We just found out our daughter is allergic to cats, and of course, we have one. Help!

[Mermaid02]

I am allergic to cats and dogs and have had them all my life.

Since she is not highly allergic you can keep the cat however do not allow the cat in her bedroom. It helps.

Me too!

You could even put a screen door on her room- so the cat can't get in and her door doesn't have to be shut all the time. It will look odd- but I'm sure it preferential to getting rid of your kitty!

 

[allison443]

I doubt any allergist would label her the worst parent in the world. It seems you projecting your opinions of your parents onto the OP.

I don't think she was looking for a literal response to that particular question.

I agree.

 

[CathrynRose]

My goodness!

Please re-read my post. My daughter is HIGHLY allergic to dust.!

Well, it's obvious you're a bad parent, unless you stick her in a bubble - i.e John Travolta or that Seinfeld episode. (GEORGE: I'm sorry the card says MOOPS.) And if she needs to get to another room, you should get her a giant hamster ball, to roll around room to room, in.

Someone suggested that animal dander wash. That stuff works. I keep meaning to get it for my dogs, and always forget... and it's only been 3 years now.

And for real - when I mentioned the surgical masks, I wasn't kidding. When she dusts or vacuums her room, buy some of those painting masks at Wal Mart - they're like 10 for $2. OR she might do what I did to my mom - "I can't clean!! My allergies....." The masks work wonders.

I would also give your daughter some input into the decision, since she is the one who has to deal with the symptoms. I bet she would rather take an everyday antihistamine like claritin than get rid of her cat.

I wouldn't have gotten rid of my 3 cats back then, and I wouldn't get rid of my dogs, now. I'd have to take an anti-histamine, either way.

BTW OP - all anti-histamines work different, for everyone. Some people think Claritin is a God Send, others think Allegra.... mine is Zyrtec. Try them all out, until you find the best.

 

[CathrynRose]

On the subject, but OT sorta:

Isn't it weird that the same animal, yet different breed, causes different reactions? Or maybe even same breed.

Charley can lick me, roll all over me, and I'm fine. The only time I get a reaction is if he gets the crooks of my elbows, or my lips. (I should harvest his saliva for a lip plumper. )

Hazel, on the other hand - I can not handle her licks, at all. And unfortunately, she's a licker. So, on top of anti histamine's - I use this roll on clear calamine lotion if she get's me good.

And as I was growing up - the 2 Siamese didn't bother me nearly as much as the "mutt" kitty we got from an Uncle, that he found way out nowhere, on his way to work. Poor little thing didn't even have teeth, yet. And of course SHE was "my" cat.

 

[torinsmom]

Well, it's obvious you're a bad parent, unless you stick her in a bubble - i.e John Travolta or that Seinfeld episode. (GEORGE: I'm sorry the card says MOOPS.) And if she needs to get to another room, you should get her a giant hamster ball, to roll around room to room, in.

Someone suggested that animal dander wash. That stuff works. I keep meaning to get it for my dogs, and always forget... and it's only been 3 years now.

And for real - when I mentioned the surgical masks, I wasn't kidding. When she dusts or vacuums her room, buy some of those painting masks at Wal Mart - they're like 10 for $2. OR she might do what I did to my mom - "I can't clean!! My allergies....." The masks work wonders.



I wouldn't have gotten rid of my 3 cats back then, and I wouldn't get rid of my dogs, now. I'd have to take an anti-histamine, either way.

BTW OP - all anti-histamines work different, for everyone. Some people think Claritin is a God Send, others think Allegra.... mine is Zyrtec. Try them all out, until you find the best.

This is true. Claritin used to work for me and now its Allegra. Zyrtec made me feel like my eyes were taped open. My son used to take Alavert and liked that.

On the subject, but OT sorta:

Isn't it weird that the same animal, yet different breed, causes different reactions? Or maybe even same breed.

Charley can lick me, roll all over me, and I'm fine. The only time I get a reaction is if he gets the crooks of my elbows, or my lips. (I should harvest his saliva for a lip plumper. )

Hazel, on the other hand - I can not handle her licks, at all. And unfortunately, she's a licker. So, on top of anti histamine's - I use this roll on clear calamine lotion if she get's me good.

And as I was growing up - the 2 Siamese didn't bother me nearly as much as the "mutt" kitty we got from an Uncle, that he found way out nowhere, on his way to work. Poor little thing didn't even have teeth, yet. And of course SHE was "my" cat.

Yes, I didn't start having symptoms until I got the last two cats--Siamese mixes. Little buggers have cause me nothing but trouble, LOL

 

[JaneBanks]

I'm allergic to cats. The typical itchy eyes type allergy. When I was dating my husband, and his cat was alive, I ended up having to go to the emergency room because I couldn't breath. The DR. told DH to get rid of the cat. Of course, I wouldn't let him.

Skip ahead a few years later, we moved in to a house and the cat passed away. I couldn't tell you the difference I felt from not being around the cat. I felt like a brand new person.

Just because it is a mild allergy, doesn't mean its not affecting you. I really couldn't believe how GOOD I felt after the cat was gone!!

