So, I think I'd really like to have a cat. But I'm allergic. Is there any hope?

[GameHat]

The subject line explains it all. I'd like to have a pet. I like cats. Unfortunately I'm also allergic to cats.

My family had a cat when I was very young. Apparently they got rid of it when they noticed my symptoms.

These days - If I visit a household with a cat, within 30 minutes I'm really uncomfortable. Itchy, red eyes. A runny nose. Plenty of sneezing.

I'm just wondering if there are any reasonable options. Like I said, I'd like to get a pet. I don't really like the necessary hours of "walking" a dog requires (yes, I had dogs when I still lived with my parents. Loved them, but the endless walks got really old.)

A cat would be perfect, if it wasn't so perfectly designed as to make me miserably itchy.

Are there any useful treatments for said allergies? Have any allergic dopers managed to live with a cat?

[Tenar]

If you google "Allerca," you will find info regarding a company that claims to breed hypoallergenic cats (for several thousand dollars each). You will also find links to sites and news stories alleging that Allerca is a fraud, so proceed with EXTREME caution.

My ophthalmologist (yeah,you read right) has signs in his office pushing some new injectable drug that supposedly eases allergies. Possible side effects include cancer. No, I am not kidding.

There are various wipes and sprays which supposedly cut down on cat dander both on the cat and on surfaces in your home, but I have never had the patience to use them.

FWIW, I have found that Maine Coons bother me less than other cats, but I own cats, so I may be less allergic than you are. If I were you, I would experiment with borrowing a friend's cat before making a commitment to a cat of your own.

[Cat Whisperer]

My husband is allergic to cats, so we only have two. :)

Seriously, you do get used to your own. There are ways to minimize the allergens; no cats in the bedroom, no carpets, sweep frequently, dust covers that get washed frequently on furniture, allergy shots, etc. It can certainly be done; Jim lives mostly comfortably with two cats in the house (he is a little congested and sneezy all the time, but he lives with it).

[GameHat]

Thanks for the input -

I am aware of Allerca. However they are ridiculously expensive and maybe not even available for sale, so for the time being this is completely out.

I would love a drug that stopped my cat allergies. Even shots.

I had allergy shots from about age 6 to age 12. They were a minor annoyance. If there was such a thing as shots for cats I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Are there treatments or effective strategies for dealing with a cat allergy?

[PeskiPiksi]

I don't know about treatments and whatnot, but I'd just chime in that I'm someone who has built up an "immunity" to my own cats. I'm allergic, but three cats own me and my husband. I just take simple precautions like washing my hands often (especially before rubbing my eyes, or after petting them), brushing them every day, and keeping them out of our bed. I do have an occasional attack, with asthma, runny nose and itchy eyes, etc., but they get more rare as the years go by, it seems like, and the little furballs are worth it.

And it is a specific immunity to these cats...I can't be five minutes in my aunt's house (one cat household) before I'm wheezing and itching and completely miserable, so I know it's not just my allergies suddenly getting better.

[Hilarity N. Suze]

I am allergic to cats, and I have two anyway. It took me awhile to get used to each cat (they came separately), and after those days of general itchiness and specific red eyes, I'm mostly okay. I have to wash my hands after petting/grooming them. I have some nose issues that would probably disappear if my house were cat-free. Just another allergic doper chiming in that in many cases you can adapt.

There are people who are much more allergic, though, who just can't handle it. I don't know how to tell in advance if you are one of those.

[MitzeKatze]

Would a hairless cat (Sphynx) be a good choice in this situation or are allergies more to cat dander than fur?

I am sure I have heard of some breeds being less allergic than others without having to resort to the "hypoallergenic" breeders. For some reason (which may be wrong) Abyssinian comes to mind as a breed that is easier on cat-allergy sufferers than others.

[DrDeth]

Some Bengals are "pelted", not "furred". For some (like me) it's a huge reduction in allergies. For others... not so much.

Expect to pay several hundred for a good Bengal cat.

[MitzeKatze]

Expect to pay several hundred for a good Bengal cat.

At the risk of sounding preachy, I'd like to encourage anyone interested in a specific breed of cat (or dog for that matter) to consider rescuing an adult animal rather than purchasing from a breeder.

There are several good Bengals in need of loving homes that can be adopted through reputable Bengal rescue organizations. Here is one: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/bengalrescue.html

[KellyCriterion]

I am allergic to cats too (I always have to pop a hayfever tablet before visiting a friend's house who has a cat), and it has led me to despise them. I associate so much negative feelings with cats, I can't believe you actually want one!

