Dammit: no cats for Quartz

Quartz · #1 11-25-2010, 06:00 PM

I love cats. I think anyone who has read my posts in cat threads knows that. But I'm allergic to their dander (sneezing, eyes streaming). I can pet them for ages as long as I wash my hands afterwards and don't snuggle them.

This is a real problem because one of the local cats is very friendly to me and keeps trying to come into my house. He's a gorgeous cat - black with a white belly. No pics, because it's dark. He's well fed, but it is very cold - for the U.K. - outside right now, and despite appearances, I'm a real softie.

Dammit!

runner pat · #2 11-25-2010, 06:13 PM

Antihistamines...and tissues.

Good luck with your new overlord.

dzero · #3 11-25-2010, 09:09 PM

I don't know if the NHS will pay for desensitizing shots. Even if you can get them it takes a few years for them to work. You can however make some adjustments that might make it possible to cohabitate.

Get some unscented baby wipes - or other disposable wipes. I think baby wipes tend to be the cheapest though and have a enough surface area to a reasonably thorough job of cleaning.

Get a cat brush. My cats love to be brushed - more than words can say. I'm pretty sure they prefer it to petting, which is fine by me. There is one model designed for combing out hair knots that reaches down to the skin. This would probably stir up more dander, but it should be contained under the various layers of fur rather than becoming airborne.

Train the cat not to jump on your bed. "Train" isn't really the right word. Cats understand personal space and will reluctantly allow you a few areas in your home to be allocated to your exclusive use.

Quartz · #4 11-26-2010, 02:54 AM

There's no way I'm taking this cat in - he definitely belongs to someone else.

Sailboat · #5 11-26-2010, 11:03 AM

My wife is allergic to cats...except for some reason this one cat a neighbor abandoned outside when he moved away. We took the cat in provisionally to find him a new home but discovered my wife doesn't react to him, and eventually wound up keeping him.

If you really want a cat, you could try exposing yourself to many, many cats in the hopes of finding one that doesn't set you off.