ETA: I just wanted to say that while the cat was alive, I was taking allergy pills everyday, had air purifiers in every room and even had a personal air purifier to hang around my neck if needed.

 

[emer95]

Well, it's obvious you're a bad parent, unless you stick her in a bubble - i.e John Travolta or that Seinfeld episode. (GEORGE: I'm sorry the card says MOOPS.) And if she needs to get to another room, you should get her a giant hamster ball, to roll around room to room, in.
Someone suggested that animal dander wash. That stuff works. I keep meaning to get it for my dogs, and always forget... and it's only been 3 years now.

And for real - when I mentioned the surgical masks, I wasn't kidding. When she dusts or vacuums her room, buy some of those painting masks at Wal Mart - they're like 10 for $2. OR she might do what I did to my mom - "I can't clean!! My allergies....." The masks work wonders.



I wouldn't have gotten rid of my 3 cats back then, and I wouldn't get rid of my dogs, now. I'd have to take an anti-histamine, either way.

BTW OP - all anti-histamines work different, for everyone. Some people think Claritin is a God Send, others think Allegra.... mine is Zyrtec. Try them all out, until you find the best.

Thank you for the laugh. I seriously needed it! She actually did ask for a GigaBall for Christmas, and when I googled it, "Human Hamster Ball" came up. So, problem solved!

 

[amyy]

I haven't read all the replies but I was diagnosed with a cat allergy when I was a little girl. We had a cat which meant the world to me. It makes me smile to now read my medical records and see the note one doctor put about how much my cat meant to me. The cat stayed. I had similar allergies to what you mentioned. Everything else went: rugs, stuffed animals, curtains, drying clothes on the line etc.

 

[arminnie]

I'm sorry for the poster whose parents obviously really didn't care about her. Unfortunately there are parents who don't love their children, but I don't think that applies to the OP at all.

I've had extensive allergy testing done. I'm allergic to many, many, many antibiotics, penicillin, etc. I keep forgetting that I also test positive to dust and dogs.

I can't tell you how many years I shared a twin bed with 2 big (40 and 30 lb) dogs. And I don't want to discuss how bad dust can get at my house especially in the middle of a move. I've never had a reaction to any dog - not even a tiny one. But I will consistently test positive for dog and dust allergies whatever that means.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

On the subject, but OT sorta:

Isn't it weird that the same animal, yet different breed, causes different reactions? Or maybe even same breed.

Charley can lick me, roll all over me, and I'm fine. The only time I get a reaction is if he gets the crooks of my elbows, or my lips. (I should harvest his saliva for a lip plumper. )

Hazel, on the other hand - I can not handle her licks, at all. And unfortunately, she's a licker. So, on top of anti histamine's - I use this roll on clear calamine lotion if she get's me good.

And as I was growing up - the 2 Siamese didn't bother me nearly as much as the "mutt" kitty we got from an Uncle, that he found way out nowhere, on his way to work. Poor little thing didn't even have teeth, yet. And of course SHE was "my" cat.

WE had dogs growing up and I never had a reaction except to one--and it never failed! My mom ended up giving her up. But thruthfully, I think it just made her decision easier and lessened her guilt as I do think she didn't want the dog to begin with--but that's a whole other discussion.

Now that I have not owned a dog in quite a while--it seems that once I touch any dog--it can alert my sensitivities. But not with cats. But I am allergic to both.

My med of choice was Zyrtec, but then it was Xyzal and now I'm on Claritin or Benadryl until I find a new allergist here to get more of my Xyzal.

 

[Christine]

Now that I have not owned a dog in quite a while--it seems that once I touch any dog--it can alert my sensitivities. But not with cats. But I am allergic to both.

I know I'm allergic to cats, but pretty sure I'm also allergic to dogs. I have had dogs in my home for 25 years now but when I first get a new dog I get stuffy and itchy. But it seems to go away within a week or so. Happens every time. If I go visit anyone with a dog and I pet that dog I get itchy skin. That's about it. If I spend any time with that dog, it eventually goes away.

For cats, the reaction is not the same. It is really severe and so bad that I can't even get to the point where I get used to it. My breathing becomes impaired (and I don't have asthma), the whites of my eyes swell up around the iris, I lose my voice and all up on my neck and chin I itch like crazy. Take about 2 days away from the cat for me to normalize.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I know I'm allergic to cats, but pretty sure I'm also allergic to dogs. I have had dogs in my home for 25 years now but when I first get a new dog I get stuffy and itchy. But it seems to go away within a week or so. Happens every time. If I go visit anyone with a dog and I pet that dog I get itchy skin. That's about it. If I spend any time with that dog, it eventually goes away.

For cats, the reaction is not the same. It is really severe and so bad that I can't even get to the point where I get used to it. My breathing becomes impaired (and I don't have asthma), the whites of my eyes swell up around the iris, I lose my voice and all up on my neck and chin I itch like crazy. Take about 2 days away from the cat for me to normalize.

The latter is my reaction to grass. Ugly ugly ugly--but I tell you....it means I don't ever have to mow the lawn again.