[Septima]

The Siberian cat is claimed to be naturally allergy-friendly. The Siberian Cat Club here organizes "test homes", where people let you in to check if you are allergic to their cat. I've no specific experience with siberians, but was planning on looking into this when we get our own place.

[Cicero]

I am allergic to cats too (I always have to pop a hayfever tablet before visiting a friend's house who has a cat), and it has led me to despise them. I associate so much negative feelings with cats, I can't believe you actually want one!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a little pussy. I have never seen one that made my eyes water.

[conurepete]

I have allergies, and three cats. I tried keeping them out of the bedroom, but 2 of them can open doors. My strategy for allergies starts with allergy shots. They do make them for cat allergens, I get them for several other allergens, too. I don't have carpets. My cats are indoor-only; cats going outside produce more dander. My cats get a wash in the bathtub every month or so (this also really cuts down on cat hair). The cats also get 2 or 3 drops of acepromazine per gallon in the cat fountain. Ace really makes a huge difference in some cat's saliva. The results are not the same in all cats, I have to wash my hands after petting Barbara cat, I only react to Cee-cee if I rub my eye immediately after petting her, and Hedwig the meezer can be used as pillow with no side effects.

[Rigamarole]

The "immunity" is really just a tolerance, and it can go away. My parents have a cat (they didn't when I was growing up, but they do now) and whenever I visit them I get a really bad reaction for 2-3 days but after that I'm fine. But if you travel much you'll probably have to re-acclimate whenever you've spent any amount of time away from home.

[FairyChatMom]

There are several good Bengals in need of loving homes that can be adopted through reputable Bengal rescue organizations. Here is one: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/bengalrescue.htmlWe got our Bengal thru a rescue and I don't know if he's typical, but I swear, if he had thumbs, we'd have to hide the car keys! :D

And while I'm not usually allergic, when he gets in my face, I can get a bit snuffly and watery-eyed. We've also got a long-haired mix and she doesn't seem to irritate me as much. And my daughter's tortie doesn't affect me at all.

Who can say? Cats are mysterious! ;)

[The Devil's Grandmother]

Cats are nice, but so are bunnies. Rabbits have many of the same virtues as cats as pets (indoor, litter-box trainable, fluffy). Would you consider getting a rabbit?

[DianaG]

I'd just like to point out that while allergy sufferers may build up a tolerance, the opposite can also be true. I've found that my allergies have gotten worse. They were never very bad to begin with, and they're still quite manageable, but definitely noticeably worse.

I'd also try experimenting with different cats. I don't mean different breeds, I mean different cats. All of the cats I'm regularly exposed to are pretty much standard domestic shorthairs. My allergic responses to them differ wildly. Among my own, I'm mildly allergic to the first, have no reaction to the second, and occasionally suffer greatly at snuggling the third. One of my best friends cats can sit on my lap for hours without producing any symptoms, the other has me a snotty mess in about thirty seconds. Neither of my dad's cats seems to produce any symptoms, even though he's much less compulsive with the vacuum cleaner than I am, and his house is much more furry. Go to the shelter on a few different days and handle different cats to see how you react to them.

[cmyk]

I've had cat allergies since I was very young. My reaction starts with itchy throat and sneezing, then full onset asthma. I can deal with itchiness and sneezing, but asthma is a deal breaker. If I visit a house with cats (locked away or not) for more than a couple hours, I'll have asthma for 4 or 5 days afterward. Totally reliant on my Albuterol Inhaler.

However, I have noticed, after enduring countless visits to one of my best friends house, I've become very tolerant of his cats. Eventually, I'll get a reaction, but I can be around his cats for about 12 hours before anything really hits me. But it's only his cats. If I visit any other house with different cats... oy, the itching and the sneezing and the can't breathing!

Also, concerning myself, I've noticed the siamese breed to be incredibly intense. I stay away from siamese like the plague.

[DrDeth]

We got our Bengal thru a rescue and I don't know if he's typical, but I swear, if he had thumbs, we'd have to hide the car keys! :D

And while I'm not usually allergic, when he gets in my face, I can get a bit snuffly and watery-eyed.

Yes, that's typical. Watch for "Kitty porn" sites on your computer, too!:D

It's not all Bengals who have a "throwback pelt". It's even rather rare among Bengals, which is why I didn;t suggest a rescue cat.

