Cats and Allergies......anybody? lol

[DaDezBombzzz]

hey guys,
I was allergy tested years back when I initially started my allergy injections, and I am rally allergic ot cats.
However, my boyfriend has a short haired cat and it doesnt bother me...at all.

Usually I get near one and i start to sneeze, cough and my nose gets really stuffy....


does anybody know if the TYPE of cat depends on how you are and if you could be allergic?


Because i have a bunny anda dog, i wanted to get a cat just to have around hte house to keep me company...hmm...

[Nell]

A particular cat can have a different effect on allergies, but not a particular type of cat. The only breed of cat that is hypoallergenic to many people (but not all) is the Siberian breed.
An allergic reaction is caused by a substance in the cat's saliva. When they groom themselves, the saliva dries on the cats fur and will flake off , particularly when they shed fur. Female cats seem to secrete less of this substance than male cats. Shorthair cats are sometimes less problematic because their coat has less surface area. They also require less grooming and grooming usually irritates allergies. Cats that shed a lot cause more problems because more dander is shed along with the fur, so feeding a high quality diet to reduce shedding is a must.
There are a number of other ways you can control allergies (hepa filters, giving the cat a bath, cleaning, etc) but it won't completely get rid of your symptoms.

[DragonSpirit]

I agree completely with Nell.
And I learned something from it. Well ya learn something everyday.

[onebunnywuv]

I get all sniffly and watery eyed around long haired cats. I simply take a once a day allergy medication and that's that.

[DaDezBombzzz]

A particular cat can have a different effect on allergies, but not a particular type of cat. The only breed of cat that is hypoallergenic to many people (but not all) is the Siberian breed.
An allergic reaction is caused by a substance in the cat's saliva. When they groom themselves, the saliva dries on the cats fur and will flake off , particularly when they shed fur. Female cats seem to secrete less of this substance than male cats. Shorthair cats are sometimes less problematic because their coat has less surface area. They also require less grooming and grooming usually irritates allergies. Cats that shed a lot cause more problems because more dander is shed along with the fur, so feeding a high quality diet to reduce shedding is a must.
There are a number of other ways you can control allergies (hepa filters, giving the cat a bath, cleaning, etc) but it won't completely get rid of your symptoms.


Yeah..I was aware of the saliva and dander, but I didn't know if a short haired vs long haired (i used to have a long haired tiger cat) makes the difference...becuase my boyfriends cat is a short haired, i didnt want to get a cat then end up having to give it away becuase im allergic:(

[Nell]

I am allergic to cats and have allergy induced asthma, but I have 3 cats, and I've lived with 4 at one time.

the cats get a bath every week to every other week, and that helps. I have a hepa filter in the bedroom and that really helps too. I take a claritin every day, vacuum often (and wear a mask when I do), and that helps. The entire apartment is carpeted, and that makes it worse. There are times when I still feel miserable, and if I only had one cat it probably wouldn't be very bad. Its also possible to build up a tolerance so your reaction is not as bad. Most people with cats and allergies find ways to make it work, but it really depends how bad the allergies are and how much you're willing to suffer at times so you can have the pet.

If you're really thinking about having a cat, maybe you could foster for a while to see if it would be tolerable?

[DaDezBombzzz]

I am allergic to cats and have allergy induced asthma, but I have 3 cats, and I've lived with 4 at one time.

the cats get a bath every week to every other week, and that helps. I have a hepa filter in the bedroom and that really helps too. I take a claritin every day, vacuum often (and wear a mask when I do), and that helps. The entire apartment is carpeted, and that makes it worse. There are times when I still feel miserable, and if I only had one cat it probably wouldn't be very bad. Its also possible to build up a tolerance so your reaction is not as bad. Most people with cats and allergies find ways to make it work, but it really depends how bad the allergies are and how much you're willing to suffer at times so you can have the pet.

If you're really thinking about having a cat, maybe you could foster for a while to see if it would be tolerable?


Yeah...I have a horrible horrible time with my allergies. I was 14 when I was tested, I have been getting allergy injections for 7 years....I found that it might be possible to get a cat, but I would feel bad if i was allergic :(. My allergies are pretty bad, but the worst is that i have chronic infections, which stem from the allergies. So I am not really sure if I will get a cat, but It depends :-/

[DragonSpirit]

I think fostering would be a good idea too. Then you would know if you are alergic to that kind of cat.