Really want a cat but live with someone who is allergic - any hope?

[SwallowsandAmazonians]

I understand from Googling that no cat breed is actually hypoallergenic.
I also read some types of food can help, or getting the cat when a kitten, or that some people get used to it...
But she is quite allergic so I'm not sure if there's any way this would actually work.

Please don’t, I’m allergic to cats and dsds cat was still causing me grief 2 years after she arrived when she died, ok wasn’t a kitten but you don’t get used to cats unfortunately

I would suggest a different kind of pet. How about chinchillas or rabbits?

As someone who is allergic to cats, no. Make your peace with not having a cat.

I’m allergic to cats but took an adult black cat in as a neighbour was leaving and couldn’t take him. I started using antihistamines but turns out I am allergic to antihistamines My skin and eye irritation settled really quickly and I thought oh I can’t be allergic any longer maybe I’m cured! Then petted a friend’s cat and my eyes swelled as usual! So I wonder if other people might get used to it as well.

I see from other comments that my case is unusual

No rabbits, I've had one before. Lovely animals but quite destructive!
I've had a cat before when I was younger too - I prefer the combination of affection and independence.

No, there is not in reality so please don’t put an allergic person into the difficult position by these conversations it’s unfair and selfish towards them, it’s not their fault.

I’m allergic and we have one but he’s not particularly cuddly so he doesn’t come near me that often. It obviously depends how allergic someone is and you can’t really risk it unless you know exactly how it will affect them. I grew up with cats do knew I would be generally ok.

DH is allergic. He agreed to a Siberian cat which is meant to be better for allergies. The first few weeks he took regular antihistamines however after 6 months he no longer needs to and has no reactions to the cat. I know that’s unusual though and we’re very lucky.

DH is allergic to cats. We have always had one, or two, cats. You do get used to them. The trick is once you have them, don't have a break. We did that once and he really suffered again for the first few months of a new cat.

He has rules like not on his lap, or on the bed, but otherwise he is good.

It’s not fair on the allergic person or the cat who will most likely end up rehomed. It’s just not a responsible thing to do. You could foster for a rescue and see how the allergic person does but it won’t be pleasant for them!

I’m allergic to cats but love them. My compromise is to have an outdoor cat. There are specialist re homing centres who specialise in feral or semi feral cats. It depends where you live though, my cat lives at the stables, and was very timid at first but now comes running when he sees me and gives head bumps.

My nephew is also allergic and lives with 4 house cats. He takes antihistamines every day and manages fine. He doesn’t touch the cats though and his wife does everything.
im also highly allergic to horses but have had them for many years. My reaction has lessoned significantly over the years and it’s now only a couple of times a year that I have a reaction bad enough to need to take tablets. Again this is possible because I’m outside with them not in a house.

I'm allergic and I have 3 🤣 the key is hoovering, and not letting them too close to your face, wash your hands immediately after petting and Fond somewhere separate from you to sleep, our stay in the utility room.
It's worse during the summer because of the shedding and I also have hayfever.
Interestingly my brother has a severe allergy but it never flares at my house, but he's been around them since they were kittens. Try and go for a long haired cat. Their hair shed in clumps as opposed to small hairs everywhere so are easier to hoover up!

You could always try foster to adopt and see if its feasible

Depends how allergic.
I can react to other people's pets (cats and dogs) but not my own - I think my body has accepted them.
You can get food for the cats that can reduce the reaction in humans.
Keep out of bedrooms, wash their bedding frequently.
Be willing to take antihistamines...
Difficult to know how it would be without trying but not fair on cat if you can't keep it.

It's something in their saliva that we react to rather than fur in itself but obviously their fur will always be covered in the allergen.

DH and I are both allergic to cats so we have four Siberians. They produce a lower level of antigen than other cat breeds but still produce some and it varies from cat to cat. One of mine, I can literally rub my face in his fur and not react, another I have to avoid touching my eyes after stroking him. It takes a few weeks after getting them for reactions to reduce while you build up a tolerance. Some people still react to their Sib and may need to use antihistamines, keep the cat out of the bedroom etc.

