NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

Hi there...
It started out that for 29 years of FH life, he never knew he was allergic to cats, UNTIL we moved in together along with my cat.
I have an 8 year old Maine Coon and FH is sooo allergic. He started going for allergy shots this week because finding her a new home is NOT an option. She's part of our family and we love her to pieces.
This is the problem.... FH only has these symptoms:
wheezing, chest tightness and stuffy nose. The Allergist said it would be best to put the cat in a foster home (she's going to visit my parents for 6 months) while FH is going through extensive shot treatment because dander can live in a home up to 6 months.
Has anyone else has these types of allergic reactions and have gone through the shots? The allergist said it's about 90% effective.
I'm just worried he'll never stop wheezing and having this tightness in his chest. He does take Allegra daily, but no longer wants to take a medication every day for the rest of his life.
You also have to understand that FH is a doctor himself so he's very knowledgeable about long term effects that meds have on you, which is quite annoying!!
So please give me some insight of you or anyone else that has had this issue.

TIA

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

Well, you may not want to hear this, but allergies are miserable and I wouldn't want to be on periodic shots / allergy medications for the rest of my life either...

Personally, if all other options failed, I'd find the cat a good foster home... and trust me, I know what it's like to have pets that are family!

THere are some sort of sheets that supposedly help with allergies (you wipe the cat down with them, I think?) Someone else has probably heard of them. I'm not sure they'd work in a case this severe, though.

Good luck!!

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

I did find this online, too: CLICK ME: Living with Allergies to Your Cat

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

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Posted by Kara and Todd

Well, you may not want to hear this, but allergies are miserable and I wouldn't want to be on periodic shots / allergy medications for the rest of my life either...

Personally, if all other options failed, I'd find the cat a good foster home... and trust me, I know what it's like to have pets that are family!

THere are some sort of sheets that supposedly help with allergies (you wipe the cat down with them, I think?) Someone else has probably heard of them. I'm not sure they'd work in a case this severe, though.

Good luck!!

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Thanks Kara, I appreciate it :)
We do have the wipes, but they barely help his situation. We're going to start with the shots and see how it goes. My baby girl will be staying with my parents for a little while, while he's getting the shots. Ugh, I just hope it'll all be in our favor and she'll be able to stay with us

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

A friend of mine used to bathe her cat in Downey and that calmed her allergies.

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

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Posted by jenafee

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Posted by Kara and Todd

Well, you may not want to hear this, but allergies are miserable and I wouldn't want to be on periodic shots / allergy medications for the rest of my life either...

Personally, if all other options failed, I'd find the cat a good foster home... and trust me, I know what it's like to have pets that are family!

THere are some sort of sheets that supposedly help with allergies (you wipe the cat down with them, I think?) Someone else has probably heard of them. I'm not sure they'd work in a case this severe, though.

Good luck!!

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Thanks Kara, I appreciate it :)
We do have the wipes, but they barely help his situation. We're going to start with the shots and see how it goes. My baby girl will be staying with my parents for a little while, while he's getting the shots. Ugh, I just hope it'll all be in our favor and she'll be able to stay with us

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Well, I'm glad I didn't pull that whole thing about wipes out of my... ear.

Good luck!! I really hope it works out for you and for kitty! I love Maine Coon cats. BEAUTIFUL!

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

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Posted by Kara and Todd

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Posted by jenafee

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Posted by Kara and Todd

Well, you may not want to hear this, but allergies are miserable and I wouldn't want to be on periodic shots / allergy medications for the rest of my life either...

Personally, if all other options failed, I'd find the cat a good foster home... and trust me, I know what it's like to have pets that are family!

THere are some sort of sheets that supposedly help with allergies (you wipe the cat down with them, I think?) Someone else has probably heard of them. I'm not sure they'd work in a case this severe, though.

Good luck!!

---

Thanks Kara, I appreciate it :)
We do have the wipes, but they barely help his situation. We're going to start with the shots and see how it goes. My baby girl will be staying with my parents for a little while, while he's getting the shots. Ugh, I just hope it'll all be in our favor and she'll be able to stay with us

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Well, I'm glad I didn't pull that whole thing about wipes out of my... ear.

Good luck!! I really hope it works out for you and for kitty! I love Maine Coon cats. BEAUTIFUL!

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Nah, you didn't...

She's soooo cute. Friendly, loveable and just wants to be everyone's friend. Thankfully she knows not go into our bedroom. I feel bad for her because she's truly a good kitty.

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

I was in the same situation. My husband takes allegra every day. I do believe that many people's bodies become accustom to the allergies they have. Sometimes my husband will forget to take is medicine for a day or two and be fine... but in the beginning, he would of been extremely sick. He would have trouble breathing and eyes would be red and blow up so bad that he couldn't see.

With prior boyfriends, I bought an air cleaner with a hepa filter and also a vacuum with a hepa filter. I now have the dyson animal and it works great! The hepa filters definitely help a little.

Good luck!

p.s.. I have a maine coon who is 15 years old and my 'baby'! I love maine coons

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

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Posted by kkouril

I was in the same situation. My husband takes allegra every day. I do believe that many people's bodies become accustom to the allergies they have. Sometimes my husband will forget to take is medicine for a day or two and be fine... but in the beginning, he would of been extremely sick. He would have trouble breathing and eyes would be red and blow up so bad that he couldn't see.

