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Original poster

Quite a bad cat allergy - and this place has cats

15 replies

stargirl0412 · 13/08/2013 14:32

Hi, having decided not to rent my friend's flat, I'm now looking to rent a room in a house or flat share in London to save money.

I went to see a great place today - it has just the space I want, I got on great with the homeowner - it's by the Tube and has everything I want. But it has three cats!

(In my advert I stated I was allergic to cats, the homeowner didn't bother to read to the end of my ad unfortunately so we arranged a viewing.)

Now I loved this place - but my allergy is really bad - my eyes itch and stream, face swells up and even my throat swells up and it triggers asthmas attacks - if I come into contact with a cat.

She said I could move in temporarily and see how it goes if I stay away from the cats and lock my room so they can't get in. My pal, a nurse, thinks I should give it a go, just to take my antihistamines.

Is it a really bad idea? Please be brutal if you wish!

Thanks

OP posts:
GreatBags · 13/08/2013 14:35

As someone who moved frequently in London due to ignoring my misgivings about places that weren't really a good idea I'd say it's a really bad idea.

edam · 13/08/2013 14:36

I wouldn't if I were you - face and throat swelling up is a really serious risk. (Am a cat person, btw.)

orangeandemons · 13/08/2013 14:40

Well I have a severe allergy to cats, just like yours and I'd never do it. They don't have to be in the same room to trigger an allergy, surely you know that? I react even if one was in the room a few weeks previously.

If your throat swells you are in a dangerous area. I just couldn't bear the itching and wheezing

Mumof3wifeof1 · 13/08/2013 19:08

Oh me too, I would fear for my life if I had to live with a cat. even if I survived, my body would become an antibody factory, and god knows what that would lead to knowing my luck.
So no , stay clear of bag puss.

Katisha · 13/08/2013 19:13

No - you'll be compromising your well being. There'll be other places. People who don't have them tend to try to minimise pet allergies but make life a complete misery and you won't be able to avoid the effects of three cats. Or even one really.

Original poster
stargirl0412 · 13/08/2013 23:01

Hi - yes, I guess you're right, although I have heard of an allergic person developing immunity to their cat!

As for the throat swelling, maybe I overstated that - I remember it has felt a bit uncomfortable in the past but that may have been because I had a cold.

But my face does swell up - especially my eyes, which swell up grotesquely to the point where I look as though I've been in a boxing ring.

Orangeandemons - I didn't know cats didn't have to be in the same room to affect sufferers - thanks for that info!

OP posts:
Hassled · 13/08/2013 23:03

Cat hairs really get anywhere and everywhere, especially when it's warm and they're moulting - just don't do it. Our cats hardly ever venture upstairs, yet I still find cat hairs there.

RandomMess · 13/08/2013 23:04

Hmmm I'm allergic to cats, when we got our last 2 for the first 3 weeks I thought they were going to have to go as the wheezing and constant mucos and itchy eyes drove me insane - at some point not long after that it suddenly improved. Now I'm fine so long as I don't let them touch me with their paws or mouths or stroke them and then rub my eyes!

Jaynebxl · 14/08/2013 08:07

I had a cat and an allergic flatmate. The cat came first so when she decided to move in she took daily antihistamines and was fine. She did suggest initially that I get rid of the cat which I thought was a blooming cheek since the cat was there first (and long after she had moved out!) but it worked out fine with her tablets.

orangeandemons · 14/08/2013 08:45

But antihistamines don't always work properly. I take them, but they just take the edge off the allergy. It's still awful, even with antihistamines

Jaynebxl · 14/08/2013 08:52

I guess it varies from case to case orange, and the only way the OP would know would be to try it. Pretty risky though. Maybe you could take an antihistamine and go round for an afternoon as a trial run?

Original poster
stargirl0412 · 14/08/2013 13:22

Hi Jaynebxl - an afternoon trial run wouldn't give me an accurate idea as I'm also allergic to the housedust mite, and when I would go round to my slobby ex's place I'd be fine the first night and by the second my eyes were swollen, unbearable itching and streaming, etc.... and that was while taking antihistamines!

It was so bad I had to leave his place early and go to the nearby chemist for some special eyedrops, which helped a bit but the symptoms only vanished completely when I stopped going round there.

My sister reckons I should go to the doctors and get some strong prescription antihistamines (I suffer from hay fever anyway and regular ones only dull the harshness of the symptoms, as another poster said).

I guess the sensible answer is not to move into this place - but, it's God's little trick isn't it, to make it by far the best option I've seen so far that I can afford. Sigh...

I may still ask my GP what he thinks....

OP posts:
Jaynebxl · 14/08/2013 23:24

Crumbs sounds bad. And sadly it doesn't seem like this place would work then but would be interesting to see what your GP says.

greenfolder · 14/08/2013 23:34

sorry op but you are mad to try this. me and db both have explosive cat allergy. he had a girlfriend with cat- moved and took mega anti histamines. he ended up with asthma which he has to this day.

stargirl04 · 15/08/2013 00:26

Thanks for your input folks - I've decided I'm not going to take this place after all. You've all convinced me it's a mad idea.

It's just that when my pal, a nurse, thought I should give it a try, I thought "Well she must know what she's talking about."

But no - I'll give it a miss. Thanks everyone.

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