Living with a cat even though you're allergic

[nugov2]

We lost our dog recently and my son especially is having a tough time with no pet in the house. He really wants a cat, but my husband is mildly allergic(watery eyes and a little stuffy that is it after spending hours in a house with felines around him)....they must sense his weakness because my mil cats are all over him. He thinks it will be fine because they are so mild and is ready to go adopt...I'm nervous he'll be miserable and can't imagine how upset the kids would be if we had to rehome them. Anyone have any luck with the allergies being no problem after adopting?

 

[sonnyjane]

We lost our dog recently and my son especially is having a tough time with no pet in the house. He really wants a cat, but my husband is mildly allergic(watery eyes and a little stuffy that is it after spending hours in a house with felines around him)....they must sense his weakness because my mil cats are all over him. He thinks it will be fine because they are so mild and is ready to go adopt...I'm nervous he'll be miserable and can't imagine how upset the kids would be if we had to rehome them. Anyone have any luck with the allergies being no problem after adopting?

If he's willing to take it on, that helps a great deal. This situation arises a lot when couples first move in together and one person is allergic. There are lots of things you can do, especially if it's only a mild allergy. A Google search will yield specifics, but if you stay on top of cleaning that helps a lot, and he can take some daily allergy medication too if it's warranted. I've had cats all my life but believe it or not, every individual cat is different as far as allergies go. My last cat, I never had a problem. When I got my current cat, I did actually sneeze and have watery eyes for several months, but that's subsided as I've had him longer. No guarantee that will happen but he could get a tolerance to the cat.

 

[ozliz]

Keeping your bedroom door shut so the cat cannot get in and sleep on your pillow during the day, cleaning regularly, grooming the cat regularly to reduce shedding on the furniture, etc. there are lots of things that can be done around the house.

Plus consider the breed of cat, I hear the Devon Rex which has very short hair is often better tolerated. Finally of course, over time he may become less sensitive or you can look into allergy treatments like desensitisation shots (big commitment but some people do it for a loved one).

Maybe he should see an allergist for testing because knowing just how allergic and any other allergies may help. I find allergy sensitivity is cumulative so in hayfever season I am more sensitive to other allergens too since I am already irritated. Having this understanding means I am more careful during those seasons. Basically I'm saying that it is an option and the more you know about his allergies the better you may be able to manage it.

 

[kimblebee]

Not a cat here but a dog. My husband had a dog and both my daughter and I are mildly allergic to it. He gives it regular baths and keeps its hair short and that helps a lot. We have long winters so it doesn't help that we have to keep the house shut up for so long but we've been ok for the most part. I make sure the dog stays off my blankets and it isn't allowed in my daughters room and that helps a lot too. It's annoying but getting rid of the dog isn't an option so we do what we can..

 

[PollyannaMom]

If you decide to go for it, look into breeds that are less likely to cause a reaction, don't allow the cat where your DH sleeps, and have him wash his hands after petting it - especially before touching his face.

 

[Allons-y!]

I guess I have to ask the obvious questions...why not consider getting another dog instead? I understand that you said you son wants a cat, but his wants shouldn't trump another family member's health. While there are things you can do to minimize your husband's reactions, they may or may not work. Then you are left with either a miserable husband who has a cat or heartbroken kids who had to give away their cat.

 

[Christine]

As a cat-allergic person, I would never do it. One-time, occasional stuffiness is manageable. Daily stuffiness leads to sinus issues and possible chronic sinus infections. But, if he insists, I'd do a couple of things:

1. As other posters suggested, research cat breeds that seem to be less allergenic. It has to do with their dander and saliva not their hair.
2. Get a kitten and immediately start bathing the kitten once a week and do this for the animal's lifetime. Studies have shown that households who employ this technique have a significant reduction in dander in the house and allergic folks almost always feel symptom free. The trick is getting the cat used to it.
3. Have your husband begin using something like Flonase or Nasonex daily. While it seems your husband is being quite good about all this, I can't emphasize enough the long-term impact this might have on his respiratory health.
4. Noted above, keep the cat out of where you husband sleeps, always.
5. Maybe if you're lucky your husband's reaction will lessen. I am mildly allergic to dogs. The less I'm around them, the more I react. I don't react to my dog any longer but I will react to other dogs. I've never had this happen with cats though.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I'm allergic to cats and we have 2 of them. We do stay on top of cleaning, especially vacuuming. Since they LOVE to sleep on our bed, we keep an old sheet on top of it so I don't sleep in cat hair. We also have furniture protectors for chairs and the sofa - not just for the hair, but the inevitable puke and hairballs. I can pet them, but I just don't touch my face until I've washed my hands. I think I have built up a tolerance to them, but occasionally I do need an allergy pill (usually when it's exacerbated by the change of seasons, though). Our cats aren't the lovey type to begin with, however, so they tend to keep to themselves.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

My parents are both allergic to cats and they've had one for years. (She used to be my cat before I moved to an apartment that doesn't allow them, and we decided against the cat coming to Florida with me because the poor thing is too old to travel.)

