# So, I think I'd really like to have a cat. But I'm allergic. Is there any hope? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 17, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-think-id-really-like-to-have-a-cat-but-im-allergic-is-there-any-hope/525286 "2010-01-17T04:25:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-think-id-really-like-to-have-a-cat-but-im-allergic-is-there-any-hope/525286/41 "2010-01-19T07:38:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-think-id-really-like-to-have-a-cat-but-im-allergic-is-there-any-hope/525286/42 "2010-01-19T16:59:13Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-think-id-really-like-to-have-a-cat-but-im-allergic-is-there-any-hope/525286/43 "2010-01-20T02:19:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-think-id-really-like-to-have-a-cat-but-im-allergic-is-there-any-hope/525286/44 "2010-01-20T03:28:19Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-think-id-really-like-to-have-a-cat-but-im-allergic-is-there-any-hope/525286/45 "2010-01-20T10:11:38Z")
Perhaps some sort of kitty-ball, or kitty-habit-rail? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-think-id-really-like-to-have-a-cat-but-im-allergic-is-there-any-hope/525286/46 "2010-01-20T13:35:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rafe\_Hollister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Rafe\_Hollister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rafe_Hollister)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-think-id-really-like-to-have-a-cat-but-im-allergic-is-there-any-hope/525286/47 "2010-01-20T15:06:39Z")
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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-think-id-really-like-to-have-a-cat-but-im-allergic-is-there-any-hope/525286.md?page=2)