Allergic to cats, but would like to own one?

Question

i think cats are awesome and i'd love to have one, but i am allergic. i am not very allergic however. like i can pet a cat for a while and my eyes will only get a little itchy. it used to be much worse when i was younger.

anyways, are there medicines i can take for this allergy? are there side effects? is it worth taking the medicine to have a cat? does insurance usually cover the cost of the medicine in my situation? thanks!

Answer 1

ask a doctor!

Answer 2

For some reason, doctors always want you to take pills for allergies.  You can  try that, but they may not work.  If they don't, insist on getting allergy shots.  They are more of a nuisance, but they will  work.

People are actually allergic to the proteins in cats saliva.  It dries on their fur, then flakes off.  The dried saliva particles cause the reaction.  You can reduce the amount of saliva by wiping the cat with a damp wash cloth once or twice a day.

The Cornish Rex cat only has half as much hair as others, and some say that helps people with allergies.

The Sphinx cat (and maybe a couple other breeds) have no hair.

Answer 3

if its the cats fur that you are allergic too you can get a cat with really short fur i forgot what its called but those kind of cats don't shead that much fur or you could just get a hairless cat but they are sort of ugly.  

Answer 4

My husband is allergic-but not too bad. I got 2 Ionic Breezes. One is for our bedroom since that's where you spend at least 8hours a day or night. The other for the first floor. I had 3 cats, my husband didn't suffer unless he would pet one then touch his own face without washing his hands. Good Luck cats are cool.

Answer 5

you can go to an allergist who can give you allergy shots.  Make sure you have at least one air purifier with a hepa filter and you vacuum a few times a week.  brush the cat a few times a week or if you live with someone else have them brush the cat a few times a week.  get a domestic short hair cat.

Answer 6

there are some cat types that only set of an allergy once in a whileor you could get a naked cat

Answer 7

I am allergic to cats so wasn't planning to get one even though I love them! My stray kitty turned up and let me know she was moving in though, so I just made some adjustments.

I take antihistamines most days of the week. I keep my bedroom door closed so she never goes in there. I wash my hands every time I pet her. If she's going to sit with me, I put a blanket over me, and there's a person side and a kitty side to minimize furr transfer. I brush her regularly, and she gets a quick bath about every 2 months (poor thing).

It helps that she is shorthair. I have heard that certain color cats are also less allergenic for most folks (I can't remember if it's the light ones or dark ones--but I'm sure an easy google would tell you).

So, it's just an option to try to rescue a kitty from a shelter, trying to choose a less furry one of the appropriate color, if you are willing to make some changes. Of course it depends on how bad your allergies are--I also was taking allergy shots for other allergies, so I asked my doctor to put the cat component in them as well--at first he was reluctant bc my allergy on skin testing was so severe, but now I get shots, too, and that might be helping.

I know it sounds like a lot to do for a little kitty who turned up in my back yard a few years ago, but cat lovers will understand how much I love her and how it's so worth it!

Answer 8

See your allergist first.  Living with cat when you are allergic to them is h**l (personal experience)!  I am also allergic to dogs-I have four of them.  They don't really bother my allergies.  My cat passed away about 18 months ago, and I won't ever get another, much as we would love to.  Cat dander is different than dog dander...it floats around in the air, whereas dog dander tends to settle on horizontal surfaces.  Thus, you're constantly breathing cat dander.

If you really want a cat, I would see an allergist and start immunotherapy shots BEFORE getting a cat.  My insurance covered my allergy testing and treatment very nicely.  Also, consider installing at minimum, room size air purifiers in your bedroom and living areas.  Even better:  look into whole-house filtration.   Sorry I couldn't be more positive, but cat allergies are hard to deal with.

Answer 9

My best friend came to visit me and I have an indoor only cat.  She got medication for the doctor that she took once a day and it lasted until bedtime.  I didn't let my cat go in her room.  I think her insurance did cover it they usually do since it's a type of allergic reaction.  cats are great!

Answer 10

There are way to work around it. The person could get an allergy shot, take anti histamine medicine such as Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra, or Benadryl.

A short haired cat would be much better. Also, female produces less allergen than males although neutered male will also produce less.

The cat will need to be brushed daily with a soft brush to remove allergy causing dander and saliva. Wipe it daily with a towel or sponge moistened with distilled water.

A product called Allerpet is designed to reduce the allergens in dander and cat saliva. You can check it out here:-

http://www.allerpet.com/

Shampoo every two weeks with a mild pet shampoo and creme rinse. The cat needs to be fed on a balanced diet containing natural fat.

Remove pet food dishes and wash after feeding time. Clean cat beds often.Allergy proof the house by installing a HEPA fair purifier and use AC and humidifiers in season. Smoking should be prohibited and vacuum often when the person is not at home.

It will take quite some work but it is possible to live with a cat when one is allergic to one.

Answer 11

Yes there are medicines out on the market that can help with allergies. Sometimes they can make you a bit drowsy I think. But personally I don't realize any side effects.

I know that some insurance policies cover allergy medication, but you'll have to check with yours to make sure. Also some more name brand allergy medicines are now OTC instead of prescription (claritin, zyrtec)

The biggest thing with having a cat is all the cat fur they shed. The actual cat might not be giving you a severe reaction as just having cat dander lying around the house is.

Solution: Vacuum a lot, and make sure to groom your kitty.

Also depending on where you live, you could have an outside kitty or an indoor kitty. An outdoor kitty will give you less allergies.

But if your city has a leash law (aka all pets must be on a leash when outside) then your kitty could get bored.

My opinion is go to a local humane shelter, and see if there is a kitty that needs to have a home of its own for while (usually they are sick or something) there are usually a couple of kitties that need special care. So you can take care of this kitty for a couple of weeks and see if you can live with a cat. If so go back to the humane shelter and adopt your kitty of choice (or two, they keep each other company)