OT: help! Son is allergic to my cats:(

[bartleby1]

I know it is very difficult for you and your family, but please get rid of the cats. I also have a cat allergy and did not realize when we bought our first home that the people living there had a cat until our final walk-through on closing day. I had the carpets professionally cleaned twice and scrubbed the whole house down but every now and then I would still get "cat" in my eyes. The ONLY thing that makes my eyes blow up like that and itch to the point where I feel like ripping my eyeballs out is a cat. We owned that house for 6 years and I would still react at times.

If I am aware that a cat is around, I can usually handle it for a very short time as long as I don't touch my face/eyes. However, if I touch something (clothing, a library book, furniture, etc) that has been around a cat at some point, I don't always realize it and then I react. You don't need to be able to see cat hair to have the allergen on an object. I can always tell when my sister has visited my parents house because I will react to her cats if I happen to sit where she sat.

I can't imagine actually living in a house with a cat or living with other people who are around cats. Even if you kept your cats in a different area of the house, the allergen would still be on any family member that went around the cats and they would bring it to the other areas of your home.

Imagine catching a bad cold that never went away. Think about how that would make you feel to be sick every single day. That is what allergies can do to a person. Please do your best to limit exposure to the things that your son is allergic to.

 

[charity]

You need to talk to your doctor! My son and I both had allergy test this year and we both test high for cat allergy. And we have 2 cats and 1 dog (also tested high for dog allergy among many others things) I spoke to the doctor he suggested we get rid of the foods we are allergic first and to make small changes regarding the cats going into his bedroom. We got a air cleaner and I run a roomba everyday. We started allergy shots and along with all the other small changes we feel GREAT and still have all our PETS! I think that it is important to keep you child healthy but getting rid of my DS4 cat would have hurt him more than I want to think about!
He has not have hives once after we made the changes!

 

[CandleontheWater]

I think it is important to keep in mind that there are levels of allergic reactions. Some people who have posted are SEVERELY allergic to cats, however lots of people are allergic and yet will not get symptoms from sitting next to people who own cats or handling library books that have been in cat friendly homes. The other issue here is that the OP child is also allergic to mold and dust mites, which are also very hard to control. The OP is going to have to maintain a spotless house and the child may have to take allergy medication or shots, even if they get rid of the cats. If the child has been with cats since day one, then it is possible that it is not the cats causing the most extreme symptoms, but the mold and dust mites.

My brother was allergic to cats, mold and dust mites as well and we had a cat when he was younger. When the cat passed away, my bothers allergies did not improve measurably, because he was still exposed to the other allergens in the house. If cats were the only thing causing the allergy, then I would suggest getting rid of them, but there are a host of allergens which have to be dealt with, so removing the cats may not be the silver bullet to controlling the child's allergies.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I had extreme cat allergies but I love them so much. Allergy shots worked wonders for me! I recommend them.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I could never imagine giving my 2 year old weekly allergy shots in order to keep the cat.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I could never imagine giving my 2 year old weekly allergy shots in order to keep the cat.

Allergy shots are not like getting an immunization, they don't hurt like an immunization does...plus that way he would not be bothered by cats at other people's homes in the future and it will help with the other things he's allergic too.
I suffered for YEARS as a child with horrible allergies and constant sinus infections that ended up turning bacterial because my parents did not have me get allergy shots! I was on antibiotics more in my first 15 years of life then most people are on for their entire life. If I knew then what I know now I would have begged my parents to get me shots!

 

[WantToGoNow]

I would suggest cleaning the house well - removing not only the cat dander but also the dust mights and check well for mold. It's possible that the hives are not from the cats but from the other allergies - most likely the tree nuts.

My dh is allergic to cats - but the cats in the house doesn't bother him), but if the cats rub against him and a hair gets near his eyes, they swell shut. But he loves cats and had one when I met him and mine moved in as well.

As for the shots, it is not that big of deal to get your child allergy shots - they will get used to having them. My ds8 starts today with Xolaire shots because we can't seem to keep his asthma in control. He has been taking a variety of medications since age 2 for asthma, allergies, reflux and migraines.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I have no advice, just a big

I feel so bad for you!! It's easy to say get rid of the cats but emotionally I'm sure it feels awful to even think about!

I had my cat for 13 years before he passed away last fall of congestive heart failure. He was a true member of our family. We were very close, we had a "boy and his dog" relationship. Over the years of having him I developed allergies to cat dander. It wasn't horrible but not fun either. I had the itchy eyes that sometimes would swell, and the runny nose and it always ended giving me sinus issues. Even with that, I would have had to be dying before I would have given him up. But, that was my choice to make myself go through it. I just washed a lot and tried my best not to touch my face, and that helped.

That being said I know it's different when it's your kids. I know you have to do what is best for them. I'm just so sorry for you that you and your family will have to face some hard decisions.

 

[justhat]

I have a cat allergy and we have 2 cats. I keep them off my bed and the couches and wash my hands very frequently, as well as limiting my handling of them, and I am okay. If I do touch a cat and don't wash my hands, I will get a reaction (in my case it is itchy, puffy eyes, runny/congested nose). We also had cats my whole life and I didn't become allergic to them till I was 10yo. We had 3 of them at that point, 2 from before I was born, and we didn't get rid of any of them, just kept the door to my room shut and I kept my distance.

It would really depend on the severity though. Some people have reactions just from being in the house with the cat, others need to have contact. Also, some cats are worse for me than others. My husband's aunt has two cats and everytime I am in her home I immediately get a bad reaction. Same with 1 of my mom's cats (but not the other one).

I would eliminate the foods too and see how he is with the cats and hamster and go from there. The hamster should be okay cause I'm assuming he lives in a cage in a room that your son doesn't need to frequent.

 

[justhat]

Allergy shots are not like getting an immunization...plus that way he would not be bothered by cats at other people's homes in the future and it will help with the other things he's allergic too.
I suffered for YEARS as a child with horrible allergies and constant sinus infections that ended up turning bacterial because my parents did not have me get allergy shots! I was on antibiotics more in my first 15 years of life then most people are on for their entire life. If I knew then what I know now I would have begged my parents to get me shots!

I agree, allergy shots would be a big help. When I was in college I had a cat and had constant sinus infections like you mentioned to the point that had to get surgery. I wish I had gotten shots cause everyone I know has cats so it was hard to ever go visit people, and my own cat was torture!

 

[okeydokey]

I could never imagine giving my 2 year old weekly allergy shots in order to keep the cat.

We started at age 5 (along with Advair) and it wasn't so we could keep our dog. My son was allergic to dust mites and tons of trees and grasses as well. He was coughing constantly and creating scar tissue in his lungs. We started him on the shots so he could live a healthy life. The improvements came very quickly. His quality of life increased dramatically. If allergy shots will help this child, I'd suggest at least consider it.

 

[taximomfor4]

we found out oldest dd is allergic to cats a few months after we got our SECOND cat (which was her own). The pediatrician explained to me that her "degree" of allergy to cats is very low, so we've been able to keep our cats. They don't sleep in my dd's room, though. And if her allergy ever worsens, we will re-examine the possibility of those shots that cure (?) an allergy. Talk to the dr about your options/choices.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Keep in mind- shots do not work for everyone.

 

[malibuconlee]

sorry you are going to have to get rid of the cats, but there really is no other way.

I developed an allergy to cats as an adult. It SUCKS and trying to explain how it affects me doesn't do a whole lot of good to family that has cats. It gets to me and affects my breathing. We had to change out the carpet in a house we bought because we didnt' know the previous owners had at one time had a cat. Just wanted to throw that out there...if he develops breathing problems think about all the dander that is in your carpets and pads.