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Original poster

Allergic to cats

18 replies

MazB · 31/03/2009 13:28

First time on in here and looking for some advice!!

As anyone had any experience or suggestions for alleviating a cat allergy. My partners suspected allergy has been confirmed by the doctor and it looks like my 2 lovely little kittens will have to go. I am desperate to keep them if at all possible and just wondered if anybody had come across any remedies that worked?

OP posts:
OrmIrian · 31/03/2009 13:30

I had a severe allergy to cats as a child, and bad athsma. Also horses and house dust mite ..the usual really. We had a cat but it was kept out of my room. Now we also have a cat and she rarely bothers me at all - I can't remember the last time I got affected. It just seemed to wear off.

Now my pet rats are another story....

Linnet · 02/04/2009 23:42

There is something you can buy called Petalcleanse. You spray it onto a cloth and wipe it over the cat once a week and it reduces the dander which is what causes the allergy, it also makes their coat nice and shiny apparently.

I haven't actually used this yet but Someone recommended this to me as I'm unsure whether or not I'm allergic to cats, my dads cats never bother me but my friends cat does, and we're thinking of getting a cat as a family pet. My plan is to buy some just incase.

You can google it to read about it and see what you think, you never know it might work and you may be able to keep your kittens. good luck

YanknbeforetheCockcrows · 03/04/2009 00:05

I think it depends on how bad his allergy is. My friend uses the wipes on her cats before DH and I come over, but he still suffers horribly (and the only antihistimine that works puts him straight to sleep). Thus we can't visit them much.

My cat allergy was quite bad as a child, but it seems to have improved. If you want to give it a go in keeping the cats:

--Restrict the cats to certain rooms only so your DP has a dander-free zone (definitely keep them out of the bedroom)

--Hoover furiously and look at getting one that filters allergens

--Your DP needs to avoid handling the cats, but if he does he should avoid touching his eyes/face/neck and should wash his hands immediately after

--Try a daily antihistimine (like those for hayfever)

Giving up a pet is miserable. My allergist when told us we'd have to get rid of my dog when I was 12, but I completely refused. I did, however, following his recommendation to stop mowing the lawn

Fibonacci · 03/04/2009 09:26

I'm very allergic to cats - makes my asthma very bad, streaming eyes and nose.

I find that if I take a Clarityn tablet a few hours before I am exposed (e.g. if we know we are going to visit someone with a cat) it cuts the symptoms down by about 80%.

But I can't usually tolerate more than one night under the same roof as a cat. I would never have been able to live with a cat.

Still, Clarityn may be worth a try for your partner.

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/04/2009 15:20

im very allergic to cats and the wipes dont work on me

different cats cause different symptoms - one friends cat makes me blotch like terrible excmea - where another one makes my eyes run and very sore

friend has a cornish rex - which is meant to be non allergic - complete bull - im worse that that bald hairless cat

i can spend a night in a house with one if i have one , but cant be in my room, and i have to take antihistimines

Original poster
MazB · 03/04/2009 15:31

Thanks all for your responses. Since day one they have been restricted to where they can go, hoover daily, use an ioniser etc but hasnt made much of a difference. Having spoken to the doctor at length about his allergy - he started off with runny nose and eyes but has progressed to breathing problems over the 5 months since we've had them we have come to the decision that they have to go. As you said giving them up is very miserable but my partners health is more important.

i am waiting for Cats Protection to call me back

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 03/04/2009 15:36

shame the kitten have to go

do you have to keep your man ?

can you keep the kittens and get a new bloke?

Original poster
MazB · 03/04/2009 16:33

thats pretty much what his kids said!

OP posts:
YanknbeforetheCockcrows · 03/04/2009 16:50

Ohhh this is really sad! FWIW, I think you are doing the right thing. Sounds like his allergy is like my DH's. I've also had to give up the idea of having budgies again, he's allergic to those too.

If they are young, I bet they will get rehomed fairly quickly.

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/04/2009 16:53

did he not know he was allergic to cats?

i have been for 15years now - allergy started when i was 20

worked in ajob for 2 years with a cat and was fine - changed jobs and developed an allergy

YanknbeforetheCockcrows · 03/04/2009 19:04

I think allergies can be unpredictable like that. My family had a cat when I was little, and I used to play with the cats on my grandma's farm all the time. Cat allergy came on quite suddenly!

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/04/2009 19:15

doctor said it was all to do with the 7years skin cycle

i was almost 21 and doctor said at 28 or 35 my allergy would go/get better

it hasnt

tigerdriver · 04/04/2009 00:29

I am really quite allergic to cats, dogs and horses but have had them (apart from horses) all my life. We have just got some new kittens and I have been very itchy, wheezy, sneezy etc. However - I am sure that after a few weeks I will be sensitised to them, that's always happened before.

Keeping them in one room might not be good, because you get a build up of dander etc there and it's quite strong. I find that the sooner they are in the house generally and not shut in one room, the better. I am sooooo sorry that you feel you need to part with yours after a few months. Are there any other stratgies you can try?

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/04/2009 13:49

why would you get an animsl if you know you are allergic to them?

tigerdroveoverthebunnies · 04/04/2009 18:25

I do it because the happiness and calm and fun they bring me and my family outweigh the downside of allergies, which settle down over time (in my case) anyway.

Blondeshavemorefun · 05/04/2009 13:16

i think you must be insane love your family lots

there is no way i could have a cat

least you seem to come less allergic to them

when i had my tests done 14years+ ago - the doctor injected a tiny prick of cat venim salvia/fur in my left arm and then marked it with a blue dod so knew where injection went

within 10 seconds my whole arm swelled up and doctor said he had never seen such an extreme recation - i had to call my dad and brother to come and both pick me up,one to drive them there, and one to drive my car home from hospital as arm was so swollen i couldnt change gear!!

marie1979 · 08/04/2009 23:13

i say get rid of your man i m allergic to cats my first cat i was really bad but i kept him couldnt bare to part with him eventually it dissapeared and im not allergic anymore to him but i am to other cats?? how long have you had your cats??

marie1979 · 08/04/2009 23:15

what has happened to your cats??

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