Question for people allergic to cats

[mreilly]

My son is seeing an allergist next week to find out if he may have any allergies (he may have asthma and has had some colds and other ailments lately which his pediatrician feels could be allergy-related).

One source of a possible allergy could be our cat. Obviously I would hope he has no allergies at all, but if he does have one to our cat it's going to be unpleasant for all. I'll have to find her another home which will be difficult given her age (14) condition (diabetes) and disposition (grumpy).

Today he basically patted the cat with both hands, then rubbed his face. I watched him intently for a half an hour and observed NO symptom of any allergy; no watery eyes, no itchy skin, no sneezing - nothing.

My question for those who are allergic to cats, what are your symptoms? Do you have some other reaction besides the obvious immediate physical stuff (labored breathing etc.) I guess what I'm looking for is confirmation of my theory that being allergic to a cat would provoke some noticeable reaction upon coming into contact with the animal. I have 2 other kids who are not allergic. I will do whatever's best for my son's health, but if the cat is the source of allergies on his part it could mean a death sentence for her since I doubt I could place her elsewhere.

[Critters2]

1. My brother's allergic to cats, which is a great misfortune in this family.

His symptoms are red, watery eyes, running nose, sneezing, all the typical upper respiratory stuff. He takes Claritin when visiting any of us, and it helps quite a bit.

[lizziegrace]

2. Have the doctor do a scratch test for cats

that will give you the definitive answer. Symptoms vary by person and even by time of day with me. Yes, I'm allergic to cats.

My cats keep me just at the edge and other allergens push me over. They aggravate my existing allergies and keep my immune system in hyper-drive. :(

[Solon]

3. Uhm, what's the "scratch test"?

I looked up cat allergies and it mentioned something about raised skin around a scratch wound. The reason it doesn't make sense to me is that I'm not allergic to cats(or anything else outside of penicillin), yet I get the raised skin sometimes when my cats scratch me, usually its because when you don't feel it immediately, you forget to wash it out, so it becomes a long bump. I'm just wondering if this test is reliable or not.

[Kali]

17. not a scratch from the cat itself

the doc (or whoever) makes a little scratch either inside your forearm or on your back and rubs the potential allergen into the scratch, then they watch for a reaction. Several substances can be tested at one time.

[Lil Missy]

4. My first allergy test, I was allergic to winter, summer, spring, and fall.

I didn't have pets then.

After I had pets, I was tested again. I was also allergic to cat hair then. WTH? I was also found allergic to horse and cow hair. I'm never around horses or cows! I'm a city gal!

I'm just allergic to everything. I have a special needs cat I've had for 15+ years who would never be able to adjust in another home. I call him my "snarly butt", because he IS a little shit ass. But really, I call him "punkin face" most of the time.

There is NO WAY I'd ever part with him. If I had to part with pets, he'd be the last to go. Cause it it would hurt him the most. I'd rather take the allergy pills, cause I'd be sneezing anyway.

Don't give away that cat. That's my opinion, since you asked. But I could be biased. YMMV.

[Bossy Monkey]

5. I think cat allergies vary in severity; mine is pretty mild

Just get sore or watery eyes mostly. With cats, what a person is allergic to is their spittle. So with this cat, from the beginning I just petted her on the top of her head (in other words, where she can't lick) and it's worked out pretty well. You can teach your son only to pet the cat on the head. If it's a fluffy, heavily shedding cat (like this one), brushing it daily will cut down the shedding, and might alleviate some of the grumpiness, too. In short, I agree with people up-thread who suggest that you can keep the cat and have a happy, healthy son, too.

[mnhtnbb]

6. If he patted the cat and rubbed his face without any symptoms, then I doubt

very seriously that he's allergic to cats. I AM allergic to cats (and we have two)and I wash my hands
every time I touch the cats. If I forget, or put my hands somewhere that they've been napping and then touch my face, it's disaster. My eyes get red and swollen, my nose runs and I sneeze. Must take
an antihistamine to control symptoms. I would never consider giving up the kitty boys we've had for
13 years.

I also have asthma and when I did the allergy tests, the allergist said I won the award for most
allergic reactions that day at the office.

When I was very young, my mother removed my pet cat from our home when she discovered I was allergic.
My father, however, was a smoker and I think that I was probably asthmatic from exposure to second hand smoke. When he stopped smoking, my allergies cleared up.

