Cat/Kitten Owners and allergy sufferers

sja360

sja360

sja360

Soldato
Joined
28 Jul 2003
Posts
4,189
Location
Dundee
just wondering has anyone on ocuk got a cat or kittens and suffers allergies from them?
as far as im aware i am allergic to cats except i was around my brothers boyfriends who has 2 cats (persian and shorthair) and i was fine. so i was wondering whether the breed has an effect on sufferers?

Also to finish off, what tips do people have in regards to relieving the allergy.
Basically im thinking of getting a cat at a flat with my girlfriend but i wish to know what it is like if i do suffer :(
(ps i want a cat too btw..)
 
oh and also does anyone have an abysinnian or/and russian blue? i was curious as to how two different breeds of cats/kittens the same age get on.
 
It really depends of the individual cat more than long hair / short hair. My wife's mom is highly allergic to some cats and barely allergic to others....regardless of coat length or breed. You can get wipes that you run over the cat and it helps control the dander, which is what causes the reaction. An air purifier/filter can really help too.
 
sja360 said:
oh and also does anyone have an abysinnian or/and russian blue? i was curious as to how two different breeds of cats/kittens the same age get on.
Click to expand...

Again, really depends on the personality of the cats as opposed to the breed.
 
ok i guess its a case of going to spend time with the cat/kitten i would be interested in to see if reaction occurs then.
cheers Curio
 
sja360 said:
ok i guess its a case of going to spend time with the cat/kitten i would be interested in to see if reaction occurs then.
cheers Curio
Click to expand...

Best method - pick it up and rub it all over your face. If your head explodes then you're allergic :D
 
i dont think my head would explode lol, i do hope however to be barely allergic otherwise it will be a difficult to keep the allergy at bay.
 
It's not the cat, it's the saliva that's on it's hair you are allergic to - typically most people with allergies are fine living with cats as long as the house is kept reasonably clean and you wash your hands and avoid touching your face after stroking a cat.

I have allergies and have always had cats! I'm also the person who brushes them (and wash my hands afterwards) never have any problems. Obviously stopping a cat sleeping at the top of the bed or on pillows or clothing helps.
 
yea i've heard about that but i think there serious money to get one. and also its a particular breed they offer. i'd rather put up with allergies and have a good feline cat than have something i didn't appreciate as much that saved my allergies.
 
The gf was allergic to cats, we got a cat, she had to go onto a stronger inhaler. After about 6months she had built up a resistance or something to it. After a year she didnt need the inhaler any more. So all good if you can put up with it for a while.
 
My cat molts heavily this time of year and i'm a Hayfever sufferer so I have to avoid picking her up and as soon as i've stroked her to wash my hands...
 
I've always lived with a cat in the house, and do suffer from allergies. I tend to find that if I give the cat fuss, then touch my face/hair before I've washed my hands, I end up itchy/bothered and generally wishing I hadn't done. I also used to suffer a bit with my asthma in the winter if the fire was on and the cat was around a lot, but solved this one by cleaning more regularly and keeping the air fresh in the house.

My tip - keep the house clean, tidy and well-ventilated, and wash your hands after petting! :)
 
Agreed with everyone else here. I don't have animal allergies as such but I've noticed in the past with my parents cats or my current ones after heavy exposure and then maybe touching my face or having them brushed in my face I have occasionally started to get cold like symptoms. (Runny nose, sneezing, etc).

It happens rarely and I have some anti-hystamine tablets for bad days. Since owning my own two kittens over a month now I think it's happened once. Plus you get used to it more over time I think.
 
I am allergic to cats. I did, however, grow up with a Russian blue as a pet. He was a lovely cat! My mum was always very good at trying to make sure there were as few cat hairs around the place as possible.

I find they don't always make me sneeze so I can stroke a cat (although it isn't my instinct to necessarily do so!!) and be fine. Then another time I can just sit on a sofa where a cat has been and my eyes turn red and sore and I can't stop sneezing.

I wouldn't choose to live with a cat! I really don't like getting the allergic reaction.
 
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