anyone allergic to cats? need some advice

[Croton]

On the allergy test, i rate a +4 to an allergy towards cats. That's the highest you can get.

i get asthma attacks, hives, itchiness, REALLY red eyes.

Does anyone have a similar allergy towards cats?

My best friend's roommate got a cat. Now I can't go over at all.

Has any of you "gotten over" your cat allergies? I have Allegra-D - does that stuff work for cats?

man. this sucks.

 

[datalink7]

My sister is allergic to cats.

So my family bought one of thos hairless ones. Ugliest things in the world, but it was a pretty cool cat personality wise.

 

[amnesiac]

take Benadryl or any other brand of antihistamine before you go over. that should curb your allergic symptoms

 

[spanky]

cat taste good with broccoli

 

[cherrytwist]

I had terrible allergies to dogs and cats until I was in my twenties. Even then, it seemed that some breeds would bother me.

One of my fiancee's cats used to really get to me (itchy, watery eyes) but after living with it for awhile, my allergies effectively disappeared. I guess I built a tolerance to it?

Anyhow, we have two cats now and no problems at all. Like I said, it seems like my allergies just disappeared after awhile. I remember an allergist had told me when I was younger I may "outgrow" some of my allergies. Perhaps this is the case?

 

[morkinva]

Isn't the allergy actually to the cat's skin (dander) ? Some cats probably have a lot more skin fallin off them than others. Have your friend give his cat a good bath before you come over

 

[Migroo]

My dads allergic, so what we do is:

- Make sure there are some rooms where the cat does NOT go.
- Have special air cleaner/filter things in his bedroom.

It sorts it out.

Its mainly the stray fur. Even something like vacuuming the couch does wonders.

 

[urameatball]

I'm allergic, but dunno what level... never really saw a doctor about it... but its bad enough!

whenever I goto someone's house with a cat, I end up with itchyness and red eyes...

once, one of the cats scratched me back and 2 of my fingers... my whole back was swollen (like hunchback of notre dame) and my entire right hand was blood red and swollen and looked like the hand of the nutty professor... it burned like crazy, but also itched like crazy!

needless to say, I didn't know what to do so I spent the night in front of the kitchen sink with cold water running down my right hand and my shirt off trying desperately not to itch my back.

it was better the next day!

 

[Jejunum]

i am too alergic to cats
i hate em
my advice dont get a girlfriend that has cats!

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Professionally I know something about this. There is an inhaler that can help with some if your symptoms that can be bought w/o a prescription. It's Intal and usually found in the cough and cold aisles in the supermarkets or pharmacies. The catch is that you have to use it in well in advance. Directions are on the package.Another thing is an eye drop with an antihistamine in it. Opcon is one brand. I would recommend using it ahead of your visit as well. Rx antihistamines such as claritin or zyrtec or allegra can help too. They don't make you sleepy, but you have to stay on them. If all this doesn't work, skewer the pussy.

 

[killface]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I've never been tested by a doc or allergist or anything, but if I'm in the same room as a cat for more than 10 minutes, I get itchy eyes, itchy skin, and just overall flu-like. I was on claritin for a while and that didn't help at all. Zyrtec was pretty good. on Zyrtec, I could stay in a room with a cat for maybe an hour or so and not get sick. Allegra didn't help much either.
I guess you can take shots for allergies, but if you don't have to be around cats, I would probably stay away from those cause I think you have to get them once or twice a week for a while, which doesnt seem worth it.

-Roge

 

[bunker]

I used to be really allergic to them as well. If I was around one, my eyes would itch non-stop, I'd barely be able to breath out my nose, I would get itchy all over.

Now (28), my eyes get a little irritated and that's it.

 

[jjones]

cats = dogfood

 

[minendo]

benadryl always works for me. i take it prior to visiting someone who has a cat and i am just fine.

 

[Migroo]

<< cats = dogfood >>



its the other way around