Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

I had to rehome my boys. Heartbroken. What is the kindest way to go about it?

42 replies

BeamingBrenda · 22/09/2015 10:35

The GP told me yesterday that the cats are probably making dds ezcema worse and the best thing to do is to rehome them. She is in a desperate state at the moment so I feel I have no choice.

I am heartbroken. We've only had them a year - since they were kittens. But they are very much part of the family.

I haven't told the kids yet. DD2 didn't take much notice when the doctor said it - she's only 4.

I want them to stay together. They are brothers and very bonded to each other.

I don't know anyone that could take them.

Which is the kindest way to do this?

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 22/09/2015 17:26

I haven't read all the replies, but a huge number of people are told to get rid of their cats by GPs because of ezcema and other things - it just seems to be the first standard response. Frequently this happens and the problem remains exactly the same, pointing to the fact that in fact the cats had nothing whatsoever to do with it.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 22/09/2015 17:39

I went to my GP last year as I had a terrible cough and a permanent tight chest. As soon as she knew I had a cat I'm pretty sure she made up her mind that he was the cause. (That was despite me saying I'd had the cat for 6 years and had no problems during the winter, only in spring and summer)

It turns out that I've got a tree pollen allergy as well as 'normal' hay fever, nothing to do with poor old puss.

hiddenhome2 · 22/09/2015 18:58

This is so upsetting because pets are really good for people and they're part of the family. To tell a patient that a much loved animal is causing a problem without a proper investigation and tests is pure idiocy and pretty bloody uncaring Sad

Please don't rehome your cats. Exhaust all possibilities first.

Ds1 had eczema when he was young and he grew out of it. He used to get asthma too, but that's practically gone as well.

What treatment has your dd been prescribed?

Look at washing powders and shampoos. Shampoos with Sodium Laureth Sulphate in are very irritating. Go to Boots and get some SLS free shampoo - Botanics it's called. Do a double rinse on the clothing and get some Ecover laundry powder or liquid. No fabric softener.

We found Aveeno cream was very good and I used to bathe him in Dead Sea Salt. It did start to settle down.

Trawl the Internet for tips and products which are recommended by people.

Original poster
BeamingBrenda · 22/09/2015 20:08

We used Hydromol ointment, she has Elocon steroid cream (which I do hate her using but seems to be the only thing that controls her flare ups)

In her bath I use Dermal 600.

I wash clothes in Fairy non bio.

She wears nightgowns to bed to keep her cool. The GP suggested that. They are not cotton but her bedding is. Can you buy cotton nightgowns?

I really appreciate all the suggestions to help her. Quite a few I haven't heard of like keeping a bowl of water by her radiator.

I don't think her ezcema is worse since getting the cats. She seems to have been going from one flare up to the next for ages. It's taken ages to get a referral.

I feel so sad everytime the cats come up to me. Poor little things have no clue what might be in store for them. I can't bear thinking about it.

OP posts:
hiddenhome2 · 22/09/2015 20:12

Don't worry about using the steroid cream. I used it virtually all the time for ds and there've been no lasting problems. He's an older teen now.

She had it before you got the cats? It's highly unlikely not to be the cats then. How old is she?

hiddenhome2 · 22/09/2015 20:13

Have a look at the wet wrapping technique as well. You can use it overnight and it can settle things right down.

Original poster
BeamingBrenda · 22/09/2015 20:41

She's 4. Her ezcema starred when she was 6 months old.

The GP didn't say the cats were the cause but he said he they were probably making it worse and if he was me he would get rid of the cats.

His tone made me feel like an awful mother for being so stupid as to have cats in the same house as dd2.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 22/09/2015 20:46

He needs to back it up with an allergy test though.

I would put her in a cotton vest and pants for bed, rather than synthetic stuff. All my night stuff has to be cotton or i'm really warm in bed.

A lot of people don't like cats.

hiddenhome2 · 22/09/2015 21:00

Oh, ffs what an idiot the GP sounds. Some men don't like cats and can't understand why people keep them. Take no notice of him. I would want cast iron proof that the cats were making this situation worse before I rehomed them.