[Cat Whisperer]

<snip>Hedwig the meezer can be used as pillow with no side effects.
Except perhaps the usual Siamese side effects of clawing and biting. :D

[Mama Zappa]

My husband is allergic to cats, so we only have two. :)

Seriously, you do get used to your own. There are ways to minimize the allergens; no cats in the bedroom, no carpets, sweep frequently, dust covers that get washed frequently on furniture, allergy shots, etc. It can certainly be done; Jim lives mostly comfortably with two cats in the house (he is a little congested and sneezy all the time, but he lives with it).
The downside however is the risk that the allergies *won't* settle down, and will push you over the edge into full-on symptoms that never stop. Our first cat, I got used to. Number 2 reactivated asthma that had been dormant for over a decade. This was over 20 years ago, obviously we no longer have cats, we've moved twice, and I still have asthma.... sigh....

So proceed with extreme caution on this.

I believe the Allerca people have shut down (or are about to do so).

I've also heard that Siberians are less allergenic than other breeds, though as above, proceed with caution.

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

The Siberian cat is claimed to be naturally allergy-friendly. The Siberian Cat Club here organizes "test homes", where people let you in to check if you are allergic to their cat. I've no specific experience with siberians, but was planning on looking into this when we get our own place.

According to their website, these people (http://www.siberian-cat-breeder.com/siberian_cat_rescue.html) are breeding for low allergens.

[MoodIndigo1]

According to their website, these people (http://www.siberian-cat-breeder.com/siberian_cat_rescue.html) are breeding for low allergens.

I dunno, but any site that offers to send samples of FUR to test whether one is allergic or not can't be completely trusted. People are allergic to the dander (because of the cat's saliva), not the fur!

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

I'd think fur would have dander clinging to it. It makes sense- if a clump of fur produces less sneezing than another clump of fur, the first cat is less allergenic.

[MoodIndigo1]

Careful with Bengal rescues: these pets are very expensive, so that most of the ones that end up in rescues have serious behavioural problems.

[ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies]

As someone already mentioned, Abyssinians produce comparatively lower amounts of dander and have been known to be compatible pets for those with a history of cat allergies. This link from an Abyssinian rescue agency also has some tips for how to cope with allergies without getting rid of your pet: http://www.abyssinian-rescue.com/allergies.htm. It includes an allergy remedy that requires a prescription drug from your vet that is diluted and added to their food. I have been in vets offices where this remedy was administered under the Vet's supervision, but only have anecdotal evidence that it worked for some of the people who tried it.

[TruCelt]

If you want a kitten that never grows up, why not consider a ferret? I can't imagine purposefully submitting myself to fall in love with a pet that would cause an allergic reaction. I love cats, I'm allergic to cats. I visit my friends' cats and then go home to recover. . .

[nikonikosuru]

FWIW, I'm allergic to cats but I find that the degree varies by the type of hair the cat has. I get allergies from cats that have short fur that gets everywhere- one little piece sets off an allergic reaction, but cats with long hair don't bother me nearly as much. Perhaps it's because the long-haired tend to shed in clumps, whereas short hairs fly everywhere.

[This_Just_In...]

My wife is very allergic to cats. However not our Siberian cat. Sometimes if she rubs her face in his fur her eyes will get irritated, but that is about it.
With most cats, merely touching one will cause my wifes skin to turn red and burn.

As I've read it, Siberians just naturally have less of the Fel d 1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fel_d_1) protein, which is what causes allergies and is the thing that Allerca claims to be breeding out of normal tabbies. Also note, if you are allergic to dogs than Siberians won't do much for you since then you're allergic to something else (fur maybe?).

You need to get a purebred Siberian. When we looked a few years back kittens were going for $600-800 in Oregon, but we were lucky enough to get our cat as a 6 year old male for only $100. The breeder didn't want him anymore since some of his kittens were coming out with kinked tails.

If you get a Siberian expect to have a cat that is social and loyal like a dog. Mine always comes when I call him, which isn't very often since he is almost always in the same room anyways. He wants to be near people all of the time. If there is a cat that combines the best traits of dogs and cats together, this is it.

[This_Just_In...]

Siberian Cats (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_cat)

[Napier]

Years ago I had a cat allergy (among others) but loved cats. We had some anyway. Quite a few, actually. My cat allergy went away and the cats are still here. Still quite a few, actually.

