Allergy advice ,Can I get used to cat fluff ?

[habibihabibi]

A huge magnificent wild Tom turned up about 9 months ago spitting and fighting our dog for food. I borrowed a trap from a charity and eventually caught and had him neutered and vaccinated( he is not chipped) .He disappeared and then after a few months was back and all loving and my kids started playing with him . Now he's coming inside but both my husband and I are itching like mad. I won't give up on him but wonder if we will eventually get used to it.. I have had cats before but they were burmese crosses and didn't shed as much.

Some do, some don’t. Dh is allergic to cats but less to our longhair moggy than he was the Bengal.

He looks like a Maine coon with that nose though. It is moulting time though going by our floors atm so a daily run through with a zoom groom is needed. I’m going to furminate the long hair later.

Hi OP.
Just a thought, but could the itching be caused by fleas rather than a reaction to shedding fur?
Can't give any advice on allergies I'm afraid - but just wanted to say he's absolutely magnificent

habibihabibi What a marvellous, regal-looking boy. Had he been treated for fleas? He's utterly beautiful.

Have you tried taking an antibistine tablet?
We use petal cleanse on coat of cat to reduce allergy released.
Could you have a cosy cabin outside for him so he is not inside as much?

What a beautiful boy! He doesn't look like a wild feral cat to me. Looks well fed and clean. I tend to think he's probably someone's pet, especially after he disappeared for a few months. A pedigree by the looks of it, a young Main Coon or Norwegian forest. He may have escaped, have you put any posts on local fb pages or forums to find the owners?

As for allergies, it can be their saliva from cleaning their fur that you're allergic to as well. All you can do is take an antihistamine and limit the time he's in your house. I like the idea of PP to have a little outdoor house for him, like a dog kennel type of thing.

He looks very well-kept for a cat that's supposedly semi-feral.

But if that is the case, have you flea-treated him at all? If you have a dog at home and haven't reacted to the dog, and are now just reacting to the cat, I would bet that it's fleas over an allergy, especially as you're both itching.

I think you need to get him back to the vet so you can get him checked properly and given a prescription for some flea treatment. If it is fleas, you'll need to Indorex your house from top to bottom too, and wash everything on a hot wash to kill the eggs.

He's magnificent!!
Those paws 😸!!

@habibihabibi

A huge magnificent wild Tom turned up about 9 months ago spitting and fighting our dog for food. I borrowed a trap from a charity and eventually caught and had him neutered and vaccinated( he is not chipped) .He disappeared and then after a few months was back and all loving and my kids started playing with him . Now he's coming inside but both my husband and I are itching like mad. I won't give up on him but wonder if we will eventually get used to it.. I have had cats before but they were burmese crosses and didn't shed as much.

Have you posted on the local lost and found boards on fb? He looks like one I've seen on there.

I used to be highly allergic to all animal fur - sneezing, itchy eyes, hives, wheezing - within minutes of touching them. Cats were a particular trigger, but when I was 18 I went abroad as an au pair and the family had a cat. For the first month I touched it as little as possible and still needed daily antihistamines, but I gradually started stroking it and washing my hands afterwards and then it used to come and sit beside me while I watched tv and by the end of the year I rarely had much reaction at all. I’m sure it depends on the person, but as a quite reactive person (I still have various allergies) I found exposure lessened the effects.

This photograph is recent. He wasn't in good shape when we first caught him. We are in Saudi Arabia and unfortunately it is common for pet shop kittens to be abandoned once they are adults or perhaps due to covid his family left suddenly. He has been flea treated and as he virtually lives outdoors I go through his coat for leaves everyday. An outdoor kennel is a good idea.

A bit of shelter outside, fresh water and decent food is all he needs! You could try antihistamines if you want him indoors more. He's so handsome 😍

What a gorgeous boy! Have you tried putting something like Petal Cleanse on his fur to make him less allergenic? You just wipe it onto them and it doesn't hurt them at all.

amazon.co.uk/s?k=petal+cleanse+cat&sprefix=petal+cleanse%2Caps%2C89&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_3_13]]

My adult DS is allergic to cats and has two of them, he takes half an antihistamine a day and doesn't let them in the bedroom and he is ok. He's been allergic for 40 years but still insists on having them.

I will see if I can get some petal cleanse . I love that he is happy with our family despite lively kids and dogs.
I will go and buy a plastic crate or barrel and kids can make him a snug. He sleeps on the outdoor furniture usually . Its rained a few days so that has driven him in although he likes water and rolls around in the sprinklers and kitchen sink.