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.

Try everything you can to alleviate the problem.anf if nothing works, or partially works but not completely, re-home the day. I've experienced being allergic around cats and it's like having a chest infection/cold/hay fever all at once, you just feel really unwell.

I am allergic, but exposure does help. I got used to our cat as a child (but still reacted to friends' cats). Then when I went away to university I reacted more when I came home, maybe a week or so. I would have been devastated if my parents had got rid of the cat.
I have a cat now, so it hasn't put me off. I often have to take antihistamines - but that is partly my fault for not hoovering enough and continually putting my face in his fur. . I probably have a reaction about once or twice a month, maybe a bit more, but the anti histamine puts me right within about 15 minutes.

Don't get rid of the cat. Once you do that, you break the allergen chain, and she may never be able to have a cat again .

DH has always been allergic to cats, even as a child, but always had cats. Over the years he has got better and worse, depending on the cat, but his very worse reaction was having a break after a cat died and then re-introducing a new cat after a year or so. Disaster. So after a recent cat died, we got another within a few weeks, which was fine. He doesn't let our current cat on the bed, and doesn't pet it, but he loves our cat, and the cat loves him (possibly because he feeds him every morning), and DH has got used to having him around.

Doctor was pretty awful. Basically said it doesn’t sound like an allergy and that child psychology services just don’t exist down here unless the child has “their foot off a cliff”. Going to phone back and try and get an appointment with my usual doctor, as he’s brilliant.

Yes my son got over a dog and cat allergy, as soon as he lived with them strangely though if he goes someone's house with a dog he still gets a bit allergic.

I'm allergic to cats but a bit worse. I've gotten use to my mum's cat when I was living with her and I'm used to my own cats but not other people's. It took about 5/6 months before I stopped reacting.

I'm allergic to cats and dogs and have been since I was a kid (also have eczema, asthma and hay fever - my immune system knows how to have fun).

My allergy to dogs was so much less when we had one. Keep the cat for now, go back to the doctor (or get allergy tests done), and try a non-drowsy antihistamine if they still thinks it's an allergy.

@mocktail we’ve not been away anywhere since it started.

I’m 47 and have had a cat allergy since I was a kid - if anything it’s got worse. Some breeds set me off less than others but I have had close to anaphylaxia with some.

Please rehome your cat. Your poor daughter. No, I've never outgrown my allergy to cats.

My DS became allergic to our cat after living with the cat for years.... we tried all different meds and he was diagnosed with asthma and cat dander allergy. It became quite serious and he had quite a bad asthma attack despite taking many precautions. Eventually we had to say goodbye to our cat.

Sorry the doctors wasn't helpful but I do agree it doesn't sound like an allergy. Keep the cat

That doesn't help with the sniffing problem though - hope you find a solution soon.

Have you had an allergen test done? Otherwise I would wait before rehoming the cat. If your daughter is sniffing due to anxiety or stres, losing the cat would make it worse.

My allergy came on suddenly at about 12 or so, to other people's cats. I was ok with our own though, until as another pp said, I went to uni and then I lost my resistance to her too. She ended up going to my grandparents as it was impossible for me to be in the same house.

I was in my forties before things started to get better. I don't seem to react quite as badly now.

Don’t get rid of the cat. Poor cat! It’s their home too.
I’m allergic to dust so suffer from rhinitis pretty much 24/7 and tbh you just get used to it.
It has got less severe as I’ve got older.

Your DR isn't wrong but sounds like she's not becoming less allergic so his methods may not work.

I became allergic at 7 to my new kitten . DR told my mum similar that we could try and keep him for a few months and see if it eased! I loved the cat so we did and I stopped being allergic to him after a month but I am massively allergic to other people's animals if I visit them.

As an adult I have a dog and a rabbit. I was again allergic to both when they arrived .. give it a month and not allergic at all but if if I stay overnight at my mums where she has 2 dogs I react badly .

My allergy is also heavily linked to dust . Could you pay to get your daughter allergen tested so you know for sure what she's reacting to?

I am still allergic

I grew up with cats and am still allergic. I used to be ill all the time. I went to uni and even thought I ate terribly, went out drinking all the time etc I stopped getting ill constantly. It’s like my immune system finally got to kick in. It isn’t worth it. Even though you do get used to them to an extent you never feel 100%. Your immune system is getting a constant kicking.

I agree with everyone about getting an allergy test. I really don't think it sounds like an allergy to me. A dry sniff could well be related to a trauma. I had so many allergies growing up but was constantly snotty with bulging red eyes! Please don't get rid of your poor cat unless you have done an allergy test. One of my allergies turned out to be the fungus spores that live around windows etc and not my cat at all.

Ask for a referral to the allergy clinic at your local hospital. Until you've been there, no one knows exactly what the allergy is. Your doctor is working from a 'best guess' basis & shouldn't be. The clinics are great. You'll find out at her first appointment exactly what she's allergic to & to what extent. Until you have that information you can't possibly know whether to get rid of pets or not.

I just saw an ad today for Nestle purina cat food, a new kind that reduces allergens. It said it was the first in the world. Probably costs a bomb but it could be something to try?

I'm allergic and exposure made it worse, not better.
it went from sniffle to allergic astma, which is very serious.

rehome the cat and deep clean the house top to bottom, including washing all soft furnishings.

To determine it is the cat or not could you possibly remove the cat from the home for a period? Perhaps a cattery or family friend/member for a week and assess if it definitely is that? Would be a shame to get rid of the cat only to find out the symptoms are still there. The doctor cannot accurately state it is the cat without testing, but it is reasonably a first assumption. Working with kids from traumatised backgrounds in the past (refugees from the Congo etc) many including adults displayed continual sniffing and involuntary jerks as part of ptsd symptoms, it was like a compulsive self soothing action, hope you get a solution soon x

Unless your daughter has had an allergy test your go has no idea what is causing the allergy. I would push for a hospital appointment before getting rid of the cat!

But it doesn't sound like an allergy! I wouldn't expect the GP to do an allergy referral for this as it doesn't tick any of the boxes. I think the posters who suggested a tic or nervous habit might be on to something.