Allergies

[burnthalo]

I am not trying to offend anyone with this post.

I have been noticing at our local humane society that a lot of cats are being dropped off because someone in the house has allergies. This makes me a little upset, because truely responsible people would "test" out being around cats. Being at a friend's house who has cats, or a relative, or volunteer at shelters.

I know volunteering isn't for everyone, but there has to be SOME place where they should be able to find a cat to interact with... to see if they're allergic BEFORE the commit to adopting one.

I think this is a reasonable thing to ask while people are researching a new pet. Don't you think?

[toobusy3]

:cool: In a ideal world ~ :cool: This would be great! I understand how :mad: angry this makes you. I think in a majority of cases people don't test allergies 1st, but there is some instances when you find out later.

We are owned by two cats. My son who has asthma, just recently showed a reaction to eggs. Only to find out he has an allergy to cats too. We are lucky in the fact that his reaction is not as severe as some, so we can control it by making his room off limits, bathing cats, frequent vaccuming, dusting, air cleaners, and some new product from the vet for the cats fur (dander). Alot of work, but well worth keeping our furballs.


~Hoping for a world of responsible pet owners~ :genie:

[burnthalo]

EXACTLY! My husband's allergic to cats, but i vaccum almost every 2 days ( i have a very small suite) and wash the bedding often, and such. Just keeping things clean, and i think his allergy is going away ! :D
but... :eek: i think i'm developing one, and i already have asthma, but i'd live with my cats and be all weepy and teary eyed rather than crazy with no cats :p

[andreaS15]

I am not trying to offend anyone with this post.

I have been noticing at our local humane society that a lot of cats are being dropped off because someone in the house has allergies. This makes me a little upset, because truely responsible people would "test" out being around cats. Being at a friend's house who has cats, or a relative, or volunteer at shelters.

I know volunteering isn't for everyone, but there has to be SOME place where they should be able to find a cat to interact with... to see if they're allergic BEFORE the commit to adopting one.

I think this is a reasonable thing to ask while people are researching a new pet. Don't you think?

Yes it sucks, But i'm one of those peole with Allergies.
I have owned Cats my whole life, and when i was in college I had myself tested. My worst allergeis were to Cat's & Horses (gee... my two favorites).
The Dr. told me to quit my class (Vet Assistant) and get rid of my Kitty, because If I didn't I would develop asthma next (I allready had the hives, rashes, swollen eyes, sneezing, runny nose, you know ALL the other 'fun' stuff.). Both my mother and I laughed at him, not only is there no history of asthma in my family, theres no way I'm dropping outta a $6G course nor get rid of my baby.
After I was done my course and working in a pet hospital, no matter all the allergy medication i drugged myself up with, I couldn't stop the reactions fully. I ended up developing Asthma and it all has gotten so bad, i can no longer work in an enviroment with cats, and my beloved kitty is now living with my Dad.

They say the more you are around something, the better chance you can develop an allergy, I have met a few Vet's who have had to quit for the same reasons as me :(
I would do anything to have cat's back in my life, I mean i love my dog, and my gerbies. But cat's have always been my true love. And thinking I will probably never own one again kills me.
So far if I can come up with about $900 i can buy a Siberian, which are soposed to be hypo-alergetic cats, but so far no breeder will sell you a kitten and for $900 (plus shipping! since the closest ones a 18 hour drive) I want a kitten!

Anways I understand though, It's a piss off to see people not commit to there pets they adopt. My biggest is people who drop off hamsters or other small rodents "Because we're moving".. OMG it's a hasmster, they live like a year, in a tiny cage, and cost nothing to keep GIVE ME A BREAK!
Another reason I dislike 90% of the population....

[PIFTails]

I have been noticing at our local humane society that a lot of cats are being dropped off because someone in the house has allergies.
I *think* you'll find that those people are just making an excuse to dump their pet on the shelter.

True blue dangerous allergies like andreaS15 has are relatively rare.

[andreaS15]

[QUOTE=PIFTails]I *think* you'll find that those people are just making an excuse to dump their pet on the shelter. QUOTE]

I totally agree. If they make some sorta excuse then it's "OK" to drop the pet off... at least in there sick mind.

[burnthalo]

i do have allergies to cats as well, i've noticed... but never been tested but i have asthma as well...

My main concern is for those people who are MAKING the excuses. I'm very sorry for the people not able to have cats and want one, but i agree, even though (achew) there are a few people out there that are allergic.... deathly allergic is rare.

I'm not trying to start an arguement... i just feel sad for all the animals that will get put down because of it, whether they DO have allergies and didn't find out until later, or if they are USING allergies as an excuse to make themselves feel better for giving up their cat. In the end it's the cat's i feel bad for.