They both take oral and inhaled allergy medication (Flonase for both of them, Zyrtec for my dad, Allegra for my mom). They vacuum the carpets every day, keep bedroom doors closed to keep the cat off their beds, and brush the cat regularly during shedding season. They also have this spray that they apply to the cat's fur that's supposed to reduce dander, and another spray they use on the carpets and upholstery. These were suggested by their vet.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We lost our dog recently and my son especially is having a tough time with no pet in the house. He really wants a cat, but my husband is mildly allergic(watery eyes and a little stuffy that is it after spending hours in a house with felines around him)....they must sense his weakness because my mil cats are all over him. He thinks it will be fine because they are so mild and is ready to go adopt...I'm nervous he'll be miserable and can't imagine how upset the kids would be if we had to rehome them. Anyone have any luck with the allergies being no problem after adopting?

I would tell him to get allergy shots first. I did it for 6 yrs and I am currently living with 4 cats and 2 dogs.

My allergies are very mild with pets. I would consider "watery eyes" a little more than a mild allergy. Living with a cat 24/7 is different that just visiting.

 

[nugov2]

Thanks for all the responses. I'll clarify a bit on the pet choice. He wants a cat because I said no dogs right now and he is just an animal lover. I worry about rescuing any age dog besides a puppy with kids in the house and training a puppy is a lot of work that i alone would be taking on ( kid's at school hubby at work). I grew up with dogs and cats and cats as far as house training were much easier especially when we were older and on the go. I feel that the kittens (we'll get two if we do adopt them) will give him the companionship he is craving and it won't be as difficult. I am home all day, but evenings and weekends we can be gone for activities a lot and I think that is much harder on a dog than the cats IME. Plus while most cats are active and enjoy toys and play time we've always had to walk our dogs and run them in the yard multiple times a day to prevent naughtiness and restlessness and again find cats to be not quite as needy in this way.

I looked into "hypoallergenic" breeds and we'd have to go through a breeder to gurantee the pedigree and to get two would run us between 1500-4000 just to get them, not including vet care and supplies. That is a lot of money.

I don't want dh to be miserable but he is fairly confident he'll be fine, but that is him. He doesn't complain and is go with the flow. It is me who worries about everyone. The advice many have given is what he says we'll do to keep it under control. I am a cleaning freak so that is no issue.

Maybe I'm being selfish for not getting a puppy and do admit to feeling guilt that dh would tough out stuffy noses and watery eyes because I don't want to add the responsibility of all the training that comes with a puppy.

 

[msjprincess]

I have 2 cats even though I'm allergic. But I have a lot of allergies so I take zyrtec and use Flonase every day.

 

[MouseLover]

DH allergic to cats but does okay with our indoor-only long haired cat. She only bothers him if she gets up in his face or he pets her & rubs his eyes w/o washing his hands first. Some cats bother him more than others. Outdoor cats and those that go in and out bother him much more.

 

[ozliz]

DH allergic to cats but does okay with our indoor-only long haired cat. She only bothers him if she gets up in his face or he pets her & rubs his eyes w/o washing his hands first. Some cats bother him more than others. Outdoor cats and those that go in and out bother him much more.

I am the same with cats (lots of allergies but I love cats so have 2), the ones that live indoors are better for me than those that go outdoors. I don't know if it has something to do with me being more allergic to the pollens etc in the dust outdoors (cats love to roll in the dust) or what it is. All I know is that my dust mite allergy is much worse and I do all the right cleaning and medicines for that and this results in me handling my cats much better. Even a friend that is allergic to cats said being in my house is easier than her inlaws with cats since I have to clean the dust so much the cat fur never builds up too (also I give my furniture an exta thorough vacuum if I know someone allergic is going to visit). Her inlaws don't seem to get this and she just suffers while there.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Thanks for all the responses. I'll clarify a bit on the pet choice. He wants a cat because I said no dogs right now and he is just an animal lover. I worry about rescuing any age dog besides a puppy with kids in the house and training a puppy is a lot of work that i alone would be taking on ( kid's at school hubby at work). I grew up with dogs and cats and cats as far as house training were much easier especially when we were older and on the go. I feel that the kittens (we'll get two if we do adopt them) will give him the companionship he is craving and it won't be as difficult. I am home all day, but evenings and weekends we can be gone for activities a lot and I think that is much harder on a dog than the cats IME. Plus while most cats are active and enjoy toys and play time we've always had to walk our dogs and run them in the yard multiple times a day to prevent naughtiness and restlessness and again find cats to be not quite as needy in this way.

I looked into "hypoallergenic" breeds and we'd have to go through a breeder to gurantee the pedigree and to get two would run us between 1500-4000 just to get them, not including vet care and supplies. That is a lot of money.

