able to build resistance (where such a thing is possible of course). My values undoubtedly differ from many posters who think I am neglecting DS which couldn't b further from the truth. I love him and my cats (consider both to be my kids), DS needs different things from cats (and now wants my iPad) brb..

get him to a gp for a blood test

my ds was apparently allergic to my cats and my dogs....you should have seen the consultants face when i said in the hospital clinic "well son....looks like we are going to have to find you a new home"

he actually laughed when he realised i was (half) joking....but DS did grow out of it, eventually. i just kept all the animals away from his room (no going upstairs for the moggies anymore!) and he took a daily small dose of antihistamine, there was no concrete proof that his allergies were pet related anyway. he is fine now. im sure he desensitised.

Thanks vicar, that was my question actually, but I got accused of negligence and abuse and all sorts of things! As long as he doesn't suffer longterm damage I'd rather his system adapted. That would be the best option for him and cats. If it is likely to cause him long term problems I wouldn't want to expose him.

Thanks for all the responses and sharing your personal experiences. I've decided to get an allergy test done and then see what needs doing.

DS had asthma and hayfever. his worst ever year was when he was 13, he just got chest infection after chest infection, but it was really odd, just one awful year, then he gradually got better, and now, at 19, nothing seems to really affect him to badly. we keep piriton in the house always, but the animals certainly dont bother him anymore, and from having chronic asthma, he barely notices it now.

DD was milk intolerant and has severe peanut allergy, i would never mess with the nut allergy (that one is serious - she ends up in casualty) but the milk allergy she also desensitised to, i think if the reaction is fairly mild, it is possible to desensitise them over time. i think in the long term it may do them a favour, but obviously if either of mine had really really suffered i would have had to rethink.

Just to add ds's allergy is nowhere near as severe as many people have described. After i started cleaning regularly and got the air purifiers he doesn't even have a sniffle. Before that regular runny nose only, no breathing problems, no itchy eyes, etc.

im surprised that this is even an issue.

MisSalLaneous sorry but those of us who suffer with asthma and other allergic reactions will think what we will of a mother who equates the well being of her son to her cats. If you ever have asthma, and an asthma attack then do feel free to come and persuade me that it is ok to put a baby through that, an extra hoover a week and keeping the cat out of the bedroom wont be enough to hold back the exposure and trigger of the cats.
Do you not think you could find a good home for your cats-it seems that there are plenty of cat lovers on here who would be happy to have your cats.

Sorry meant *maddreamer) not MisSalLaneous

:) Ah, don't worry Silver, was just for a moment there worried that I said the wrong thing (again)!