If an immediate relative (sister, brother, parent) was very allergic to cats... (POLL)

would you still get a cat as a pet in your place with FH?

FH wants a cat - I like all animals although i would prefer a dog. But my brother is VERY allergic to cats (ETA: My brother and I are very close). I don't want to get one when we move in togheter because my brother would never be able to come over. He gets to the point where he can't breathe. He does have allergy meds but why should he have to take it everyday, or start a few days before - just so he can come over.

last xmas he had to go out for a walk in the rain because my aunt has 2 cats and he couldnt breathe and he had taken his meds.

Just wanted your opinion - what would you do?

i would get it .. but uh .. I'M allergic so FH won't let me get one *haha* but i cats

Ladies who have put YES - they don't live there'

would it bother you that a relative you are VERY close with wouldnt be able to come over? Just Curious

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Posted by jgl

Ladies who have put YES - they don't live there'

would it bother you that a relative you are VERY close with wouldnt be able to come over? Just Curious

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Nah, they make drugs for this type of thing

I wouldnt. FH and I have 2 cats and a dog. My brother is also VERY allergic

he CANT come to my house. And I hate it, I wish he could..so if I could do it over id just get a dog :(

Honestly Right away I said to myself that I would still get one. I love animals soooo much. BUT, the more I thought about it I voted No because 1. I am definitely more of a dog lover and 2. I spend alot of time with my family. I host many holidays at my house and would hate it if my bro couldn't come.

BUT IF SOMEONE WAS ALLERGIC TO MY DOG AS MEAN AS IT SEEMS... OH WELL THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I'M GIVING HER UP!!!!!!!!

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Posted by MikeandJess

I would do it but this is coming from someone who wants to get a puppy even though her FH is allergic, lol. Selfish doesn't even begin to explain it...

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haha - i feel your pain though i love doggies!

The medication my brother has i guess works - but i would feel bad that he would have to start taking it a few days prior to coming over - i dont think hes going to take it everyday jsut so he can come over now and then.

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Posted by Mimacat

Why dont you get a doggie?

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well thats the thing. I want a dog (but wouoldnt mind a cat) we will def get a dog but FH is stuck on the cat thing.

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Posted by chrispar

Honestly Right away I said to myself that I would still get one. I love animals soooo much. BUT, the more I thought about it I voted No because 1. I am definitely more of a dog lover and 2. I spend alot of time with my family. I host many holidays at my house and would hate it if my bro couldn't come.

BUT IF SOMEONE WAS ALLERGIC TO MY DOG AS MEAN AS IT SEEMS... OH WELL THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I'M GIVING HER UP!!!!!!!!

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thats how we are, we are very close and do holidays together and such. I would love to have my family over for holidays once we have our own place.

I feel the same as you - if someone came over and was allergic to dogs.. what am i going to do? oh well - i'd vaccuum the best i could and keep the dog out of the main parts of the house. If we had a dog for a while and found out a relative was allergic im not going to then get rid of the dog.

I just cant see myself getting a cat knowing that my brother IS allergic. When we were younger, we got a cat. after 3 months my brother developed such an allergy we had to give her away to a friend, but we were young at the time so i dont think we were that affected by it!

I voted NO, because I am the one with the allergies, and I know what its like.

ILs cats passed away, and instead of cleaning the house of catness, they just got another.

I don't really go there, I feel lousy every time.

My FFIL is allergic to cats. He takes zyrtec and feels fine when he's around our animals. I dunno...I think you build a life around your new family (not saying the 'old' family is less important or anything....). But if I did things based on the needs of other people in my family/his family our own happiness would be compromised....and I'm the one who will be living with FH for the next 70 years - ya know?

I think its REALLY REALLY sweet of you to consider your family when making such a decision...but I think you have the right to be selfish if you want to. You have a great heart.

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Posted by beachbum05

My FFIL is allergic to cats. He takes zyrtec and feels fine when he's around our animals. I dunno...I think you build a life around your new family (not saying the 'old' family is less important or anything....). But if I did things based on the needs of other people in my family/his family our own happiness would be compromised....and I'm the one who will be living with FH for the next 70 years - ya know?

I think its REALLY REALLY sweet of you to consider your family when making such a decision...but I think you have the right to be selfish if you want to. You have a great heart.

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thanks bonnie!

I totally agree with you on building our own life after we are married and that i can't conform to what my family needs and wants all the time! I think with this - its a little different because he gets really sick and i would love to have him come over. I have to see how much FH really wants a cat, if her really wants one then ill just have to tell my brother to pop those meds!

OK.. I speak from experience..

FH & I are both VERYYYY allergic to cats.. He gets ridiculously stuffed up.. can't stop sneezing.. eyes get watery.. he coughs like crazy.. and I break out in hives and I itch the entire time.. and have to take like 2-3 showers after.

FH's mom & sister (they live together) have 2 cats.. and if we are going there we both take allergy meds first.. and she bought a brand new dyson vac to clean before we come.. and it's STILL HORRIBLE!!!

We are miserable the ENTIRE time we are there.. and when we leave we complain endlessly about how we never want to go back..

I know this sounds so dramatic haha.. but it's really hard to be around something you are so allergic to.

*edited to say.. I don't think I am the ONLY one who has experience in this (don't want to offend anyone.. boards have been touchy lately )

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Posted by alymikewedding08

OK.. I speak from experience..

FH & I are both VERYYYY allergic to cats.. He gets ridiculously stuffed up.. can't stop sneezing.. eyes get watery.. he coughs like crazy.. and I break out in hives and I itch the entire time.. and have to take like 2-3 showers after.

FH's mom & sister (they live together) have 2 cats.. and if we are going there we both take allergy meds first.. and she bought a brand new dyson vac to clean before we come.. and it's STILL HORRIBLE!!!

We are miserable the ENTIRE time we are there.. and when we leave we complain endlessly about how we never want to go back..

I know this sounds so dramatic haha.. but it's really hard to be around something you are so allergic to.

*edited to say.. I don't think I am the ONLY one who has experience in this (don't want to offend anyone.. boards have been touchy lately )

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That is horrible!!! but that is how my brother is minus the hives! i know that meds help but if you arent taking them consistantly they arent as affective, so taking it before you go wont always help very much. So he would have to take them regularly to come over. He is rarely at his gf's house because she has like 3 cats.

here's what i think - please don't take this as being mean towards your brother at all

if your brother didn't like kids and couldn't stand to be around them, would you not have them so he would still visit?