Ds' eczema peaked around this age then gradually began to settle down. He had a couple of skin infections when he was in Infant school, but it then just seemed to improve. It was gradual.

NantucketNightbird · 22/09/2015 21:03

It can be very difficult to rehome cats, especially if you would like them to stay together. I hope it doesn't come to having to part with them. If you are near me I will take them both even if it's temporary to get to the root of the eczema.

Wolfiefan · 22/09/2015 21:05

She's had eczema for 3 1/2 years?
You've had the cats a year?

So they aren't causing her eczema.

Millions of things make eczema worse. Eg

  • lack of emollient (use very very very frequently)
  • dust allergy
  • heating
  • excessive washing
  • not using the correct creams
  • diet (I break out if I overdo chocolate)
  • extremes of temperature or sudden change
  • stress
  • washing powders
  • scent
Micah · 22/09/2015 21:28

There's a lot of evidence that pets can actually prevent childhood excema and asthma.

Have you thought of chm? I'm a biochemist so not into "alternative" medicine, but there is a lot of evidence that chm is very effective for excema. Avicenna.co.uk is a highly reputable practice.

overthemill · 22/09/2015 21:57

beamingbrenda yes you can buy cotton nighties! My dd can only wear cotton and we used stuff ( expensive) from cotton comfort which revolutionised our life! We got all in ones with mittens for years. And she also had stuff from White Company and other high quality suppliers ( it's expensive but their stuff washes and washes) we found cheaper stuff didn't last with the emollients we had to use ( I would go into schoo,and gloop her 2 times in school day plus morning and night).

We also found that fairy non bio made it worse - you need to experiment. We had washing powder manufacturers send us samples of products and we found that Ecover was best for her and bizarrely Tesco non bio next best ( which we now use). I was lucky as I got all this arranged via Good housekeeping magazine who I contacted in despair one day. They also got us a grease resistant rubber seal for the washing machine as my machines only lasted 6 months because of all the gloop (50/50 white soft/liquid paraffin).

For a while we washed her stuff with no powder and extra rinses a second time after cleaning with soap powder. It helped.

As for emollients we found that it was best using everything from one range - we got our eczema nurse to give us samples of everything ( they are inundated with samples from reps) and we settled on Dermol range which she still uses. She was very very allergic to Aveeno. And most other things eg double base. We used topical steroids a lot plus some antibiotic ones ( Fucibet springs to mind) and we used .5% then 1% as needed. Sometimes she took oral steroids.
She was wet wrapped at night and sometimes for school and for 2 months she had no skin on her entire body.

It's much better now but stil using antihistamines daily plus steroids and emollients and she is 16. Her eczema is clearly for life! And of course she has asthma too (plus is severely ill and bed bound now with something differ t but I believe related to having such poor immunity).

All the other advice you've been given is spot in but you have to try it for your child - it's not a one size fits all. Good luck!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 23/09/2015 09:03

I don't have eczema but I have found that Fairy non bio washing powder gives me unbearably itchy skin. We now use Tesco non bio and I'm fine (other than when I'm stressed but that's another story!)

BagelwithButter · 23/09/2015 10:08

Great advice and tips from people here. Just shows that people who live with this condition know sooo much more than the GPs and dermotologists!

You can definitely find 100% cotton nighties. Pyjamas definitely. Try BHS and Primark - I've found cotton nightwear there in the past. Boden nighties are more expensive but worth looking when they have sales.

The mention of Dermol 500 was a blast from the past! Haven't thought about that one for years.

Good luck, Brenda I really hope you find some things that will help your DD.

Vinorosso74 · 23/09/2015 19:58

Re. washing powder I found the perfumes made it worse for my DD so stopped with the Fairy. I use Simply Pure (only one in pink bag as the blue is perfumed) or Surcare.
We also found the ointments made my DDs eczema worse as they were too greasy (ok on hands, knees and elbows tho).

New posts on this thread. Refresh page