Cat Allergy

[shaz-rla]

I would like to get a cat but my husband is allergic to them (the last time he was in contact with one would be at least 2 years ago).  Can you outgrow allergies?  He doesn't want to be taking tablets for the rest of his life (he does't even like cats so this would be no go!!!).  Has anyone any ideas apart from kicking him out?

[OBonio]

HEPA filters in vacuums clearners really helped me. Dyson, of course. Also, I've found the more booze I have the less the reaction is. Other than that, making sure as little fur is left about the place... maybe get your husband his own chair (lazy boy chair!!) which the cat isn't allowed on.. (though this could prove difficult to enforce).

HTH

[Scarlett]

I managed to desensitise myself to cat allergy by living with them but not touching them. Gradually I startedstroking them wearing a sock on my hand (silly but it worked!!) and eventually got over the allergy totally. Having short-haired cats helped.

[becks]

Your husband is allergic to the fur not the cat so - simple - get one of those sphynx cats - they don't have any fur!

[butter1]

my b/f is allergic to my dog.  I've tried loads of things but the best thing is Petal Cleanse.  You wipe it on their fur once a week and you can notice the difference within 2 weeks. 

http://www.drivensnow.co.uk/index.asp?CatID=5&CatName=Pet%20allergy?&SubCat=58&paging=1&numberofprods=6

I have also bought an air purifier, which has helped too.

[jimmer]

i'm mildly allergic to cats but have still owned three or four in the past. its bad at this time of the year coz they're malting but at most other times its ok. depends how allergic he is.

 

jim

[happy_face]

I was born allergic to cats, dogs and several other things. As i child I couldn't visit people's places if they had cats even if they'd kicked the poor thing out for the day and had hoovered etc all day. It was still in the air and within minutes I felt like my lungs were constricted. If you have allergies badly then there's nothing you can do apart from staying well clear. Apparently if you're born with allergies you're more likely to grow out of them compared to if you get them later in life. In my teens I felt like my allergy had levelled a bit and I went to the gp to get a test. My allergy to dogs had gone completely and my allergy to cats had gone from 4 to 2 (on a scale of 1-5). So now I can be in the same room, stroke cats but have to be careful to wash my hands straight after. If I put my hands to my face without washing them then I react.
Your husband might be able to live with the cat at first but once the hairs have embedded themselves in your house he might find it quite hard to breathe and live there. It would be a shame to get attached to a cat and then have to give it away. In children you can even bring on asthma by prolonged exposure to animals they're allergic to. That happened to my nephew. He was so young that the family didn't know he was allergic to their cat. They had to eventually get rid of it and he's so much better now.

Hope this gives you some help

[kick3m0n]

I've been allergic to lots of things a(cats included) since mjy teens.  Thought I'd never be able to have a  pet, unitl I came across Maine *** ** (hope this word doesn't get edited).  There a large breed of North American cat and I, along with several other cat allergy sufferers I know, can have them as pets without a problem.  They are massively furry, and do shed, but seem to cause a much lesser allergic reaction than any other breed of cat.   We've owned them for about 8 years now and I've never had a problem.   Only one cat allergy sufferer who's been to our house has had a reaction to them.  It might be worth finding someone who owns one, or visiting a breeder with your hubby.  Check out **********.co.uk to see what they're like.  We got both of ours there and they are fantastic pets, tho not quite as cat like as some breeds - which may suit your hubby!!!  good luck.

[kick3m0n]

the breed of cat (and therefore teh website address that was edited) is called a maine

coo

 

n

 (remove the spaces) 

[shaz-rla]

Thanks Kick I guessed it was a Maine you know what.... I actually quite like that breed so will have a look at the web site.  Thanks to all who suggested ideas - hopefully I will get a chance soon to try them out.

[sm_norwich]

I'd be inclined to trade your husband in for one that doesnt have an allergy to cats.

Hope this helps.

[nfn]

Get a dog instead. They're much nicer

[RAYMAN]

Of course he could kick you out, problem solved.

[Eels]

Wipe the cat daily with a damp cloth - it's often dried saliva on the hair that sets off allergies rather than the coat itself.

There are no problems with daily antihistamines - I use them myself and something like cetirizine will help loads and be non-drowsy too.  If he persists with the antihistamines he may well eventually become desensitized and not have to take them - although this may take several months or more.

[shaz-rla]

Thanks Eels I am going to show him your reply, hopefully he will let me have one!  Rayman - the other reply sm_norwich is actually my husband who wouldn't dare kick out the lovely mother of his three dear children would he???