How do you overcome an allergy to cats.

[brainshrub]

gf brought her cat over for a few weeks, and man I am suffering! HELP! How can I overcome this allergy?

I like cats, but the watery eyes & sneezing are driving me nuts.

[havocmom]

1. shots

work for my brother

[tridim]

2. I got shots for about 3 years as a teen

My cat allergy used to be bad enough that my throat and eyes would swell up. Now, I have no reaction at all. Maybe I just outgrew it, but it seemed like the shots worked.

[Zeke]

3. Dander in the Fur...

It's the dander in the fur making you sneeze & wheeze.

It happens to me, too, so I wash my hands religiously after I touch a cat.

Just keep the fur off you and your clothing and you'll be fine.

But wash your hands.

Wash your hands.

Wash your hands.

[politicat]

10. And wash the cat.

Seriously, Mr. Politicat is allergic to all cats not ours - he's developed a tolerance over the years to our two.

Our cats get a monthly bath - which seems to help with shedding as well as dander - tho yours might need it more frequently.

Also, Claritin. Mr. Pcat is on Allegra now, but was on Claritin from the day it came out to help with his allergies.

Time will help, too.

As for how to bathe a cat.... well... use a double sink with a sprayer attachment, baby shampoo, and you'll need a heavy, long sleeved shirt. Trim cat's claws with nippers before even thinking about attempting this. Have help.

Fill half of sink with water just barely warmer than skin temp - you want it about 102 F, which is about cat's body temperature. Leave water on at a level where the sprayer will be a gentle trickle. Don shirt, pick up cat and speak soothingly. Lower cat into sink - she'll fight some but keep a firm hand on her shoulders. Rest front paws on lip of sink - she'll feel more secure. Starting at front shoulders, rub a very small amount of baby shampoo into fur, working towards front paws and tail. Don't forget the belly. Trickle a small amount of water on her head - she'll hate this - and use a very tiny amount of shampoo on her head. Transfer kitty to empty half of sink when fully foamed.

Spray off if she'll let you; if not, empty sink and fill with clean water and rinse that way.

Make sure you get ALL the shampoo out. Wrap in towel for as long as she'll tolerate it; give treats and love as tolerated, and get pictures of the wet cat.

Best,

Pcat

[Unperson 309]

13. Not Always Dander... Sometimes it is SALIVA

As one list of the drawbacks of cats vs dogs said: Cats wash themselves in cat spit!

There are wipes which you can buy that will make this less of aproblem. also there is a product on the market called Aller-Pet C which counteracts the daliva problem and dander as well.

If you touch the cat, don't then touch your face or eyes. You can also carry alcohol hand cleaners to use if you aren't near water.

Good luck. The Missus is allergic and we are looking into ways of keeping her reactions down.

309

[ott]

4. Try giving up dairy for about a week

See if it helps, seriously.

Undigested protein in dairy products tends to obstruct the airway, which results in wheezing. Reduced intake of dairy products improves airway clearance and asthma becomes reversible, controlled and eliminated completely, George told mediapersons here today.

http://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/newsmaker_article.asp?idNewsMaker=6057&fSite=AO545

...it's on asthma but it's all relative.

[brainshrub]

5. I already don't drink milk.

Although I do add a dollop of creme in my coffee occasionally.

[amazona]

6. shots don't work, the only cure is avoidance

I was in a research group, and the allergist told me that some people do outgrow allergies, which is why some people will always believe their allergies were cured by the shots. But he assured me that they don't really cure allergies although, for some people, they provide short-term relief. Yeah, I know, many allergists claim the opposite. Ask them to show you research proving their claim. It will be very difficult.

The doctor can prescribe an oral medication plus a steroid-based medication that you inhale two or three times a day. But again, not a cure, just a temporary solution.

He said the only real treatment for cat allergy was not to be around cats. Since my allergy was severe, and my health severely impacted, I followed his advice. After a few years, I was able to give up the inhaler and just take the pills when I was going to be exposed to cats.

If you continue to live with cats, you will eventually progress to asthma, which greatly increases your risk of dying of heart disease. My brother refused to listen to this advice and already has the asthma even though his cat allergy was quite mild, almost unnoticeable at first, in comparison to mind. What I'm saying is, even though I started out in worse health, and I'm older, I am now in better health because I have put cats out of my life.

Dander allergy is not a trivial problem, and you should not be forced to live with your allergen. I loved cats but not enough to give up years and decades off my life or to spend what years I did have with my eyes swollen to where I'm looking out of little slits half the time.

My mom has a cleaning service that can remove all cat hairs and make it safe for me to visit. Clean your place, professionally if you can. In future, do not allow any cats inside.

For the allergic person, a cat is as much a killer as a cigarette...and at least the cigarette doesn't make you sneeze.

[Cybergata]

7. I cured my cat allergies...

....by starting with one cat. I suffered from watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, etc at first. Over the last 20 years and six cats, I don't have a single symptom. I guess living with them worked better than the 20 some years I took allergy shots, because I am still allergic to every pollen know to humankind! <grrrrrrr>

A veterinarian once told me there was a pill you can give your cat so that you won't allergic reactions to their dander. I passed on this! If you have ever given a cat a pill, you'll understand why I did.

:hippie:

[oxymoron]

8. I totally agree with you

I was very allergic to cats when I was younger. I ended up living with a cat in college and after a number of months, I adjusted. I now have 3 cats and no symptoms at all. I say get a cat (rescued, of course).

[pysanka]

9. Do NOT Get a Cat!!!

Some people outgrow allergies, but for others they only get worse with time and exposure. I have fairly severe cat allergies, and took shots for many, many years without any noticeable improvement. The only things that have helped substantially are a) avoidance, b) a good non-drowsy antihistamine take prior to exposure (Allegra in my case) and c) Visine eye drops as needed.

Getting a cat only to have to get rid of it later would be unfair to the animal.

I have some friends whose cats really, really set off my allergies, and others whose cats barely register on my radar. I wash my hands religiously after any tactile exposure (the dander may be transported into the the eyes, and even a good oral antihistamine won't help with that). And even a really good house cleaning often won't remove the dander well enough for a cat-allergic individual.

Good luck!

[oxymoron]

11. Good point

I lost my mind for a minute there. Although I am convinced that living with cats helped me cure my allergic reaction to them, it was dumb to recommend getting a cat. I still suffer from the rest of my allergies, and had all the shots. I was very allergic to cats (hay fever and asthma) and I am convinced that the constant exposure acclimated me to them. Just my experience... Also, none of my siblings can be around cats either.

[Kadie]

12. Get a HEPA air cleaner and keep the cat out of the bedroom

With allergies your bedroom should be your safe room. Wash your hands frequently, vacuum alot, and keep the cat clean. If none of that works, talk to your doctor about getting some meds. Flonase has done wonders for me.