# I want to get a cat, but my SO is allergic.  Ideas?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-get-a-cat-but-my-so-is-allergic-ideas/449092>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 12, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-get-a-cat-but-my-so-is-allergic-ideas/449092 "2008-05-12T22:03:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-get-a-cat-but-my-so-is-allergic-ideas/449092/61 "2008-05-16T18:03:50Z")

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I have a mild-moderate cat allergy - wheezing, red itchy rash, coughing, stuffy nose, etc. In the past I’ve encountered cats that really send me over the bend.

However, now I have 2 cats. One is a 19 year old that used to belong to my friend - she couldn’t keep him anymore so I took him in, allergies be damned. Then my SO moved in with his cat - at first I was quite allergic to him, but Mr. Wonderland took care to brush him and wash him often.

Now I’m totally fine with both of them - no particular allergies at all. I am, however, still reactive to other cats.

So I think it’s possible to get used to the dander of a particular cat (or cats) and no longer have a reaction. Well, at least it was possible for me.

[Cats](http://www.flickr.com/photos/tazandschatzi)

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