New cats - possible allergy, feeling really down

[WhoKnowsWhereTheSlimeGoes]

We adopted two cats (our first) from a rescue 3 weeks ago. They have settled in really well and the DCs adore them. But, for the last 10 days DD (7) has had persistent cold symptoms, which I'm now worried are an allergy. She has no history of allergies or respiratory problems (very rarely gets ill at all) and has been in and out of houses with cats many times with no problems, so I am trying to stay positive, and I know colds can persist but it is really making me feel miserable. Going to try her on some Piriton tonight and see if that improves her, next step the doctor I think. I have been reading up a bit about things that can help, just in case, but it is making me feel so sad at a time when we should be really happy with the new cats. Has anyone else had this happen?

im lucky im not allergic to cats but my daughter is though she is fine with her own cat is mildly allergic to my cats,theres an enzyme in cat saliva that brings out reactions being as cats lick themselves clean,there are some cat wipes you can buy to keep the saliva and dander down you wipe the cat over with them i think they are called cat petal? and hoover every day keeps the hairs down in the house thus reducing allergens, and dont let them sleep in her bedroom as this will give her an allergen free room if it does prove to be intolerance to the cats

Get her tested at the gp, allergy symptoms would present as runny itchy eyes, wheezing, rashes.

My dh is allergic to cats but he got used to our cat.

Please do not panic, OP.

Three weeks after our tiny rescue kitten arrived, my DH developed wheezing symptoms and felt rotten. Friends immediately suggested rehoming the poor creature, who was banished to the kitchen (with me).

However, DH had a nasty and longlived chest infection which responded to the second course of antibiotics.

Thanks both. She's only had streaming eyes for one morning so far (coincidentally the night she slept in our room, the cats sleep under our bed, which is what made me start thinking about it). No wheezing, just a blocked up nose / sniffing and a chesty cough. I've read about the wipes somewhere, they do sound good.

I will see how things go over the weekend and if she's still the same on Monday get her down to the GP.

I'm allergic to cats and used to have terrible reactions when visiting PILs house. We've now got three of our own. It really does get better when you're constantly living with them. I had a couple of days where I was sneezing and scratching after we got the first one but as soon as I'd had her a fee weeks I was fine.

Thank you all, I think I am probably worrying prematurely here, even if it is an allergy, the symptoms are mild so far. Also we are probably at the worst time in terms of getting a build up of allergens as the cats are cooped up indoors 24/7 and we have had very few windows open etc compared to normal. Once they are out and about that should help. The thought of rehoming them is just, well, unthinkable. It's nice to talk to other people who have been through similar.

I'm another one who has turned out to be rather allergic - despite being around cats, quite literally, all my life

When we got our two bundles of fluff five years ago, I was terribly, terribly allergic (asthma flare ups, all sorts). It has reduced massively (still get symptoms if they snuggle up to me during the night - I've woken up with boy cat snuggled under the duvet and against my face many times ) but other than that it doesn't affect me at all.