Hi all!

I'm new here and really would like to get some kittens to add to our family of 5.

The problem is I am allergic to cats, I've done lots of research about breeds and so on and about regular grooming.

I don't mind having to take antihistamines for the rest of my life-that's how much I really want cats in our home!

Do you have any advice, or could recommend measures I could take or products I could use to reduce the potential problem?

When I have visited friends I get a slight tickle in the nose. Nothing major, but irritating nonetheless.

I can't afford to buy pedigrees, like a Siberian or a Balinese or Oriental, so will probably do what I can with a domestic short-haired female .

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Honeywillow

Not sure if I am much help, but I am allergic to cats, however over a period of time I build up a resistance to the allergens and am fine (for example, lived my whole childhood with cats no problem at all, move out of parents home and when I went to visit I couldn't see! - even now - I sneeze and my nose and eyes water) I am hoping maybe to rehome two cats and I'm sure that after a period of time my symptoms would go.

I suppose this is dependant on the level of the allergy and other factors, but hopefully it could be the case for you?

Best wishes
Sarah

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Welcome and congratulations on your family additions!

There's a study that shows that female cats produce less of the allergen protein. And that because its production is androgen hormone (testosterone) controlled it also reduces when the male is neutered. Researchers also noticed that the owners of dark coloured cats suffer more of allergies than light coloured ones, but this wasn't scientific proved (maybe you should try if your allergy is really severe and you want to be absolutely sure you're getting the best chance possible).

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I have asthma, which is also brought on by cats, amongst other things. I have three cats. Each time I have had new cats the symptoms worsened, then gradually improved again.

The first time this happened I went to the doctor,the first question was "Have you recently got any new pets?" I told him yes, two new cats, but I've been keeping cats for 15 years without any problems. He told me that you build up an immunity to your own cats - and it's true - I have no problems with mine now, even when they go down the bed. Yet, if I go round to my sisters, I immediately start wheezing and my eyes itch.

I've got Burmese, because they were about the shortest haired cats I could find, and a short haired moggy. I don't think it's the hair that's the problem though, I read somewhere that the allergens are actually in cat saliva, and it's because they groom by licking themselves the allergens get all over. This would make sense, because a few years ago, one of my cats jumped on the bed and sneezed - some of the sneeze landed in my eye - that eye immediately swelled up until it closed and was like that for a week.

I would think a lot depends on the severity of your allergy though, obviously you can't go ahead if it's likely to put you in hospital.

Same here I am allergic to any pollen on the pet hairs (dogs/cats), but I found cleaning my hands often seems to help a lot with toning down the symptoms like sore eyes and sneezing and to not touch my eyes before washing my hands.

I found I was allergic to the actually pollen which the cats/dogs pick up when they brush against the flowers.

Found out cause my kittens/puppies who never went outside yet to play never made me allergic.

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Have: 4 Cats 3 Dogs currently
Have had: 6 cats

Dogs: German Shepherds
Cats: Ginger Tabby & Torbies

RIP: Ducati, Cheetah, Joy, Claire & Sapphire - Torties
Chloe - Black & White

My son is asthmatic, although not severe, he also suffers hayfever, however we had cats before he was born and he was tolerant of them, sometimes he suffers a bit more but not often. He finds although he can be around our cat as he lives at home still, as soon as he visits a friends house who have pets it starts him off. He is 24 and always had a pet at home so depending on your severity yes you can own a cat and have an allergy

I have sensitive skin and can come up in a rash from cats but I always do the following things and my allergy has been fine since I got my pussums -

Vaccum regularly ... floors, sofas, curtains, anything you can! Dyson do a really good vaccum cleaner especially for pet hair.

Dust surfaces regularly with a wet cloth.

Give your cats a good brush and wipe them down once a week with an allergy pet wipe (you can get these from POH) my cats LOVE this!

Having wooden or laminate floors is good as the hair cannot get burried in carpet fibres.

My dh is mildly allergic as well and also had cats growing up but was then allergic when he visited after he moved out. He has been fine without antihistamines since we adopted the cats a year ago, the odd sniffle/sneeze particularly if he rubs his eyes after stroking them but nothing really. However, we do keep them out of the bedroom because he is worried about their hair going in the duvet etc and causing problems that way. That is maybe an idea to limit problems.

Along with cleaning (of both the house, cat and yourself) the most helpful thing my husband has found with allergies is being desensitized. For him it involved a series of injections but seems to have helped him a lot. I suspect that the same process will occur naturally by having a cat in the home, but over a longer period of time.

I was also desensitized to bee stings this way and the difference in reaction is remarkable.

Thanks for all the wonderful encouraging replies! I feel a lot better about it now. I was really getting worried. I think I'll be just fine. We went to see a pair of kittens at Battersea and we are hoping to adopt them.

The next obstacle isn't me however it's my 2 year old. When we got home from seeing the kittens on Monday, in the evening, I noticed she'd developed a rash. My husband is a GP so he said wait for her rash to go down before we go back so that we can rule out the cats being the cause. She has been in cat owners homes before and has pet a cat before, and she's been fine, so I don't think it was the kittens. The room where we met the kittens was full of fur and cat toys, she even kissed them bless her. Maybe the allergens were too concentrated lol?! Maybe it was all the fur? Also the rash has continued to come up in a couple of clusters since Monday and we don't have the kittens home yet, so I'm a bit baffled

We were supposed to go back today, but because she has a couple of spots still my husband said we have to wait.

I'll be so gutted if it turns out that she is allergic. Because I REALLY REALLY WANT KITTENS!!!

I can't wait to go and see them again, cute little black sisters!! Miaow!