With prior boyfriends, I bought an air cleaner with a hepa filter and also a vacuum with a hepa filter. I now have the dyson animal and it works great! The hepa filters definitely help a little.

Good luck!

p.s.. I have a maine coon who is 15 years old and my 'baby'! I love maine coons

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Oh great to know about the Dyson. It's on my registry! Which one do you have? I do have a HEPA filter in the living room and we're going to get another one. Which one do you have?
Thanks!!

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

I have horrible allergies. I am allergic to everything. I won't go for shots because I don't want to put chemicals in my body on a daily basis but that's just me. I am not sure of the solution to your problem but allergies are a very stressful thing. It is very uncomfortable to be wheezing, etc. I use a hepa filter vacuum and I would also suggest getting an air purifier. Good luck.

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

I just wanted to write b/c I feel bad that you have to go through this. I know that if it were me, I would not be able to get rid of my kitties. They are my children and I am their mommy forever. I think if this happend to me, I would have to choose my kitties over FH. Just kidding, I would have my parents take them in whether they like it or not.

I hope the shots help your FH. Good luck and keep us posted.

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

I have an old one and I don't remember the name of it... maybe Holmes. But you should do research on Consumer Reports.org or epinions.com to check out the rates.

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

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Posted by kkouril

I have an old one and I don't remember the name of it... maybe Holmes. But you should do research on Consumer Reports.org or epinions.com to check out the rates.

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Ok thanks

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

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Posted by Trishthedish

I just wanted to write b/c I feel bad that you have to go through this. I know that if it were me, I would not be able to get rid of my kitties. They are my children and I am their mommy forever. I think if this happend to me, I would have to choose my kitties over FH. Just kidding, I would have my parents take them in whether they like it or not.

I hope the shots help your FH. Good luck and keep us posted.

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Thanks yeah it totally stinks and I hope these shots work for FH. Kitty is sooo good and it will hurt me and FH (FH - only because I love her to death) to have her find a new home. My parents are going to help out as much as they can with this which is good. I'm going to continue vacuuming, using the HEPA filter, bathing kitty (she's actually very okay with it) and wiping down areas that she rubs up against.
Thanks again for posting. Tessa (kitty) gives you kisses!!

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

I am allergic to cats and my inlaws have 5 of them. I think you're FH is a great sport for being willing to go through allergy shots.....I know the cat is part of your family and I feel for you- but I am allergic to cats and it's really torture to be around one..i can't even be in a room where a cat was before me.

I don't mean to upset you I know how it is to love an animal - it's like a child in a way.....but if the shots don't help your FH..nothing will.

I did hear that if you are around them long enough- you become immune to it..not sure though.

Good luck!

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

Why not shave the cat?

My mom shaves my cats so that they don't have hair balls (it got to the point where they were throwing up everyday!) and ever since she has them shaved- no more hairballs.

Plus, my cousin who is allergic can now be around them all the time.

They are even happier-- less work, cooler in the summer and no hair balls.

Most dog groomers will do it but my mom takes the cats to 'Clean as a whisker' in Ronkonkoma. They are so much happier when they come home- it's like a weight being lifted off.

They look WEIRD at first lol (like cartoon characters) but you get used to it...

link to get an idea of what they look like...

People are allergic to the protein in the cat's saliva-- not the actual fur/hair... it's the protein that is in their saliva so the more the cats lick-- the more saliva is in their hair that gets all over and gets on people's hands etc. That is what makes them allergic-- People aren't allergic to hairless cats.

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Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

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Posted by STBMrsDaniRella

Why not shave the cat?

My mom shaves my cats so that they don't have hair balls (it got to the point where they were throwing up everyday!) and ever since she has them shaved- no more hairballs.

Plus, my cousin who is allergic can now be around them all the time.

They are even happier-- less work, cooler in the summer and no hair balls.

Most dog groomers will do it but my mom takes the cats to 'Clean as a whisker' in Ronkonkoma. They are so much happier when they come home- it's like a weight being lifted off.

They look WEIRD at first lol (like cartoon characters) but you get used to it...

link to get an idea of what they look like...

People are allergic to the protein in the cat's saliva-- not the actual fur/hair... it's the protein that is in their saliva so the more the cats lick-- the more saliva is in their hair that gets all over and gets on people's hands etc. That is what makes them allergic-- People aren't allergic to hairless cats.

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We actually did shave her down, but not like that pic above...poor thing.
We shaved her because she's a Maine Coon and they have longer hair than most and its easier for us to brush her, groom her, etc. The shaved part has nothing to do with him being allergic becuase like you said, it lives in the saliva of the cat.
Thanks girls for your support. I sure hope the shots work and FH will continue to get them for as long as he can. So far so good so keep your fingers crossed!!

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

One of my grooming customers had the same problem. Her husband went and got accupuncture-five times. It has been four years and he still is not allergic to the cat.

Re: NWR: Allergic to Cats (long)

From what I understand, it's not the 'hair' but the 'dander, which I've been told, long hair cats have less dander because the long hair catches it... HOWEVER, this may be an old wife's tale! If that's the case, just ignore me!

:)