Yes, this is true. Its the protein in the saliva, not the dander, as such. But dander is covered in saliva.

OP, my DS was extensively allergy tested as a toddler, and is v v allergic to cats. I know this is only anecdotal, but he ended up in hospital twice, ( once during a holiday cottage stay, where there had been a cat staying the week before), and once after a half hour visit to some friends. This was on the back of regular, well- controlled asthma inhalers.
He started off sneezing violently, within minutes, each time, and despite rescue inhaler medications being administered immediately, his eyes and lips swelled, he started wheezing, became short of breath, and was in hospital for 48hrs on oxygen, bronchodilators and intravenous steroids. This, with no direct contact. It was v frightening, and rapid.

I would be very wary, indeed.

He is 26 and still hideously allergic.
He's also allergic to rabbits, horses and donkeys.
It's a shame, as he really likes cats.

Can you house-sit a cat, and take her to stay with you? Also, it may not be fair to condemn her to daily antihistamines...but that is a decision for you. All the best in your decision. I realise this is just our experience though, yours may be different.

Depends on who the allergic person is.

I would rather have a cat than a live in partner. If it’s your DD then that’s a different story.

DH is allergic, but DD desperately wanted a cat, and he agreed, as he planned to stay away from the cat and we had complicated plans about where the cat could be etc. DCat is a russian blue, and an anti allergic breed, and has been with us for 9 months now, and there have been no problems at all. At the beginning we fed her on the special food from purina which reduces the allergens, but tried normal cat biscuits after a while and DH did not react. I brush her outside every week, but she does not lose many hairs at all, about 95% less than a normal cat. I should think whehter you have carpets or hard floors is also an important issue, carpets being not so ideal. Needless to say, the plans about her having her special area and DH not having much to do with her were binned a long time ago!

My DB is allergic, but his GF said her cats were non-negotiable (🙄), so he’s had to learn to live with them. They are outdoor cats and he has gotten used to them gradually and no longer needs antihistamines as much. He wasn’t that strongly allergic before (never needed EpiPen), but always did have eyes swell up and it would often trigger his asthma (nothing else triggered it).

We were all a little worried that prolonged exposure would lead to worse reactions, but luckily it has gone the other way. Still unimpressed she put him in that position though (especially as she replaced the cats when both passed away unexpectedly not long after he moved in).

My DS is allergic to cats so we feed ours Purina LiveClear which alleviates things. He is in fact only really allergic to one of the two (one is BSH ish type which is the one that doesnt trigger). We keep the door closed on his bedroom and have a hepa filter running too (he's also allergic to dust). I have a separate hoover for his bedroom too (just handheld one).
This seems to sort the worst of it.

So best is to speak to a rescue and you may be able to foster a cat with a view to long term keeping it. Try the liveclear food and see how you get on.

I'm really allergic to cats (asthma and whole face swells up) and I got a cat because I'm daft. I'm okay with him now but I still take antihistamines everyday. Initially, I was going to keep my bedroom cat free to help but then he was cuddly so he sleeps in bed with me every night. I'm still very allergic to other people's cats.

I think the person with the allergy has to decide.

Like others have said, it depends on the severity of the allergy. I’m allergic - we have a cat. We use Allerpet on him and we bought a robot vacuum at the same time as we got him so the house is hoovered every day. I haven’t had a problem.

The sofa and our bedroom are cat free zones, plus he doesn’t sit on me, so I’m not covered in cat. He’s a British Short Hair.

I’m allergic to dogs and cats. We have 2 short haired dogs (that I couldn’t imagine not having) and I take double dose of anti histamine daily. I’ve never “got used” to
them There is no way I could live with a cat. Even visiting cat homes is hard for me.

Repeated exposure to an allergen usually causes the reaction to increase in severity (digging my own grave here) so I really wouldn’t advise getting a cat.