Cat allergy. Help

[driverrob]

We've had Oscar just over a year now and we love him to bits but have been seriously considering re-homing him recently.
I get cold-like symptoms; runny nose & sore eyes. Wife gets hacking, asthmatic cough which lasts nearly all day, every day.
The symptoms are almost certainly worse because we're smokers but, after all these years, giving up isn't an immediate option.
Does anyone have any experience of successfully dealing/coping with cat allergy?
Has anyone tried this 'PetalCleanse' stuff I've just read about?

[Lord Flathead]

I have been allergic to cats, dogs, house dust, dustmite, pollen... and some women for years. The more time I spend with these critters the easier it is to acclimatise to them.

Also I was a smoker but found that since I gave up, the allergies have gotten worse! An asthma inhaler is what I use for the 'can't breath' moments, and wash your hands and face after touching them. You can use hayfever and anti-inflammatory tabs to deal with them when it gets bad. Vigorous vacuuming also helps too but because of this I do not have them as pets at home which is a shame because I love animals

[Defcon5]

Im really bad with cats and guinea pigs, but fine with most other animals Ive come across. Definately couldnt live with one like you do!

[singlecoil]

driverrob said:

because we're smokers but, after all these years, giving up isn't an immediate option.

It most certainly is. Giving up is always an immediate option. In fact it's the only way that you can give up. You can't give up gradually, you are either a smoker or you're not.

[DieselGriff]

Whilst I agree with singlecoil about the smoking (yeah I used to do it to) try having a low dose non drowsy anti-histamine and see how that does you. I've always had and loved cats but every now and then I need to spend a week or so on the tablets.

[BoRED S2upid]

Im terrible with cats and dust to the point where I can't spend more than a few hours around either. Ok I could be drugged up to teh eyeballs all the time but its just better not living with them. Funnily enough dogs are ok.

[driverrob]

Possibly the final word on this, but it might be of interest to other sufferers;

Apparently there is a blood test which checks for allergy to cats. My wife had it last week because her symptoms had worsened to the stage of panic/asthma attacks. The normal range of score is 0-81. She phoned the surgery and got her results - 512!
No wonder she's been so ill.

So, Oscar has to go.
Does anyone want a very loving, outdoor preferring, 3 year old black shorthair cat?

[Vron]

Thats very sad. I developed cat allergy at 25 - having had cats all my life. I still do have a cat.


Hoover every day.
Damp dust
Brush cat regularly (outside)
I also have an inhaler (don't really use it much now but it used to be needed everyday). Doctor's attitude was get rid of the cat.
Antihistamine tablet every day
Eye drops occasionally
Nose spray occasionally

Don't let it on the bed.

[toxgobbler]

Vron said:

Hoover every day.

This with a hoover with a HEPA filter.

[driverrob]

Vron said:

Hoover every day. - check
Damp dust
Brush cat regularly (outside) - check + wet wipe
I also have an inhaler (don't really use it much now but it used to be needed everyday). Doctor's attitude was get rid of the cat. - check
Antihistamine tablet every day - check
Eye drops occasionally
Nose spray occasionally - check, every evening

Don't let it on the bed.