Kittens & allergic husband

[ExCharlieBucket]

Hi guys, just got two kittens because my youngest was devastated at the disappearance of the stray we used to “keep” in the garden....

Sadly My husband is having a terrible reaction to them and has been wheezing a bit without any contact with them whatsoever. He can’t run like he could and can’t really be in he same room as them at all.

Currently we’re keeping them on the kitchen only, i rug doctored all carpets and washed all blankets in the house but we think we might have to take them to my mums.

We’ve tried acupuncture but just one session so far

Think I need to hear something helpful for sorting this out because while my husbands health massively out weighs anything else, my kids would be devastated if they had to go.

Anybody in the same position? We’ve let them out into the garden now to keep them away.

When my son was in his most allergic state, he would wheeze if he was near someone who had been near a cat earlier in the day. I think you know that your husbands reaction is significant enough to warrant rehoming. Even if he manages to control his symptoms with medication it will be a constant attack on his immune system. I know there is a school of thought that exposure reduces allergic symptoms but as an adult with allergies, I believe it is more effective and better for overall health to strengthen the immune system and remove possible sources of reaction before attempting to reintroduce when his immune system is stronger.

The acupuncture might work. Did the acupuncturist advise keep the cats or rehoming?

My DH takes a daily antihistamine which does the job (he's not just allergic to cat hairs - also things like house dust etc so he'd need to take them whether we had cats or not). And he does seem to react far less to our cats than he used to - I think you do build up some kind of resistance over time. But if your DH is reacting so badly it may well be time for the kittens to go your Mum..

Antihistamine?

I did actually 'grow' out of mine. I was terribly allergic in my 20s. I have had cats ever since.

"Some people can develop an immunity to a specific cat or cats. Allergies occur because your body mistakenly sees the allergen as a foreign invader. Over time, some pet owners' bodies may grow accustomed to the allergens of a specific cat and their reactions will diminish, according to LiveScience"

I would rehome them. Upsetting for your kids but I can't see any other choice. Kittens shouldn't go out in the garden alone until about 6 months old iirc and definitely not until they have finished their first course of vaccinations.

When I moved in with DH he had a cat that I was allergic to - streaming nose, sore watery eyes etc. I'd lose my voice it was so bad. After a while I got over it. We have a cat still and I'm fine with it - provided I don't touch it and then touch my face.

BUT that was just me. In your shoes I think I'd be concerned about your DH's wheezing and if your mum would have them that's a good compromise as you'll still be able to see them and know they've gone to a good home.

I would rehome while they are still kittens and easily homeable and maybe look into a hypoallergenic breed? My friends dh is allergic but they got siberian forest cats and no reaction at all.

Im allergic to my cats but not massively and only really react if we do snootboops or i get scratched. Its easily controlled by daily antihistamine, but your dp sounds much more severely affected.
You cannot keep them if he is reacting like this though.

Thanks for your replies

I asked to try acupuncture because it had an immediate affect on me when I was virtually unable to breathe from may - September due to Hayfever and I wasn’t willing to spend the rest of my life like that. Fifteen years later I’ve never touched another hay fever tablet and I only had one session. It was proper life changing stuff for me, I used to be on inhalers etc

He’s not needed antihistamine since yesterday morning and is going to do his follow up course on ten days
But im not hopeful that we can sort this.

I’ve let them out because they are 15 weeks old and eager to get out and had their vaccines etc.

Obviously we don’t just chuck them out but I am definitely having to do this before I’m totally Comfortable.

They can’t get out of the garden can they? 15 weeks is way to young to go out even if they are vaccinated.

Kittens do stupid things. Ours wasn’t out till 6 months.

No, I go out with them and potter about

I was raised with all
Animals and we have always treated them like family Members, no restrictions on movement etc,
It really Pains me to keep them off sofas etc, I Know how much cats love feeling cosy.... kitchens are kind of ... utilitarian!

I think if this is where we’re at in terms of my husband being a lot better but cats have no home comfort I think they’d be better at my mums anyway.

MY husband is allergic to kittens fluff. Each time I bring a new cat home he is allergic, takes piriton etc but as time goes on he stops reacting to them. He then doesn't need piriton either. If we go to someone's house with cats he's not used to he's allergic all over again there

Ol. So they’ve got to go.

Next question: my mum lives 8 hours away. She’ll be really
Good to them - my
kids still get to see them so it’s worth the trek.

Does anybody know of a decent sedative doe the journey?

A friend's dh got a 3 month course of anti histamines off the gp. He is fine with the cats now.

It took dh a couple of months to stop reacting to ours, usually allergies worsen with repeated exposure but he only reacts if he fussed the cat then rubs his eyes. The cat sleeps on our bed during the day.

He’s just glad the cats not allergic to him.

Borrow a large kittening cage, litter tray, food, bed - they'll be fine no reason to sedate them.

I've done 5/6 hours with my 2 adult cats like that they were fine didn't even vocally complain like they do in a cat basket!

Buy the calming spray & lightly spray a towel for their bed.

Sorry this has happened but I think you are right to rehome them, sadly. My mother once had to rehome a cat that tried to adopt her (a neighbour took it on) - she did specialist remedial tutoring at home, and despite her best efforts with changing clothing / keeping cat out of the room she taught in etc (had no carpets, all wood floors by then I think), a couple of allergic students couldn't tolerate a 1 hour lesson in there.

I'm allergic to cats and couldn't live with them, sadly. And it's not feasible, or fair on the cat, to restrict them to certain rooms.

Well its been 24 hours since my husband had his acupunture - he was in the kitchen for an hourt lunchtime today reading the paper and zero reaction - we found the cats kipping at his feet. Pretty amazed, its given us hope but he'll have to improve massively for us to change our minds - I've pretty much arranged their journey up to my mums etc now.

He hasnt had an antihistamine now since Thursday PM

Acupuncture cured my migraines 20 years ago and I’m a firm believer that it works with many health issues! Good luck with the kittens OP!