[mckenzie84]

I think I may be allergic to cats but there is no way that I am going to give up my "baby" shadow. I love him more than anything and no matter how bad I may feel on some days he always finds a way to make me cheer up a bit even if it means my nose is running etc. I just load up on allergy meds and then I'm fine. My dad used to hate cats but then he let one into our house, then two, when I was younger. both cats were strays. One of them is still living there. the other, Brite Eyes, got distemper and I didnt realize it soon enough so the vet told me the best thing to do was put her down, so I did. I hated myself for it and I still do. she even had her vaccines up to date so I'm starting to think that vet was lying to me. but anyways, it does make me mad when people say they are allergic to cats just so they have an excuse to give them up. Cats are wonderful creatures who just want to be loved. They don't ask for much in life. give them a bowl of food and water, a string to play with a bit of love and their happy. Of course Shadow gets way more than that, but he's completely spoiled! and he knows it which is even worse! But Shadow is so well behaved that when he uses his litter box he will come and tell me so I can clean it. and if he closes the bedroom door (which is where his litter box is) he'll wait till he can get to it. Even if it means that he has to wait for hours, if we happen to be gone somewhere. then he'll use it once we get back. He's never made a mess on my carpet, he cleans up all the food he spills on the floor and he even rounds up missing hamsters for me. No he doesnt kill or hurt them. He nudges them to get them to come up to me then he expects some love and attention for rescuing my other babies but its great! He has got to be the best cat that I have ever had!

[animalsrcool]

I know what you mean! If people would just do this beforehand, maybe the shelters wouldn't be so over crowded! I mean if you wanted to take very good care of your cat, wouldn't you want to see if everything AND everyone is okay? People really need to think before they take an animal in their care. It's just not fair for a poor cat to be at home, then all of a sudden thrown in an animal shelter. It just could have been prevented. The saddest part is that the very animal someone took to the shelter was most likely put to sleep rather then adopted. It's all just...sickening. I understand some allergies can be found out later, and I'm okay with that. Whatever really happened, I feel terrible for the cat. What's this world coming to? :(

[new ferret]

I have two baby boys named simba and niko I have lived with cats since the day I was born (literly) And now Im sneezing like crazy when Im around them (oh god I hope I not allergic to them

[burnthalo]

try allergy meds, over the counter ones work well, if not ask your doctor. I was on reactine for a week while i was sick ( i didn't know if i WAS sick or if it was allergies, so i took it so that my allergies wouldn't make things worse) and now that i'm off of it i really notice a difference, i'm going to buy more today.

[katmomdu]

Agree.. My husband once had a friend who insisted he was allergic to cats.

The first time he visited our home after my husband and I moved in together.. nothing.. my husband simply never told him we had cats.

One of our cats finally made an appearance in the living room(being cats, they do not feel it is necessary to greet people upon their entry).. well,
Suddenly - the man began to sneeze, cough and generally have allergic reactions.

In his case, surely it was psychologically controlled, but appeared to give him real symptoms.

I know some folks really are allergic.

I was recently upset when a couple I know gave their cat away because they had a six month old baby. Although I presented them with the article I downloaded from several websites that showed all the latest research showed the BEST way to PREVENT a child from having allergies to pets and other allergens was to expose them at an early age.. they still chose to give the cat away.

The cat is in a better home, but what a shame their child will not have an opportunity to build up his immune system because one of the two parents wanted an excuse to get rid of their partner's pet..

If there were no baby involved, I say it is better to find a new partner than to give away your pet - and, I can honestly say having lived long enough to have had relationships with cat and non cat people - I would put an ad in the paper to put my partner up for adoption rather than one of my cats!

As the saying goes, the more people I meet, the more I love my cats(dogs, rabbits, pets of any kind)!!

katmom

[new ferret]

I could never give up my baby boys even I had survere allergies nothing is really bad its just sneezing and thats it. But I will probably check out for cat allergies I wasnt allergic before but everytime I go around my cats I tend to sneeze like crazy I cant stop. Im currently living with my dad who has no cats (and Im living with him not to avoid my cats but for other reasons). But when I go to my moms and my friends who both own cats I tend to sneez really bad.

[PIFTails]

I get annoyed with people who artifical build up their allergy problems with cats (Not including the few genuine cases), as I have bad hayfever so I am allergic to the entire outside world for three months a year.

So asking a so called allergic friend to visit my partner & I and our 8 cats for a couple of hours should not be a problem.

katmomdu, Sadly having a new baby is the second most common excuse to giving up pets after allergies.(Third excuse being I am moving home and can't take my cat)

[andreaS15]

When I was growing up we had a cat who didn't seem to produce an allergic dander. We would have people who were allergic come to our house sit in the cats chair, and never had a problem. I didn't have allergies back then either, though my mom did, and she was fine with this cat too.

I don't see 'why' people would pretend to have allergies? If they really want them, they can have mine! LOL

All mine started out suttle, the usual sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and then it just got worse and worse and worse. And I take allergie meds EVERY morning, & I've tryed them all. And if I take them religiously then I seem to be able to handle being around my kitty longer (as long as I don't touch my face!). I have so many prescriptions to help me, but I hate drugs, adn really they may slow down teh reaction time, or make the reactions a bit easier to deal with, but they don't make them go away. I wanted to get the allergy shots, but the Dr.'s won't let me, saying there's a chance I could die(since they are injecting the allergy into you).. SO that kinda freaked me out a bit... I think I'll get a second/third opinion though.

Sadly having a new baby is the second most common excuse to giving up pets after allergies.(Third excuse being I am moving home and can't take my cat)
Yup :(
And people think women/pregnant women will get sick from cleaning the litter box. Only IF the cat has the sickness and you put cat poo in your mouth...
See I would love to had a zoo of pets, but because I haven't been sure where I was going to be next (since i'm renting) I keep only gerbils. I just couldn't see it fare not knowing where I will live next and "if" I can bring my pets with me. Gerbils can fit anywhere, and snuck in if need be.