I have gotten shots on and off for most of my life, and still do. But now there are only other allergens in the shots.

[PunditLisa]

My husband is allergic to dogs and after living with dogs for over 15 years, he has developed asthma. Most of the year he's miserable in his own home. You know, because of the dog.

[ratatoskK]

I'm allegeric (not severely). We keep the cat out of the bedroom, and I use generic Flonase nasal spray (fluticasone propionate). It works great.

[Dragwyr]

I had 2 cats for 12 years. About 7 years ago or so I started having all sorts of sinus and dry eye problems. I would wake up in the AM with my right eye all dry and puffy. I developed chronic sinusitis and even developed nasal cysts which were once surgically removed. When it was suggested by my doctor that I may be allergic to cats, I didn't believe it right away. I was tested by an allergist but it didn't show any allergies to cats.

I suffered for about 4 years and even went to the trouble of paying for someone to clean out our heat ducts. I even tried keeping the cats out of our bedroom and ran a HEPA filter in there as well. Nothing seemed to work and my symptoms got worse.

I ended up on Nasonex Spray and Zyrtec. That combination seemed to help, but it only cured me about 50%. I was still waking up with the dry eye and still suffered from on and off chronic sinus infections.

What confirmed it for me was one week when I was out of the house on a camping trip. One would think that being in all that pollen and ragweed that my allergies would have been hitting me strong, but nothing happened... until I got home. I walked in the door and my right eye nearly swelled up shut.

One month later, we got rid of the cats and I've been fine ever since.

So my point in telling all of this is that while some people get better after long-term exposure to cats, some people do not. Everyone is different. If you really want a cat, you should find out first how allergic you will be around it and decide for yourself if the benefits of having a cat outweigh your suffering.

On a related note, I've also heard that diet can affect how much a cat will affect your allergies. I don't know of any studies that confirm this though, nor do I know what kind of diet is supposed to work, but you may want to research that angle of it too.

[elfkin477]

If you want a kitten that never grows up, why not consider a ferret? Sure, all the curiousity of a kitten, none of the sense of self-preservation instinct. The nice thing about a cat is that as they grow up they eventually stop thinking of things to endanger themselves every time they're alone in a room. Ferrets...I loved mine dearly, but even at 8 years old they needed to be closely supervised outside their cages.

I've changed my opinion of bunnies, though. My mom's late doe was a terror, but my dad's baby buck is a sweetheart. He even likes sitting on laps. Turns out that a lot of does aren't as friendly as bucks. A young male that you spend a lot of time socializing might make a good subtitute for a cat.

[Mama Zappa]

For those of you who are suggestion alternate furry pets (ferrets, bunnies etc.) bear in mind that if the OP is allergic to cats, s/he may also have (or develop) an allergy to other critters.

We have guinea pigs. Normally they're not an issue for me - and the fact that they are in a fairly confined area (one room of the house, and generally in their cage) means that allergies aren't too big of a deal - but I have definitely found that when I have to handle them a lot - such as when one is sick - my allergies act up. The one critter tended to try to crawl up my front as I was holding her and trying to feed her, and she'd huddle under my chin... and my neck / chest itched for days (probably also contributed to an asthma flareup).

I am assuming that ferrets / bunnies would generally be confined to a subset of the house - wouldn't have free run as a cat does - so the allergy issues may be more controllable. But, it's definitely something you'd have to consider.

[gonzomax]

My wife has always been allergic to cats. We got Boris about 2 years ago. She has no allergic reaction toward him. You just never know. I don't know if it just went away or what.

[SeaDragonTattoo]

Um, doesn't anyone know that small dogs like chihuahuas and yorkies can be trained to litter boxes?

If you live in a decent-sized place, dogs that are under about 8 pounds are easily trained to use litter boxes, and they're small enough to get plenty of exercise when played with indoors. It wouldn't be recommended for a studio apartment, but even my small 1-bedroom would accommodate a 5 pound chi-chi or two.

Small dogs like that can also be easily paper-trained or pee-pad (puppy-pad) trained. And then you can take all your time out of the house with them going to agility classes! At least that's what I would do.

Ferrets are neat, but they stink. Even if their scent pouches or whatever they have are removed, they still smell. I've only known three people (closely) who had ferrets and two of those people had an, uh, odor, from the ferrets. Rabbits are cute, but they're still just rabbits and not nearly as much fun as either cats, dogs, or ferrets.

