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Original poster

Please help me find a solution

20 replies

emanon · 27/03/2008 18:11

My two children (6 and 7) have a terrible phobia about dogs and cats. I have been advised on several occasions that in order to help the problem we should get something furry ie. a pet!

We are not really dog people and I am concerned about the commitment of a dog I also don't want the short lived novelty of a hamster, rabbit etc. The ideal solution would therefore be a cat.

Here lies my problem. My DSD, who is an adult and doesn't live with us, suffers from asthma and is allergic to cats. She visits us on average once every 3 weeks and stays for an hour or two. She has said that it would be a problem for her to visit if we did have a cat.

It seems sad to not let my children have a pet because of this and also it means that I am unable to take a first step towards dealing with their phobia.

Has anybody else had this problem with a relative and found a way around it. I am desperate to find a solution. It would seem that she has an allergic reaction regardless of whether the cat is in the house or not.

Thank you for any help or advice you can give me.

OP posts:
chocolatespiders · 27/03/2008 18:20

i think the cat will be fine as long as it doesnt sit on dsd lap......

uptomyeyes · 27/03/2008 18:23

I believe that you can get hypoallergenic cats and dogs. I know a family locally who have a hypoallergenic dog - a labradoodle(?)

Is it hypo or hyper??? not sure.

Anyway their second child is allergic to everyhting including animals but he lives quite happly with this dog.

How about something like a guinea pig that lives outdoors - they live for about about 4-6 years. A lot more labour intensive than cats I find though.

ShinyPinkShoes · 27/03/2008 18:23

Could she not take an antihistamine tablet an hour before visiting?

uptomyeyes · 27/03/2008 18:24

To be honest .....why faff. Just get a cat and see how badly dsd reacts. My friend is allergic to cats, but seems to survive visitng my house for much longer than an hour at a time.

chocolatespiders · 27/03/2008 18:24

there is also a spray you can get to put on the cats coat think it is called petal something

heronsfly · 27/03/2008 18:28

One of my friends dc is allergic to cats, when they visit I shut both cats out[much to our pampered pets disgust] he never touches them or gets near them, his never reacted, I think she will be fine.

Original poster
emanon · 27/03/2008 18:36

Uptomyeyes I completely agree with you, but how do I handle it without looking like I'm disregarding her allergy? As you can imagine my DH is also saying if it's a problem we can't do it. I would really like to get a couple of kittens for my children to love and nurture and it seems such a shame to deprive them and not address their phobia because of my DSD's allergy.

OP posts:
hercules1 · 27/03/2008 18:38

Please don't do it. Ds and I are both allergic to cats and are affected regardless of whether the cat is in the house or not. Cat allergy is horrible and with ds his symptoms can go on for hours even after he has left a house where a cat lives.

Original poster
emanon · 27/03/2008 20:40

hercules1 I take your point. Can I ask, have you tried to find solutions to your allegy, or is it impossible. I have read that there are sprays for the cat's fur and special hoovers etc.

OP posts:
hercules1 · 27/03/2008 20:48

Antihistamine tablets have some effect but not 100%. Tbh I just make sure ds and I dont visit houses with cats. Odd thing is I grew up with loads of cats and never had a problem as a child. I doubt a spray or hoover would do the job tbh.

peanutbear · 27/03/2008 20:52

I cant go into a house thats had cats in it either I have a rather strange reaction where my lips and eyes swell up !! nd I feel so ill I do still visit and take antihistamines but I wouldnt stay for more than a couple of hours

the problem with cats is that they get everywhere so they sleep on the bed etc which obviously would make me quite ill

CountryGirl2007 · 28/03/2008 00:03

I think it a bit unfair of her to expect you to not get a pet so she can visit for an hour or two every three weeks. In face, it's ridiculous. If you want a cat, get one! it's your house after all. You should really get two, it's not fair to keep an animal on it's own generally. You'll also need to get them neutered/spayed if not done so already. There are cat rescues listed on this website: www.animalrescuers.co.uk Good luck.

CountryGirl2007 · 28/03/2008 00:04

fact*

Original poster
emanon · 28/03/2008 07:43

Countrygirl2007 That is really the way I feel (a totally different matter if she lived with us), but it's hard to know how to deal with it without her feeling we are unsympathetic to her problem. My DH is not a big pet lover so of course he doesn't need a better excuse not to get a cat. Somehow I will find a solution. My intention was to get two cats.

OP posts:
horseshoe · 28/03/2008 08:42

Rabbits can live for 8 years. You can get an indoor one

hercules1 · 28/03/2008 15:08

Oh sorry I misread your first post. I thought she came 3 times a week. In that case, go forit.

OnACaffieneHigh · 28/03/2008 15:27

Kittens are very scratchy things so with your kids already being afraid of them the added issue of your DSD's allergy I would suggest you get a guinea pig instead

OnACaffieneHigh · 28/03/2008 15:27

(on the other hand I LOVE my cat, so if that's what you want to do go for it!)

Original poster
emanon · 28/03/2008 16:49

hercules1 Thank you, you have made me feel better - your first post made me feel as though it would be very unfair. I have got my own children's phobia and desire for a pet to deal with verses my DSD's allergy. As I am sure you can imagine it makes me feel sad to think they will lose out because of it. My DS already has a great fear of going to other people's houses incase they have a dog or a cat. If they do have one, he would rather sit in the car for hours. It's a problem I need to find a way to help him deal with.

As you have an allergy to cats, if you were my DSD how would you deal with it?

OP posts:
hercules1 · 28/03/2008 17:55

I would take a tablet before coming round and then suffer it if it wasnt adequate enough. I think what you are proposing is perfectly reasonable.

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