Anyone here have cat allergies???

[tink29]

My 9 y.o. DS "might" be allergic to cats. We have two here at home, the one cat was here before DS was Born. DS was 5 when we bought the Himalayan. The family Dr. doesn't want to test for the allergy, because he said it's a painful process. But it seems EVERY time he visits a home with a cat/cats(except for his Aunts house), he gets severe reactions!! Red itchy eyes, runny nose, can't breathe, and he says his throat feels like it's closing up. My question is..........can you be immune to your cats at home, and still be allergic to other feline???

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

I believe you can and that it would have something to do with their fur.

Do the cats have different types of fur??

There is also the stuff on their tongues since they are constantly cleaning themselves maybe one produces more of that stuff than the other.

My mom is highly allergic to cats and i get an awful itchy nose when I am around them.

Good luck!

 

[cynsaun]

When he goes to this other house, are there other elements there that he could be reacting to, such a plants?

My mom is severly allergic to eucalyptus, and can't even be near a dried flower arrangement without having a reaction!

 

[Annette_VA]

Absolutely!

I found out I have a cat allergy in the 6th or 7th grade. And, yes - the testing is painful! Imagine a pushpin taken to your back about 100 times.

I had a cat a few years ago that did not affect me at all. But, if I went to my parent's or IL's house, their cats would flare up my allegies almost instantly! I don't have my cat anymore, but they all still have theirs and my allergies are awful at their houses.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by tink29
My 9 y.o. DS "might" be allergic to cats. We have two here at home, the one cat was here before DS was Born. DS was 5 when we bought the Himalayan. The family Dr. doesn't want to test for the allergy, because he said it's a painful process. But it seems EVERY time he visits a home with a cat/cats(except for his Aunts house), he gets severe reactions!! Red itchy eyes, runny nose, can't breathe, and he says his throat feels like it's closing up. My question is..........can you be immune to your cats at home, and still be allergic to other feline???

My feelings are yes, even though my allergist says no. I just found out last week, that I'm allergic to cats, as well as other things. I've always had a cat, since basically I was born, and they never caused me any problems, at least the ones I lived with. With my previous cat, there was an adjustment period of around 2 weeks, before I didn't have any problems, but that's it. I have had MANY problems with recurrent sinus infections, bronchitis, etc., which my allergist attributes to my living with a cat. I don't have to get rid of my cat, but do have to manage my allergies to prevent the infections it causes in me. Now, if I walk into any home with a dog, watch out, the allergies come out in full force. I'm just as allergic to dogs as I am with cats, but the Dr just said that it reacts out differently in my body for the two different allergens. If you truly feel your DS is allergic, he might be having different problems at home, then what you see when he visits other homes. Allergy testing IS NOT painful at all. All they have to do is a scratch test, and there is no pain involved. I'd ask your Ped for a referral, if needed, to a Pediatric Allergist. Allergies can crop up at any time, and also worsen at any time.

 

[liznboys]

I can comment on the allergy testing. My middle son was tested for a bunch of allergens last year when he was 1.5 yrs old. They did the skin prick test on his back, he barely noticed, didn't cry at all or even flinch. I take that to mean that it didn't hurt (barely anyway).

I would absolutely have him tested if I were you. I have discovered in my research on children and allergies over the past year that pediatrician's are unlikely to tell you to have your child tested for allergies. Why I don't know, doesn't make sense!!!! I had to be proactive and ASK our Ped. to send us to an allergist. He was fine with it. And I am so glad we had Alex tested. We would not have known about his peanut allergy had we not tested him, and that could have resulted in a very BAD situation.

Anyway, we found out he is allergic to cats (and also the peanuts as I mentioned but that's another topic). We had one cat at the time, and we decided to give her away. But we had the perfect home for her to go to-my mom and stepdad's. They already had 3 cats and spoiled them rotten. lol She was actually much happier there then here with noisy kids running around and disturbing her naps.

Good luck!

 

[tassie42]

when I was growing up I had a cat that actually slept on my bed at night. But I am highly allergic to other peoples cats. I think you become ammune to your own cat.

Both my older children have been tested for allergies my son cried but my daughter didn't even flince! (they were both 2 at the time they got tested)

 

[momof2inPA]

My six and four year olds have had allergy testing, and so have I. It's irritating, but not painful. Have it done, and the allergist will answer all your questions. In the mean time, I wouldn't send your son to other people's houses with cats. I have the same type of cat reaction as the symptoms you mentioned, and it's very uncomfortable, not to mention dangerous.

 

[wvrevy]

ABSOLUTELY it is possible to be allergic to some cats and not to others ! When I was a kid, I had the allergy tests done (100+ "shots" in the back, and no, it really doesn't hurt...the needles barely break the skin) and was allergic to pretty much everything But cats I'm STILL deathly allergic to...I can walk in a house that has a cat, and within an hour my eyes could be swelled shut.

Now, I say "could be" because I've actually had friends that had cats that didn't bother me in the least. It's usually long-haired cats I don't have a reaction to, but there have been a short-haired cat or two that didn't bother me, so I don't know what the common denominator is.

I'd definitely recommend the testing, just on the theory that it's always better to know than not

Hope that helps....

 

[disykat]

I agree allergy testing isn't a big deal. I've had it done numerous times and am much more bothered by the mosquito bite type itching than the little needle pricks. Use some tylenol before and some antihistamine after if you're worried. My son had it done most recently at age 8. No big deal. When I was a child, they made the scratches much bigger - now they are miniscule.