Don't let the allergist push you into something that might not make any difference in your son's symptoms which could very easily be the result of allergies to something other than the cat.

[DeepBlueC]

11. agreed on that

My doc suggested I get rid of my cats. In the meantime I am allergic to various other things including DUST from which there is no escape. Why would I banish the family?

[distantearlywarning]

7. My husband is mildly allergic to our cats

If he pets them and then rubs his eyes, they puff up and get all red and watery. He goes and washes his face and the symptoms subside.

It's not really a big deal for him - he just has to remember not to rub his face after petting the cat. Plus both of us are allergic to about 14 dozen other things all year long so what difference will 2 more cats make in the grand scheme of things??? We would never get rid of them just because of a mild allergy.

[WolverineDG]

8. I'm allergic to cats, but I've had them all my life

the only time I have any "problems" is when I have a cold. Otherwise, they don't bother me.

Go figure. :shrug:

dg

[rurallib]

9. IIRC the part of the cat that causes the allergy is the saliva

from their 'bathing'. So patting the cat may not cause any reaction.
I just did a quickie google search and there are some good suggestions on ways to greatly reduce the exposure to the allergens

[Lisa0825]

10. Even if he is allergic, there are meds he can take

or possibly allergy shots. Sending the cat away is not the only option.

[many a good man]

12. I'm allergic to cats ... sometimes

I have no idea why. Sometimes they don't bother me at all and other times they make me miserable. Mostly I get red, itchy eyes. Then itchy arms and stuffed up. Total misery. Can't explain why it is so hit or miss. Maybe it's from something the cat got into?

[applegrove]

13. Runny nose and runny eyes if I played with my cat when I was a teenager.

It didn't stop me from playing with him. But the signs of allergy (not hives or anything dangerous) could not be missed.

[LisaL]

14. My friend (with asthma) was told to get rid of the cats.

Friend told the doctor to basically go the hell, and cats stayed. Just because your doctors tell you to do something doesn't mean you have to.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

15. LostinVA is allergic to cats

She gets stuffiness, etc. She just takes allergy meds (Claritin and Sudafed) everyday, but she's also allergic to a ton of other stuff, like pollen and mold.

We have two cats. One is a huge long-haired cat (I think she's part Maine Coon) and the other one just sheds like fucking crazy.

I'd say giving up the cat would be an absolute last resort.

Honestly, given the time of year, I'd chalk it up more to seasonal allergies than the cat. And, unless it's a severe cat allergy, it can be managed without giving up the cat.

[Kali]

16. Once in a while I get around a cat that absolutely kills me.

and sometimes my cats will generate a reaction. I take generic claritin if I am having symptoms and then in the fall when my grass allergies are in high gear I take double doses and nasalchrom. If my kids were allergic to an old or special pet I would try drugs on the kids first before losing the pet. Obviously if it is life threatening or close that would be something else.

[RoyGBiv]

18. Siamese do that to me ...

But no other breed.

My doctor when I was a kid said that it was unlikely I was allergic just to one breed of cat. Perhaps it is, but here I am. I've been around every other kind of cat you can imagine and am pretty sure cat hair is a measurable part of my diet given the amount Franky sheds, but it doesn't bother me.

Just touching a Siamese cat or one that is part Siamese drives my allergies crazy ... itch all over, wheeze, sneeze like I've inhaled pepper.

[Kali]

30. I don't see why there couldn't be breed differences.

I mean really - did the doc conduct any kind of research before dismissing your direct observation? Sure anecdotal evidence is just that, but dismissal is not scientific either.

[Rising Phoenix]

19. I am horribly allergic to cats

I edited my whole spiel as it just sounded it whiny, but from the point of view of an allergy sufferer who finds little to no relief from modern medicine, it really hurts, when, at any age, family and friends tell you to deal with the discomfort so they can keep their little fur ball nearby

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

20. People form attachments to their "little fur balls"

Just saying...

[Rising Phoenix]

21. I know sorry to be bitter about it

it was 2 am and I was a bit cranky........I am jealous of the bond people have with their pets

[Lil Missy]

22. It's okay. Sometimes severe health concerns override.

I say that as someone who could not, and would not, EVER part with one of my pets. I'm just allergic to everything anyway. But maybe it's different for you.

Now a cow, I get sicker than shit around cow hair. Thank goddess it rarely happens. But just driving by a cow field makes me sneeze so much I can barely see to drive.

