If I can do it so can you....
- My sister and I got a short-hair domestic tabby kitten for my younger brother for his birthday. I was not aware that I had cat allergies and as time went on I was feeling shortness of breath, nasal-drips and stuffy nose.....I couldn't understand why my cold was so bad and hadn't gone away. After 1.5 months of suffering I went to my doctor and he mentioned that my lungs are tight. I didn't understand why and he gave me allergic pills and asthma pump. I never had asthma and I grew up with my older brother having asthma only. As I starting going to different doctors and finding same results and was told I might be allergic to the kitten and she triggered my asthma that I had since I was a kid. I was surprised...it explained why I use to wake up middle of the night feeling like I can't breathe or I was drowning. I started going to an asthma/allergy specialist to help me control it and we have the cat till this day. I moved out for a new job and just adopted two kittens from same litter.
- —Guest IloveCats
Thinking about getting another!
- I had a cat when I was young with no reaction to it but after it died I started getting terrible allergies, runny nose, itchy, watery, red eyes, hives, stuffy chest and sneezing. I really wanted a cat but knew it would not be possible, I went down to my local shelter to just look at the beautiful kittens and ended up coming home with one. I have rare, if any, allergic reactions to my Silky. Every once in a while I get a red eye or a red bump if she scratches me but no one would be able to know I ever had cat allergies. I am so glad I went down to the shelter that day and my relationship with cats will not end here.
- —Guest xochitl
Inquirer0
- I used to be allergic to cats until one adopted me off the street, or rather until I had finally adopted him and lived with him for a while. He was a large (14-15lb) brown tabby-and-white, and I immediately responded with teary eyes and nose if I petted him and put my hands anywhere near my face. I understand this is not the worst that can happen. However, it was the main symptom for me and it was not enough to put me off adopting this cat, who was the most affectionate thing in my life at the time, was really smart, and just a great deal of fun. It did take a couple years to begin, and I made accomodation for an occasional allergic reaction along the way, but I reached a point where it did not matter how close he was or where my hands went, I stopped having any allergic reaction at all, whether to him or to any other cat. Two tabby cats later, I seem to remain allergy free, and am very glad of it. I can bury my face in my cat's fur, and nothing happens.
- —Guest Daniel Rose
Wouldn't have it any other way
- I also am allergic to cats & dogs. Also to molds, grasses, etc. Can't get away from the atmosphere & will NOT live without my fur-friends. We have 4 housecats, aged 5 to 15 years. My gift to myself after beating cancer was a 2-yr-old German Shepherd we adopted from a Rescue. There is so much joy & comfort with these guys & gals - they are my Fuzzy Valium. We get by with allergy pills, but could not get by without them! :)
- —RebeccaEvans
4 cats and counting
- we have 4 indoor/outdoor cats and yes, I am allergic. The solution for us was to have hardwood throughout the house. In addition we have leather furniture in the room we most often watch TV. Every now and again I get itchy eyes but all in all it works just fine.
- —Guest yes
bob crew, London
- Our cat adopted us in London! Eight years ago. He just moved in and wouldn't return to his owners who lived round the corner. After we phoned them to come and retrieve him several times, he still kept coming back and sat on our doorstep, howling, until we let him in again. Finally his owners said that we had better take him, which we did, when he was 8 years of age. He is now 16 years of age and partially crippled with arthritis, for which he is taking accupuncture, but he is still a very happy cat, very clingy and purring like a tank engine. He obviously knows where he's well off and also loved! As cats do.
- —bobcrew
badly allergic to cats dog horses
- its been really good to hear so many people with allergies still enjoying there friends like i do, been told all my life i cant have a kitten as i am so allergic to them, and being scared as a child from playing with a litter of kitten then comeing away not being able to open my eyes from looking like red golf balls, with a rash all over me i didnt think it would be possible, till last week, i have the best kitten, i suffer from asthma nmy chest has been tight, wheezeing and and snotty, but if i limit the cuddles, wash my hand stright after, dont let in my bedroom, i have been supprisingly fine, i like the idea of the immune system getting stronger from being around gonna see how this goes and if not will go to the doctors and get something i refuse to let a allegic reaction stop me from haveing my friends have a cat dog and a horse
- —Guest lynn
my girls are worth it
- I have always had allergies to dust, pollen, trees, grasses, cats, dogs, horses, and basically anything that is alive. Still, I have always been a cat person. About 4 years ago, I adopted a cat who couldn't bear to be alone, so I got her a companion and now have two beautiful girls. At first, I coped with my allergies by keeping them out of my bedroom, but then I moved into a studio apartment and had to make some adjustments. I feed them a grain-free diet, use Allerpet C to deactivate the allergens in their dander, and bought an air purifier. I also use my neti pot at least once, sometimes twice a day, and take Flonase as prescribed by my doctor. Since my cats are not the only thing I am allergic to, I do still have the occasional allergy attack, but my allergies no longer control my life, and I can enjoy my girls and all of the happiness they bring me.
- —Guest kellerificnyc
Allergies and living with cats
- I am one of the millions of people with allergies. Fortunately for me, I am not allergic to cats. If I were, I would probably have cats because I love them dearly. Since 1977, I have adopted and raised six cats, the last one was severly abused between birth and three months of age. He is now 3 years old and still has some of his fear of being hurt by any human, including me, who comes near him. He runs very fast to go to his hiding place to be away from people he does not know and comes out when they are gone. I could never live without a cat, allergies or not.
- —marionettaj
Long and Shorthaired
- I am strongly allergic to the short-haired variety, but long haired cats have no effect on me. Try holding each type and see which one works best for you.
- —lwfloranzo
Thank you ...
- I have been a cat lover for years and used to have 5 cats .. after rehousing them one by one due to my allergy I got depressed slowly because I absolutely adore cats. All your success stories have made me get myself a new kitten and power through the issues I will most likely encounter - Thanks for sharing that just because we are allergic to them doesn't mean we have to never have them :)
- —Guest Jeni
steadily decreased allergy meds
- I used to live with a roomie that had 2 cats. when I first moved in with her, I was taken daily doses of 24-hour non-drowsy antihistamines to suppress any allergic reactions and uses a neti-pot nightly to clear out my sinuses. As time went on, I started increasing the time between doses and eventually phased off of the allergy meds.
- —Guest fc
Pills Help my Cat Allergies
- I have been allergic to cats for years. And we have 4 happy household kitties! MDs have told me to give them away - I just take allergy pills instead. Our oldest love is 13 & was diagnosed with his own allergies about 9 years ago. He now gets his allergy shot once a month. As long as we both take our meds, both my 4-footed Oliver & I are fine.
- —RebeccaEvans
Surprise cat lover
- I was never a cat person. In fact, I was less than enthusiastic when my wife brought home a 2 month old ball of white and caramel fur. I let her keep it with two conditions: 1) she takes care of the litter box. 2) I get to name him. A year later I can hardly imagine coming home and not being met at the door by my furry buddy, Tony. He certainly has found a place in my heart.
- —Guest James in Wi
Cats Are Worth It!
- I used to have a chronic but mild allergy to cats (sneezing and runny nose) but noticed that when I began feeding my boys a completely grain free diet with raw meat every day my allergy all but disappeared. Although I do what several others have mentioned also, vacuuming often, brush their coats at least every other day and do a complete internal cleansing myself a couple of times a year to keep my immune system working. It might seem a lot of effort to some but keeping my cats and myself as healthy as possible has made all the difference in keeping allergies at bay.
- —Guest chicoanddude