[DrDeth]

Um, doesn't anyone know that small dogs like chihuahuas and yorkies can be trained to litter boxes?

Ferrets are neat, but they stink. Even if their scent pouches or whatever they have are removed, they still smell. I've only known three people (closely) who had ferrets and two of those people had an, uh, odor, from the ferrets.


Many dudes who are allergic to cats are also allergic to dogs.

True, although there are measures one can take which keep the smell down.

[MitzeKatze]

My wife is very allergic to cats. However not our Siberian cat. Sometimes if she rubs her face in his fur her eyes will get irritated, but that is about it.
With most cats, merely touching one will cause my wifes skin to turn red and burn.


My wife has always been allergic to cats. We got Boris about 2 years ago. She has no allergic reaction toward him. You just never know. I don't know if it just went away or what.

It can go the other way too, so probably everyone should be a little mindful of that. Allergic to cats may not mean allergic to all cats, and not allergic may not mean you won't have an allergic reaction to one.

My son never had any allergies at all, and being my son, he was born and raised in a house with lots of animals, particularly cats. He never had any problems at all until I started dating my husband who had taken in an adorable fluffy gray alley cat. My son adored that cat and would sit with him for hours. When we started occasionally spending the night at my husband's apartment (after we were engaged for those who might criticize my son being there ;)) he slept with the cat on the pillow next to his head. It was a great kitty and they bonded well. But after a few days and nights of my son cuddling with this particular cat he developed the red, itchy eyes and other symptoms of an allergy, and as time went on it was clear that he could not be around the cat for any length of time without great discomfort. It was sad, but hubby re-homed the kitty and my son never had a problem with cats either before or after that particular one. In fact my current rescued kitty is right now sleeping within inches of my son's face, and they both look pretty content.

[Superhal]

Couple of options:

1. They can be outdoor cats, if you have a house and yard. Spayed/neutered, they don't wander.

2. What I did when I lived in a place that didn't allow cats was to visit the cat house at my local shelter, and hang out with the cats once a week or month.

3. If you can afford it, hairless Mexicans could be the solution.

[This_Just_In...]

Couple of options:

If you can afford it, hairless Mexicans could be the solution.

I would say this is misinformation (http://www.webmd.com/allergies/relief-for-allergies-8/cat-allergies). People are allergic to a protein that cats produce, Fel 1 d. This protein is found in a cats saliva, urine and dander (dried skin flakes). It is also found in their fur since cats lick themselves. However, a no-fur cat would still produce normal amounts of the protein.

Again - Siberians are the breed that has been shown to have (on average) lower than normal amounts of the Fel 1 d.

[conurepete]

The acepromazine solution recipe is similar to what I use, but I use a LOT less. There is a lot of cat to cat variation. My friend's half-siamese provokes my asthma, but my siamese cat does not bother my allergies at all. Meet the cat before you commit. I bet your chances are nearly as good at a pound as a cat show.

[DrDeth]

Couple of options:

1. They can be outdoor cats, if you have a house and yard. Spayed/neutered, they don't wander.n.

They do get run over and eaten by coyotes, etc. Not a good idea unless you don;t care for them all that much.

[MrDibble]

Perhaps some sort of kitty-ball, or kitty-habit-rail?

[Dangerosa]

A lot of people do live with cats and allergies. But a cat you determine you can't live with needs to be rehomed or destroyed. Pets are, in my opinion, fairly large commitments. I've had to put down cats who didn't manage to fit our lives (in our case, a cat who was very aggressive around small kids - my son still bears the scars of cat claws) - so while I can't throw stones at someone who needs to make that choice, I think you need to consider that that choice might need to be made. If I needed to do it again, I wouldn't bring pets into a home where I weren't fairly sure they are going to work.

Our kids are older now and we have another cat and a dog.

Don't get a kitten, by the time you figure out it isn't working it will be hard to rehome him. Find a rescue cat from an organization that is willing to take the cat back if you need them to.

[Rafe Hollister]

Our rabbit is a doe and she is very affectionate and adorable. Main problem with her is that when you stop petting her she will nip at you to get your attention again. Rabbits, being rodents, constantly want to chew on things. So when they are out running around the house, be careful to watch them to keep them from gnawing through electrical cords. We have learned to spray our cords once in a while with diluted Tabasco sauce.

One pet that is making a lot of headway is the skunk. The scent glands can be removed and they are very intelligent and capable of being domesticated if started from birth.