[Rising Phoenix]

23. I know I am a allergic to pretty much all farm animals

but I did want a miniature pig , have to be tested to see if I'm allergic

[Lil Missy]

24. Oh, fuck oh dear! You want to raise a pig???

Well that's a different story entirely!

Do me a favor. If you get a pig, put some lipstick on it. See if it's still a pig, and get back to me. I've always wondered about that.

[Rising Phoenix]

26. lol

[Lil Missy]

29. I'm series!

:P

[ChazII]

25. My allergist

back in the early 1970's said I was allergic to anything all dust, trees, grasses, shrubs, and anything with fur. As a smart ass 13 year old I said so I am allergic to the planet? Anyway, I took shots for several years. Keep your cat since the side affects did not start. A half hour is more than enough time for the sneezing and water eyes and other indicators to set it. Good luck!

[Dappleganger]

27. An important note about animal allergies...

my son and I are not allergic to animal dander or fur; however we are highly allergic to dust mites! What our doctor explained is that the pets pick up dust mites in their fur when they lay around, then pass it while they go from room to room. Because of this we have to brush our cats at least once a week and wash our dogs in a mild shampoo weekly. It doesn't take it completely away, but it does help. We also keep them completely out of our bedrooms so they don't transfer dust mites there as well.

We've decided that the cats are most difficult to keep this under control, so continue to take meds (and he takes shots). When the cats are gone, we won't be getting any more. Both are around 10 years old and there's no way in hell we'd get rid of them now.

[DevonRex]

28. I'm allergic and I've always had cats. I have asthma. I get really red, itchy, watery eyes.

And I used to get asthma from cats. If your son had no symptoms after touching his face and eyes, then I very much doubt he has much of an allergy to your cat. The skin tests that your allergist will do will most certainly tell you if he is allergic to cats and to what degree.

You won't have to get rid of the cat. Your allergist can prescribe medication to relieve the symptoms.

[PassingFair]

31. How old is your son?

My oldest daughter is VERY allergic to cats.
So bad that she has to pre-medicate with
Allegra and have an inhaler if she is going
to visit or has to sleep over with anyone
who has cats.

When she was a baby, she had ear and sinus
infections CONTINUOUSLY, and we had two cats.
I don't recall her eyes being red, but she was
always having runny noses.

Her pediatrician (we had an HMO at the time),
NEVER suggested a cat allergy, or even asked
if we had animals!

Her ear infections stopped the week that our
last cat died, and she hasn't had one since.
She was 3 1/2 at the time. She has multiple
allergies, especially in the SPRING to what
seems like ALL LIFE FORMS...

:)

If your son is very young, then I suggest
you hand the cat off to an empathetic family
member or friend.

If your son is older, like 5 0r 6, and is out
of the house for long periods of time, given
the age of the cat....I'd keep it until it
expires. Your kid will remember the abandonment
of the cat longer than he will his allergy symptoms....

[fortyfeetunder]

32. Runny nose, itchy eyes.

I love cats but can't be around 'em. I discovered this allergy about 12 years ago hanging around a relative's cat.

Thank goodness for Salmon Enchanted Evening, so I can get my LOLat fix. I am not allergic to them.

[tigereye]

33. my son got hives one time from rubbing his face where a calico cat had

been.

that was fun. :eyes: That's how I found out that he was allergic.


Usually now it's just watery eyes and runny nose, so I give him a Claritin before he goes to anyone's house who has cats.

[mreilly]

34. Thanks all

I appreciate the responses. One poster asked how old my son is; he is 18 months. Based on the input here I am very confident he is not allergic to the cat. He may have asthma but allergies do not seem to be playing a role here.

The underlying issue at hand is that my wife basically hates the cat and will look for any reason to give her the heave-ho. She won't want to put our son on meds to deal with cat allergies (and I do understand her way of thinking; I don't want my son to have to undergo any discomfort) if he should have them. However, the allergist may not give us definite assurances one way or another and I think I need some ammo in advance to block what I suspect will be her "There still MAY be a very slight tiny chance he has a cat allergy so let's just do the right thing and put the cat down now" tactic.

I love my son and will do whatever's best for him. But I'm not going to kill an animal I also love based on slight possibilities or "maybe" scenarios. You may detect an undercurrent of resentment against my wife here. You'd be right.