To think that my mum should get rid of her cats as DS is allergic to them and can't visit her

[numsmetter]

DS (3) is allergic to cats, he can't be in a house where one lives without his face & eyes swelling up. My mum has 2 cats so we can't visit her and I don't like the idea of giving him antihistamine medication so we can visit (DH takes them for hayfever and they make him quite drowsy).

DD goes to stay at her Grandma's house but DS will never get the chance unless she gets rid of her cats. I've asked her whether she would be prepared to and she says perhaps but that she wouldn't be able to find anyone to have them, I get the feeling she doesn't really want to as she is quite happy with things the way they are.

I respect her wishes but can't help feeling sad that DS is going to have no memories of going to visit his Grandma, AIBU?

[tazmin]

i get the impression the op doesnt want to hear about non drowsy piriton

[PuppyMonkey]

If it's just a matter of DS getting upset cos DD goes visiting granny, you could cheer him up with a massive bag of sweets. then granny can come over sometimes and take him to the park. it's not rocket science is it?

I was allergic to cats as a child and no way would I have expected the many relatives I had with cats to get rid of them for my sake. I grew out of my allergy when I moved in with my sister, who had three cats. Was gradually able to reduce the piriton then dispense with them altogether.

[SenoritaViva]

I don't like cats but I would never ask my mum if I was in your situation. What I do think might be reasonable is to suggest that perhaps she doesn't get any more once they have lived a full life.

[Kvetch]

These are what I take although not specifically non-drowsy they are fine, no adverse effects.

Non drowsy version

[MollyMurphy]

YABU and also frecking self-absorbed. Some people actually love their pets and take their responsibility and committment to them seriously.

If she vaccumed/dusted and put the cats in a seperate room when your child visited perhaps that could help? You should ask a doctor if there is anything that he can take - its hardly uncommon for people with allergies to take non-drowsy antihistamines when they visit houses with pets FFS.

What a sad situation for your poor mum.

[spookshowangel]

and excessively vitriolic as well as being in the majority kvetch you must be so proud.

[porcamiseria]

YABU! very, she cant just get rid of them!

[Kvetch]

Thank you zukiecat. :)

[oohlaalaa]

YABU.

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

I wouldn't dream of asking someone to get rid of their pets. YABU, I'm afraid.

But I do understand that it's a tough situation. I hope you find some antihistamines that work for your DS.

[Kvetch]

Yep, proud indeed to speak up for creatures who can't defend themselves in whatever way makes it clearest, spook. And doing it without resorting to telling the OP to fuck off by reply, quite an achievement this hot afternoon.

[janey68]

Is this for real? You seriously expect her to get rid of her pets? While doing nothing to try to ease the situation for your ds through non drowsy meds? You sound not only selfish, but incredibly passive and unable to grasp the problem and find creative ways around it. You can invite your mother over to you. Meet up for lunch/ dinner out. Go for walks. Go for days out. To say that your ds wont have memories is really ungrateful - your mother lives only 10 miles away so you have more opportunities to meet up than many people.

Your sense of entitlement is unbelievable!

[Lorenz]

Must say I'm surprised by people saying they wouldn't get rid of a cat if their own kids were allergic! You'd rather your kids be constantly ill for the sake of a cat?? nice!

[JoySzasz]

I thought you were going to say that his cat allergy was life-threatening!

My ds had the same problem with my Mum's cats when he was small,he grew out of it...

and she got to keep her cats

[bruffin]

DH is allergic to cats and had them as a child. He found the more he was around the animal the more he got used to it as long as he didn't touch his face or eyes after touching the animal. He did have quite a bad reaction at my sisters once with her cats but has seen them since and not been a problem.
DS also has had a positive test reaction to cats but we have now got a short haired and neither DH or DS have had a problem with her at all.

[izzywhizzyletsgetbusy]

This works: www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drugstore.com%2Fbioallers-animal-hair-and-dander-allergy-relief-liquid%2Fqxp33801&rct=j&q=bioallers%20animal%20hair%20and%20dander&ei=kKIITtPCGsWmhAfZz9StDQ&usg=AFQjCNHGQ63MSOVukPaXT1hS-AXsrGpbAg&cad=rja

You can also build up your ds's immunity by taking him to your dm's house for short periods (minutes to begin with) and encouraging him to stroke the cat for a few seconds, but always wash his hands when you leave or clean them with one of those handy disinfectant sprays.

My dd suffered from allergic rhinitis but it didn't stop us having cats. She was also plagued by hayfever which was always worse at crucial school summer term exam times, but she was symptom free as soon as we were out of London.

Her hayfever symptoms were immediately alleviated and she was cured in a couple of seasons after I sourced local honey, and made sure she took a couple of teaspoons a day commencing 6 weeks or so before and throughout the 'season'.

[spookshowangel]

i found your post to be just as rude as the op's, its part of the interesting things we discuss on the swearing threads you can say what you want but if you dont swear its fine. the op has put her mother in a difficult position by asking her to get rid of her cats for the sake of her gs but not everyone feels the same way about animals as you obviously do. to say you are the self appointed defender of animals without a voice (a grand title) is interesting. do you not think that the op mother is perfectly capable of saying no if she feeling it is wrong and obviously the op knows what she has asked her mum to do is a bit ur other wise she wouldnt have posted on here. at least her fuck off was concise.

[Andrewofgg]

YANBU - she should care more about her family than about her bloody pets.

[Kvetch]

bruffin, how odd that DS has been tested as allergic but is fine with a cat (and what I presume is an average mog rather than a very shorthaired Oriental type?). You don't get false positives in such cases, surely, do you?

Whatever the logic behind it, it's good news. :)

Almost all the pet hair allergy sufferers I know have either grown out of the condition or find themselves unaffected after a while of exposure.

[JoySzasz]

izzy I think this is exactly what happened with our DS...

although he was obviously allergic,we kept visiting and he got stronger.

The same thing happened with SIL,she is now able to have 2 cats herself.

[JsOtherHalf]

I use Lloyds allergy reliever for allergies, I look like Rudolf, but you only need to use it for 2/3 mins twice a day or so. I don't know if it's suitable for children, but it's got to be worth asking customer services to find out.

www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/electrical-health/allergy-relief/

I also use www.nasaleze.com/ at times, it is a natural nasal powder spray.

[DooinMeCleanin]

I test positive for cat allergy, but have my own cat. I'm more allergic to long haired cats and less allergic to any cats if I am around them a lot a lot, hence my solution to be being allergic to my mum's cat was to go and get one of my own

DH has decided he might be allergic to one of my pets. My answer was for him to confirm it via allergy tests and then 'we will see what we can do' (read: we will medicate the fuck of you until you stop whining ). If the children developed an allerfy it would have be life threatening before I rehomed my pets. If DH's 'allergy' becomes life threatening I will rehome him.