Cat allergy problems, WWYD? (long post)

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

We have a problem! It turns out that Amelie has taken after her Nana and Grandma and is allergic to cats. We got a kitten a few months ago named Boo - he's currently in kitty lock-up while we figure out what to do, he's in the bathroom and apparently having a great time!

Anyway, I took Amelie in the bathroom yesterday to give her a bath and within 3 minutes of being in the bathroom with Boo she started sneezing, wheezing, and her eyes got all puffy and watery. The same thing happened the last few times she's gotten cat hair on her - it's not pretty!

So we're at the point where we're trying to decide what to do about this situation, it's not fair to Boo to be locked up and away from the family. But It's not fair to Amelie to make her miserable either! DH and I are talking about how to handle this, the older two love their kitty, but we have to look out for the little one too. If it were you what would you do?

The woman we got Boo from would gladly take him back and find him a new home, she's awesome and runs a small shelter out of her home! But how do we explain it to the older two without making them resent Amelie?!?!

 

[disykat]

Find the cat a new home. Eventually the other children will understand that their sister's health is more important - though I doubt you can keep them from resenting that fact for a while.

 

[NMAmy]

Oh, how sad. I can tell you cats make me feel so miserable at 41, I can imagine how it makes a baby feel (at least I can dose myself up with Benadryl). Not only do I get runny eyes and nose, but I feel almost asthmatic in my chest and can hardly catch my breath. I think you should probably get rid of the kitty--maybe a dog instead? DD and I are both allergic to cats, but neither of us are allergic to dogs. If you try to make the other kids feel better with another pet, be aware that folks who are allergic to cats are usually allergic to rabbits and guinea pigs as well.

 

[DoeWDW]

This is so sad! However, the kitty will find a new loving home and Amelie will not have to endure an allergic reaction.

How to help the older kids feel better? That's a sticky situation, but they'll have to find a way to cope. Maybe you can tell them a little white lie, instead of blaming the kitty's departure on Amelie's allergies?? I've never been one to lie to my kids but in this case, it might be best.

 

[Rajah]

How old is the little one in question?

If she's the one in your sig, that's too young to start on allergy meds I think.

There are two things you could try before giving Boo a new home.

1) Allergy wipes. There are these wipes that you rub the cat down with regularly, and they help remove some of the dander and stuff that most people are allergic to. If you regularly did that, it might help.

2) Hepa filters in the rooms. They make a *huge* difference for me.

If those two don't work, then at that age I don't think there's much more you can do. She may grow out of them, but that could take weeks or could take years or even decades.

Good luck.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Originally posted by Rajah
How old is the little one in question?

If she's the one in your sig, that's too young to start on allergy meds I think.

There are two things you could try before giving Boo a new home.

1) Allergy wipes. There are these wipes that you rub the cat down with regularly, and they help remove some of the dander and stuff that most people are allergic to. If you regularly did that, it might help.

2) Hepa filters in the rooms. They make a *huge* difference for me.

If those two don't work, then at that age I don't think there's much more you can do. She may grow out of them, but that could take weeks or could take years or even decades.

Good luck.

It is the littest one, she's just about 4 weeks old. Her doc after checking her out says that there's not much to be done about it in terms of treating her, she's just too little.

We use help filters, I haven't tried allergy wipes I'll look into them.

I talked to the older two about it, Belle is ok with it right now but that could change, Lukas is ok with it as long as he's thinking about dogs and getting one, the rest of the time he's half in tears over it. I'm not far behind him, on one hand I want to keep the cat and on the other I hate seeing Amelie so miserable and not being able to do anything about it.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

As a fellow cat allergy sufferer-please find the kitty a new home while it is little.

Cat dander is sticky-for every 20 seconds your cat touches something, it takes 20 minutes to clean off the dander.
(That info is right from my allergy doctor.)

Maybe you can get them a different pet. I am allergic to cats and not dogs. Is Nana allergic to any other animals?

 

[Pembo]

As someone with cat allergies, please remove the cat. Your little girl's health is much more important.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Originally posted by tiggerwannabe
Maybe you can get them a different pet. I am allergic to cats and not dogs. Is Nana allergic to any other animals?

