allergy to certain cats?

ktcoil

Hello we have always been brought up with cats from kittens and early last year our cat which we had for about 5 years suddenly went out one day and never returned and still unsure what happened to her,was there every evening but this occasion never there .


A few months after we were asked by someone of we could take in two kittens that needed rehoming as the person who took them in was told by there landlord to get rid of the cats or they get evicted, a day after I noticed a very hard pressure in my chest and I started to cough very very bad(at home only), I though I was coming down with something but we realised that I was allergic to the cat or possibly the fur/saliva?, also after me spending two days at my mums for a short family gathering and my partner being at home with the kittens I then went perfectly fine them two days until I returned and went back to normal, also I was ok each day time in work and just evening when home with the kittens I was bad.


My partner was very interested in getting a kitten possibly next year(obviously not if I was allergict) but we wanted to make sure I would be fine, would there be a way to find out? I was thinking its a certain cat breed/fur/salivia as previous cats have been totally fine with me.


thanks

ktcoil

forgot to say these two kittens were black and I did read that black cats can possibly have flaky skin and its the skin/dander/saliva or urine more than the fur or breed?? thanks

TheCyclingProgrammer

It is possible to develop new allergies. I never had an issue with cats when I was younger but as an adult if I'm around cats I break out in hayfevter-like symptoms. Fortunately I'm a dog person!

shaun_from_Africa

It's possible that the kittens have recently been treated with some flea or tic treatment and it's this that you are having problems with.
Can you get a message to the original owners of the animals and ask them if they recently put anything on them.

rach_k

I'm allergic (not allergict!) to cats but I'm fine with our cat - she made me sneeze a bit at first but I got used to her eventually. I lived with my mum's cat for years with no problem, but now when I go to visit (only a couple of times a year) my eyes swell up. Other cats I see as infrequently have varying effects on me - some make me sneeze, some make my eyes swell up, others do nothing - so it does seem to be a different cat thing, but in my case it's also something my body adapts to with exposure.

It's not an issue for me as I love cats; I just take an over the counter anti-histamine when I'm expecting to see a cat I know I react to. They're just normal hay fever tablets so nothing scary or expensive.

If you're concerned, why not speak to a cat rescue and arrange to meet one of their cats for a trial run?

ktcoil

thanks yea that sounds good idea

bouicca21

I had cats as a child but am now allergic. OP as you have found its not a question of being allergic to all cats, it's about cat dander rather than the fur, and I have had experience of breaking out in hay fever type sneezes and runny nose when a cat owner came into my office (clearly he didn't brush his suit very often ...) cats can also trigger my asthma.

You may be able to test a cat out but tbh I long ago decided the risk wasn't worth it.

Slinky

My other half was allergic to cats then he met me and my cat. Initially he suffered with runny eyes etc. Then I discovered Petalcleanse which you use to clean the cats fur on a weekly basis. Over time I forgot to clean the cat until OH asked. Gradually he became more tolerant and eventually was no longer allergic to him. Cat eventually passed away and it was a couple more years til we got a new cat. OH was mildly uncomfortable but eventually got used to him. He suffers in the company of groups of cats (when we went to the RSPCA) but is fine with our own.


Have a look at Petalcleanse, it may help you.

ktcoil

thanks will do

shortcrust

I’ve always been allergic to cats and have always had cats! I take an antihistamine everyday. Cetirizine works best for me. Makes a massive difference.