I don't want dh to be miserable but he is fairly confident he'll be fine, but that is him. He doesn't complain and is go with the flow. It is me who worries about everyone. The advice many have given is what he says we'll do to keep it under control. I am a cleaning freak so that is no issue.

Maybe I'm being selfish for not getting a puppy and do admit to feeling guilt that dh would tough out stuffy noses and watery eyes because I don't want to add the responsibility of all the training that comes with a puppy.

In this case, I wouldn't restrict the choices to cats, then! I agree that a puppy is huge time commitment (one I wouldn't take on either) but what about a guinea pig? They're much bigger and cuddlier than hamsters, and my DS is very attached to his! They're way more of a "real" pet than you'd think, and not difficult to take care of. The biggest expense is bedding for the cage. Plus, the cage could go in your DS's room, so A, he would really feel like it's his pet, and B, if your DH finds out he's allergic to those too, the hair wouldn't be all over his stuff.

 

[EMom]

I developed a cat allergy late in life after having cats since the day I was born. After the death of an elderly cat, I was temporarily without cats for a few months, but was miserable. However, getting a new once seemed out of the question as my allergy was fairly serious, to the point that when old kitty got in bed with me, I had to use a rescue inhaler.

I discovered Siberian cats and my problem was solved. We now have two and I can enjoy cats without suffering. But they are expensive. At least $1000 and up. However, I have been aware of a few rehoming situations over the past few years, some at no cost. In one case, the owner married someone who was allergic and wanted to rehome her Siberians who were still quite young. Someone got a couple of hypoallergenic cats for free and they are thrilled with them. Another time, the family was moving abroad and needed to rehome the cats. You might look into this option and contact breeders to let them know you would be interested in such cases. I helped our breeder find homes for these cats. Good luck.

 

[georgina]

My DH had a cat when we got married. I lived with that cat for 14 years even though I am allergic to cats. I did adapt to her somewhat, but after being away on vacation I would notice some tightness in my chest and difficulty breathing when we returned. I have other allergies and take daily medication. She was an aloof cat so no problems with her jumping on me or sitting in my lap!

I was somewhat allergic to our guinea pigs too, always made sure to wash my hands after handling, and have them sit on a towel on my lap. Best to get 2 piggies though, so they can keep each other company.

 

[Mermaid02]

I'm allergic to cats and dogs (most other animals too) and I have lived with both. I really feel that I build up a tolerance to my own pets. I currently have 2 cats and they both sleep with me... they don't really bother my eyes or nose and don't aggravate my asthma like being around someone else's cat will. I'm allergic to lots of things so I do take medication every day.

 

[dizzyinwdw]

I am "mildly" allergic to cats and we had them when I grew up-- 2 or 3 cats and dogs. I suffered those years with watery itchy eyes chronic sinus infections due to runny/stuffy nose and the need for rescue inhalers at times. I did take allergy meds as well but suffered some side effects ( dry mouth etc). Allergies can also cause irritability. I used to think that's life, but once I went away to college and beyond wasn't able to have a cat for varying reasons I haven't had any of these issues and frankly it is wonderful. If your husband has "mild" allergies when visiting for a few hours imagine daily symptoms for the life of the pet. Yes you can do a lot to mitigate the symptoms but he will still be allergic. I miss having pets but now am married to someone who has severe cat allergies so they are out of the question. One of our children is also allergic to cats and dogs, so neither a dog or cat will work for our family though our older son begs for a dog. I think the thing I regret the most is our children don't know that type of companionship but we choose alternate pets (ie hamsters, Guinea pigs, and the recent request a gecko "shudder"). Older DS can also get a dog later in life if he chooses. I guess I don't understand why one would choose a pet that he/she or a family member is knowingly allergic to? That it is an ok solution for the allergic person to take meds etc to mitigate the symptoms for years? Does your son understand dad may suffer? I agree if your husband can do allergy shots that may help but it may be years of dedicated shots before showing efficacy. My husband did this for 2.5 years so he can now tolerate if we visit someone with cats , but he still takes Claritin prior to a visit and takes a rescue inhaler. I know I'll be flamed but I don't understand why a pet is taking precedence over your husband's wellbeing. If you had the pet prior I would be on the other side ( obviously you couldn't get rid of the pet then) but since this is a new pet I'm throwing in my 2 cents as knowing first hand allergy misery. Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[Callie]

I'm allergic to cats and still adopts a kitten for myself. I do also have a ton of allergies to most grasses, tree, dust, etc, so I'm already a stuffy mess. I'd suggest for your DH to take allergra over the counter. It helps quite a bit. Also get the kitten use to taking baths, and grooming it.
I'm more allergic to certain cats than others too. Every now and then when my cat rubs up against me I get a rash, but thats when my allergies are bad.

Also keep the cat off the bed. Some cats this is nearly impossible tho. Mine sleeps with me, under the covers, every night. Probably terrible for allergies.
Wash the sheets and blankets often, and pillow cases weekly!