Nope, Nana isn't allergic to any other animals, the only animal allergy on my side is cats, DHs side we wouldn't know about since none of them have pets.

We're going to wait for a bit to get a new pet I think, unless Lukas wants to pull his fish tank out and have another gold fish!

I contacted the woman that we got him from and we're going to start the process of finding him a new home.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

It's hard, but necessary...

My allergy to cats came out when our cat was about 12.
(My hubby got her from the ASPCA and at her age she would be put down if she went back there.)
That was 3 years ago, she is 15, and we still have her.
My allergy is through contact (which could be a blessing)
I have to avoid touching her and anywhere she frequents...
I also have to take medication daily or I get hives.

If I had the nasal allergies like your Amelie, I would have definitely found the cat a new home.

 

[Disney Princess 6]

You can't have your infant in such misery. The cat must go as soon as possible...

 

[Amberle3]

I found out a few years ago that I'm allergic to cats. Actually I'm allergic to "everything" according to the doctor. I tested positive for everything they tested for - all the animals, plants, trees, dusts, pollens, everything. Did you know they even test for cows and horses? Whoever heard of someone allergic to cows? Well, apparently I am. If you can breathe it, I'm allergic to it.

It explains why I always seemed to have a perpetual cold for the last 15 years.

I also have cats. At the moment I have 4 cats in fact. I take one medication in the morning and another at night. BUT, when I found out about the allergies (almost 30) I was old enough to make the decision about whether or not to keep the cats. (we only had 3 at the time).

Your precious daughter is in quite a different situation. She's much too young for medications, and isn't old enough to voice an opinion or make a decision. My worry would be the severity of the reaction, and whether or not it could lead to a serious respiratory complication during a reaction.

Ordinarily, being a total cat lover, I would say "take some medication and keep the cat", however I think in this case the only thing you can do is find another home for the cat. Is there someone you know that can take the cat? I'm wondering if the allergy isn't a sensitivity that she'll outgrow.

 

[aprilgail2]

My borther was allergic to cats and dogs growing up, but we always had one, I loved them and my parents just couldn't not let me have one because he is allergic...BUT...he was also not an infant, he was 7 when we got the first dog, 8 the first cat and 13 when we added another cat and dog...he was old enough to go for allergy shots and take meds for it. Eventually he stoped the shots and is fine with them now....but with a 4 month old I think that I would have to get rid of the cat and make it up in some other way to the other kids....

 

[crazyforgoofy]

I'm sorry about your situation. I'm severely allergic to cats but love them. I know its so hard to have to give away your kitty but the misery will probably only get worse. And believe me it IS miserable. For her to show strong symptoms at such a young age she must be VERY allergic.

I hope you find a great home for your kitty and I hope you can find the perfect replacement pet for your older children.

 

[ZachnElli]

You are making the right decision finding the cat a new home. If she is that young and that allergic it CAN get worse! My dad knew he was allergic his whole life and he became deathly allergic in his 40's. We went to visit my aunt (his twin) and she had a cat, 2 days later my dad was in ICU for the next 5 days!

 

[janette]

My youngest DD is allergic to cats, my MIL is also. I had a cat years ago before my DD's but haven't been able to have one since. My MIL is very allergic and wouldn't come in the house if we still had one.

My DD can tolerate them but I wouldn't want to risk having one in the house with her either. My sister has a Bengal cat and my DD said they didn't bother her as much so maybe we can have one of those someday.

We do have 3 dogs, 2 Bichons and a Cataholua. My DD is also allergic to dogs so the Cataholua is restricted in the house and she has no problems with the Bichons. There are other breeds that are also considered hypo-allergic. Maybe you can find another pet that is less likely to cause problems.

Good luck

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Thank you all for your advice and support!

We're on our way down to meet with the woman from the shelter, he's going back today. Belle keeps saying he's going home to see his mom and dad. The woman that originally rescued him as a small kitten is taking him home - we know he's going to a good home.