 

[mysumi]

I can only add that a friend of mine was pretty allergic to cats in that her eyes could swell shut if she was around them for too long. She came to visit us and we offered to get her a hotel room or let her stay with us, her choice. She chose to stay with us, scared me to death because I didn't want our cats to cause a reaction and ruin her visit. She hadn't actually been around a cat in five years or so. To say I deep cleaned the apt was an understatement. I cleaned everything, vacuumed, dusted, cleaned baseboards, carpet edging, the stairs, curtains, pillows, just anything and everything I could get my hands on. I even cleaned out the windowsills because they like to soak in the sunlight. While she was with us I sequestered our cats in our bedroom and while they were curious they were fine with it. She arrived and thankfully had NO reaction! We kept the cats away the whole time she was there and she ended up being just fine, thankfully. I was so worried it could have ended differently. She thinks she may have become immune at this point, if that's the right word? I hope your daughter does get better over time, I think the hardwoods may help as well. I hate carpet myself just for my own perceived mess that it creates!

 

[luvwinnie]

my brother was VERY allergic...and then my niece, who is a huge animal lover like me, brought home 2 abandoned kittens. My brother has a heart of gold and suffered horribly for about 4-5 months... and then no more allergies. He's now the "Cat Whisperer".

 

[EMom]

I've had cats since the day I was born, except for a short while just after we married. The DH gifted me with the best Christmas present ever, my precious calico kitten 21 years ago. A year and a half later, we got a second kitten. I am allergic to almost everything on earth and much of it triggers my asthma. I take one or more antihistamines on a daily basis, use inhalers daily, often need a nebulizer, steroids, etc. It is my lot in life.

At some point in that 21 years of "married life with cats," I became allergic to cats. It just showed up on allergy testing when it never had before. I thought, "Oh crap....How did that happen?" The allergist asked me if I would consider getting rid of the cats and I informed him I'd get rid of him before I got rid of those cats. He said that most of his patients give similar answers. He pleaded with me to keep them out of my bedroom, but I said that might be difficult, as one of them like to wrap herself around my head like earmuffs. I figured I had to take antihistamines anyway...What was one more trigger when I loved those kitties so much?

Of course I wondered what I'd do if we had an allergic child. We wound up adopting, but if we'd had a bio child, the odds were that the poor kid would have been allergic to squillions of things anyway, so antihistamines would have been in that's kid's future. As it turns out, DD's lactose intolerance is her only issue. No cat allergy.

FF many years and the first kitty died about 5 years ago. Just a few months ago, our last kitty died at 19 and I have to say it nearly killed me. This house feels empty without a cat. I need one. My allergic self needs one. Yes, I am an adult and this is your child we're talking about. But, if she is mildly allergic and (like me) has to be on antihistamines for other stuff anyway, then removing the cat from your home is not going to markedly decrease her allergies. And it may make her feel guilty, even though she shouldn't.

I say work on decreasing the effect the cat can have on her and see how that helps. If she was having asthma attacks from the cat being near, it would be another story. But posters have given you good ideas. Get rid of carpet, keep the cat out of her room, bathe or at least wipe down the cat, etc. Tell her she can't snuggle her face in the cat anymore.

Good luck!

 

[CathrynRose]

Anyone remember "Seldane"? MAN! That one worked SOOOOO good.

They pulled it off the market. I guess some people had heart attacks, from using it. Pffft.... A simple little heart attack, or completely allergy free.

 

[moon]

OP, you have gotten some very good advice and I hope it helps you to keep your beloved kitty. You're in a tough position here; it's not hust about your daughters physical health, but also about her emotional well-being.

Good luck!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I'm allergic to cats and dogs and have two dogs. I am able to deal with the symptoms so choose to have them.

 

[emer95]

Thanks everyone. I really do appreciate hearing all of the stories and advice, and knowing that we're not the only ones who have gone through this. She hasn't even been to an allergist yet. The bloodwork results we got were through her pediatrician. I got the call on Saturday morning, and the allergist they referred me to was not open. I'm going to call them today to get her an appointment, and we'll go from there.

So far, I have declared the entire upstairs of our house a "cat free" zone. My kids (and my kitty!) are not happy about it, but I keep telling them it's better than getting rid of the cat! Doors will be closed at all times from now on, in all rooms, because my daughter often spends time in our room, her sister's room, and the spare bedroom too. I borrowed my SIL's Rainbow vaccuum and went crazy with it- my house has never been so clean! I washed the walls, baseboards, all of the bedding, curtains, etc. My laundry pile was mountainous! We threw away all of her stuffed animals. I'm trying to talk my husband into ripping up all of the carpet. I bought my daughter a new pillow, allergy covers for her pillow and mattress, and I'm buying her a new mattress today. Her mattress belonged to her Daddy when he was little, so it's ancient, LOL! This was an expensive weekend!

Oh, and I'm also going to buy air purifiers, for her bedroom and for the downstairs. You guys gave me such great ideas. Thank you so much!

 

[sparklynails23]

Seldane was the best.

I wouldn't keep the cat if it meant my child was uncomfortable or had to take allergy meds. My childs' health would come before a relationship with a pet. What did the doctor advise?