I grew up with a cat, but am allergic to them now. I can go in some cat homes and not notice it at all, but others send me into an immediate reaction.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have cat, dog & other allergies.

I had cats for 30yrs. You see my allergies are mild. I do not have the sneezing, wheezing etc...

I just "feel sick" ALL THE TIME and am more prone to getting sick.

Go to an ENT + Allergist Doctor that will do individual testing. Our testing is done with a hypodermic needle on the arm & not the "big back" test.

The reason to do it this way is because it will measure mild allergies. In my case this was critical because the other way of testing only picks up a high or severe allergies.

I have about 60 mild which makes for one sick person. I get shots once a week.

 

[tink29]

Thanks for all the replies!! I was wondering if I was going crazy!! Our oldest cat is a long haired Tabby, the 2nd one is a Himalayan.

In the winter, DS does have bronchial asthma attacks now and then. I wonder if being "shut-in" during the winter has an affect?!?!

Just two weekends ago he was at a sleepover, and I had to go get him at 12:30am. Poor lillte guy thought he was gonna die. He really scared the boys Mother too (who has 2 cats in the house). The family Dr. gave him a script. for Zyrtec.....and said for him to take it 1/2 hour before he visits a home with cats. We haven't tried it yet, does anyone use that med. for any allergies??

 

[Rajah]

Yup, totally possible to be allergic to some but immune to your own. Or, rather, resistant to your own.

Also, it's not actually the *fur* that most people are allergic to, it's the enzymes the cat leaves behind when it grooms itself.

 

[KristiKelly]

I am allergic to cats, not severely, just sneezing, runny nose, red, itchy eyes that will swell some. Some cats will get to me the 2nd I walk into a house and others don't bother me. We had a cat a few years ago, and she didn't really bother me but we went to a friends house and my eyes looked like they were turning inside out from the swelling (lovely sight) and I never touched the cats. I think some cats produce more dander or maybe I became immune (if that's possible) to our cat. About a year ago DS started begging for a cat and even suggested that I go get shots he was 5 at the time - where'd he come up with that? Oh, and no cat, we got a dog instead.

 

[momof2inPA]

Originally posted by tink29
Just two weekends ago he was at a sleepover, and I had to go get him at 12:30am. Poor lillte guy thought he was gonna die. He really scared the boys Mother too (who has 2 cats in the house). The family Dr. gave him a script. for Zyrtec.....and said for him to take it 1/2 hour before he visits a home with cats. We haven't tried it yet, does anyone use that med. for any allergies??

Poor kid. You can actually die from an allergic reaction brought on by cats, and I've had epinephrine for a cat allergy reaction. Zyrtec will lesson itchiness, and runny nose, but will not prevent an asthma attack or airway reaction. I really think your pediatrician doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[cynsaun]

Now that I saw you wrote your two cats are long-haired. I have found that the long hair cats don't have as much dander that falls off as short-haired cats.

A friend of mine that is allergic to cats can be around my persian, but not the short-haired calico!

I wonder if this true, or me just going WAAAYYY off the deep end!

 

[avdeane]

I watched a story on TV about cat allergies a while back. It caught my interest since my husband is very allergic to cats. Anyway, they claim that the darker the cat is the more people seem to be allergic to it. I don't know how if it is true but when my hubby and I first met I had a long haired white cat and he didn't have any problems being around it. His sister had both a siamese and a black cat and hubby couldn't be around them at all.

Things that make you go hmmmm?

 

[ZachnElli]

My son has alot of allergies, including cats. The zyrtec is not the miracle drug your doctor makes it sound like. It's best to avoid cats if you can. My son did the allergy tests when he was 6 and it's best to speak to an actual allergist, not just a ped. or family doctor. My dad is deathly allergic to cats, so we take it pretty seriously and Zyrtec will not stop that reaction. My dad hasn't always been that allergic, it got worse over time and found out at the ICU, not fun. Sorry to sound so negative, I just can't believe your doctor won't do the tests!

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I had the allergy testing done 18 months ago. It was all done on my arms (turn palms up and rest on a pillow, then just a very minor skin scratch with a plastic thingie dipped in different allergens.) Anything that I had a significant reaction to, they did a 2nd test with a shot. I don't think it was painful at all, they just scratched the skin.

And I definitely agree, since there is an airway problem, take it seriously and avoid any cat you can until he is old enough to understand what to do to help himself. My throat has swollen, and it's very scary! I would suggest picking up liquid Benadryl, because it's easier to get down than a pill if the throat starts to swell. Also, have your Dr write a script for an epi pen and have it with you. This would buy some time in case a trip to the emergency room is required. IMHO it's always better to be prepared, takes away some of the anxiety.

 

[mommyseven]

I am allergic to cats.

I had a cat in my home. Unless I petted her and then rubbed my face I did not have a reaction. However, if I went to another house that had a cat, I would get horribly ill.

My cat now lives with my oldest daughter - happily I must say. I can visit with no problems. I have a friend with three cats, and as long as I don't touch them, I'm fine. One likes to play with my hair when I sit on the couch.

I do have another friend with a male cat. If I step into the house without touching anything I get horribly ill. I cannot even be in her house.

I react differently depending on the cat. Males seem to bother me a bit more.