Had anyone’s child gotten over cat allergy?

[StarScream22]

My daughter suddenly about 6 months ago became allergic to the cat (according to the doctor). He prescribed nasal drops But they’ve done nothing. I’m not exaggerating, she sniffs every 2-3 seconds and it’s getting to the point I’m struggling to be in the same room. I feel like I’m going to snap. The doctor said not to get rid of the cat as she will eventually get over the mild allergy with exposure. I’m not sure how much longer I can cope with the sniffing! I don’t know wether to give piriton to help?
Aibu in keeping the cat or will she grow out of it.

We have friends who have tried everything (gepa filters, wipes etc) Im genuinely v allergic to cats. I'm also asthmatic though so perhaps that makes it worse.

Honestly constantky having a runny/blocked nose as a child and not being able to do anything about it is truly horrible.

I am highly allergic to cats and horses.
I grew up with cats at home from the age of 5. My allergy gradually decreased over time.
Since leaving home and having little contact with cats on a daily basis, it has got much worse. I now can’t stroke a cat without sneezing and getting itchy eyes.
Conversely, I used to ride once a week and reacted really badly each time. I have now owned my own horse for 12 years and only really react twice a year, for a couple of weeks each time, when he is changing his coat.
So exposure over time MAY reduce an allergy.

It’s the dander that’s most people react to, so keep the cat out of her bedroom and have her wash her hands every time she strokes or plays with the cat. Hoovering daily also helps.
For what it worth, my mum never considered getting rid of the cat because I was allergic to it!

I think it was Pets at Home (a petshop the UK if that's where you are based) though Amazon supply these as well. I'd try a few if you can and see what seems effective. The cats didn't welcome wipes but learned to tolerate it. I think the allergen is in the cat's saliva so goes on their hair when they groom. The dander remover removes it hence the allergen exposure goes down. The HEPA filter removes any from the hair (and makes the atmosphere healthier from general/traffic air pollution so makes some people less 'inflamed' and reactive to allergens[simplistic description, I know]).

Good luck.

We have the HEPA filter in the bedroom as my DC spends most time sleeping there. If you can afford more than one, I'd have one where the cat and DC spend most time together but we only got the one.

My DD takes Cetrizine half a tablet morning & half at night for hayfever, can your DD have those as
well?

She also uses Haymax, an ointment that you put around the inside of the nostrils.

Cats no longer allowed upstairs but I think it would be nice to have a purifier in her room anyway and then maybe one in the living room.
Daughter absolutely does not want to get rid of the cat, so I’m trying everything (he was her dads cat). I will try the wipes, purifier and change his food.

DD started hay fever allergies at this age after regular exposure to cats throughout childhood- it can be way to conflate the two. In answer to post though yes I’ve known kids get acclimatised to cats and happens fairly quickly on introduction of cat - so not relevant if cat always been around. I have known those who can’t deal with cat allergy too and get rid (responsibly) so not being a cat advocate!

It could be a dust allergy or similar, the G.P has no way of knowing its a cat.

Good for you, OP.

We use this on our cat, a human tangle teezer, its great for hair removal and the cat loves it.
You could do it in the garden.

You don’t say how old the child is but you talk about “giving” piriton rather than offering it to her to take herself so I’m guessing quite young? If she is old enough for a one-a -day non-drowsy antihistamine then definitely give her that. Allergies are grim and you feel like you are in a total brain fog all the time, it’s not just a runny nose.
I am quite severely allergic to cats but did have to live with one for a few months and the allergy did improve. However I never touched it- that is very important. Also, I have not lived with a cat for years and do now react quite badly if in a house with one so it was only a temporary effect/limited to that one cat. I get swollen eyes, and itchy skin, does your daughter get that too? Sniffing actually sounds more like hay fever to be honest.

I’ll give it a go, Thankyou

She’s 6. She literally only has the sniffing. She says he nose doesn’t feel runny, there’s no itching and it’s only sore after she sniffs. Part of me wonders if it’s just a weird stress thing that she’s developed, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a fresher house!

I got rid of mine, it then came back with a vengeance as a serious asthmatic reaction. It wasn't pleasant. You need to set a red line with yourself - ie I won't let it get any worse than it currently is - and if it does, you will need to get rid of the cat.

Meanwhile, I see the cat is staying downstairs so that's good. Are you giving any anti-histamine? I'd be looking at a non-drowsy one daily.

If the cat licks her skin does it get itchy? For me that would be up in hives within less than a minute.

I have quite a few allergies, including cats. At certain times in my life they've been more manageable than others. In my experience "exposure" doesn't help. My unscientific observations based on myself are that when my hayfever is bad, my other allergies seem to be worse. Pollution also seems to make a difference - higher pollution = worse allergies (again this is just me, I've moved around quite a lot and it's something I've noticed. I don't know how if there is any evidence for this).

I have found certain breeds of cats trigger my allergies less than others. Short haired ones seem to be the worse.

Its worth looking into OP, as sniffing can be a 'tic' after a trauma.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/tics/

If she is touching the cat an air purifier will not make a blind bit of difference. It’s the dander being transferred to her face by her hands, not breathing it in through the air.

I also think you should look into other non-allergy causes, as it seems very strange that a trauma would bring one on!

I was seriously allergic to (friends’j cats as a child but we have had very fluffy cats for many years now and I have had no reactions to them whatsoever.

I feel for your daughter, its awful. Why do you think its the cat though? Has she had allergy testing yet? Have you explored other new things in the house- washing detergent, new carpet, furnishings?

I distinctly recall my 1st cat allergy event age 8. Never had issues before, then visited a friends house and I think the cat had fleas. My eyes puffed up and became itchy, I felt irritated and my nose ran and was sniffy. We didn't own a cat, but the same thing happened if I came in close contact with a cat afterwards.

We then got a cat when I was in my teens. We were also advised that I'd 'get over' the allergy by having our own cat. Unfortunately, my allergy was as bad as always, and my brother also suddenly had symptoms too! We had to give the cat away.

By my 20's, I rarely had any reactions. I've never owned a cat, but can sleep at homes that do without any problems. Hopefully your DD will grow out of it. Has she had any counselling for the upsetting event?

Elouera

The G.P said it was the cat, I would like to know what he would have said if there were no pets in the house, I think the G.P should be doing more to investigate.

First they said it was a polyp, then a cat allergy.

My mom got over her cat allergy when we had a cat...she just seemed to get immune to them...would get a rash if the cats scratched her xxx

How odd that it came out of nowhere.

I would go with your doctor on this. I have a cat allergy, as has my sister. Both of us have/had cats, I currently have two. I wash my hands if I pet them, otherwise I’m ok. If we go away for a couple of weeks then I flare a bit when we come home, but it settles.

Could it be hay fever? I’m also allergic to something in spring, maybe silver birch. I start sniffing a coughing in spring and that is me till winter. I take anti-histamines and use inhalers. But it is more than cats.

I didn’t have allergies until my 20s.

My boyfriend got fully over a cat allergy, thankfully. Initially he had asthma symtoms, breathing issues and coughing. It was awful and I was planning for my parents to tKe my beloved cats. We (me and bf) didn’t live together at the time and it was his first close exposure to cats. He was at my house maybe 1 or 2 weekends a month, and it got better and better. Initially no caTs near him or in bedroom, freshly vacuumed with a dyson. I even got an air purifier but not sure if it helped. Fresh air did. anyway, a year later we moved in together and the allergy was gone. Cats not in the bed or pillow anymore but they were in the other rooms. I am very grateful that I didn’t have to give them up.
If you daughter wasn't previously allergic then this is a different situation. I hope it passes. I know that (despite having cats for a decade), when i haven’t snuggled with them for a long time, and so have a long snuggle with them in the winter (heating plus dry air) then i get sniffy sometimes and take an anti histamine.