Some facts!
1. Stuart and I are thinking of getting a cat.
2. We are both mildly allergic to cats, with eye-itchy/sneezy type reactions.
3. We are also foolishly optimistic people and you will note that most of our combined foolish optimism (i.e. let’s get married! and let’s buy an apartment!) has tended to work out pretty well, which means we will doggedly (or cattedly) pursue our foolishly optimistic plans. We suspect that our foolishly optimistic plans have a way of working out simply because we remain foolishly optimistic but the scientists are still working on this theory. No FDA approval yet.
So! Given the above set of facts, wherein we are considering cat ownership but are mildly allergic, we do what every blogger worth his domain fees does. We turn to you, knowledgeable friends and readers. Are you allergic to your own cat? How do you get around it? Does this built-in absurdism contribute positively to your healthy appreciation for the absurdism of Life in general? Because there’s something deliciously idiotic about bringing your own allergens into your house. Something about the Dread Pirate Roberts and iocane powder.
Addendum the First: We’re not going to rush to North Shore tomorrow and get a cat, as tempting as my “let’s just go to recon!” idea was, since we know that one visit with no plans to get a cat will actually entail us coming home with little Snickerdoodle yowling in the backseat. We are aware of this. But we want advice about cats from cat people! We don’t want meaniehead negative advice though, you pooh-poohers out there with your pet-hating ways. Pooh-poohing has its place but don’t try and convince me I don’t want a pet at all, you’ve never met me. I say hello to pit-bulls.
Addendum the Second: And those that know me really well who want to point out that um, I’ve always wanted a DOG, well, suffice it to say that you’re right. I have always wanted a dog. But I’m willing to cross over to the dark side of catdom. We would raise this cat like a dog, obvs. All the fetching and none of the walking or barking.
here, kitty kitty kitty
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Hey,
We just got two kittens, sadly the hubby was allergic (got worse and worse) so we had to find a new home for them. Since then I found out that light haired cats are better for the allergies (don’t know if its an old wives tail) also change the filter in your air conditioner alot.
My husband and I are both allergic to cats AND we just don’t fancy them, either. So not cats for us. However, I do have a friend who is SUPER allergic and she has one anyway. In to get around the whole dying from the cat dander thing, she gets allergy shots every week wherein they inject her with cat (?) so she can build up her immunity. But not to all cats, just HER cat. It’s strange to us dog folk, to go through all of that just for a cat, but it’s definitely doable. And since you say you’re only kinda allergic, it’s possible your bodies will build natural immunities over time. I say, go for it! And name it after a character from Never Ending Story!
I think it’s doable, but the level of your allergic-ness matters lots. If you have a friend with a cat, go play with that cat. Get all catted up and see what happens. If it’s unbearable, then you’ll know it won’t work.
Some practical advice- We’ve found Fresh Step Scoopable cat litter to be the best at controlling smells.
Get lots and lots of lint rollers. You will use them to clean cat hair off of the furniture, your bed, your clothes. Don’t use the lint roller on the cat, apparently they don’t like it.
Long hair cats have issues with getting poop stuck to them- in my experience, it is not a fun job to deal with that.
If you get a kitten, start the kitten out using Soft Paws immediately. This will save your curtains and furniture.
If there’s somewhere you don’t want your cat to be (your bed maybe, which isn’t a bad idea because of the allergy issues) start that rule IMMEDIATELY because cats are pushy and believe they should have free access to everything.
We’ve got three cats and we love them all to death even though they are sometimes a giant pain in the ass.
My girlfriend is allergic to cats and we followed advice to get kittens (2, so that they play with each other and stay entertained) and she would probably get used to them if we kept them clean.
It worked! She’s fine most of the time. We brush them every so often, lint-roll their fur away from our clothes and furniture and bed linens. We also bought these baby-wipe things that are especially made for cleaning cats and takes care of their dander. Those appear to help a lot.
One of them is even a long-haired cat and she’s fine. (and she had fairly bad allergies her entire life).
So it can be done!
-Bonnie
I know they’re ugly and yadda yadda, but hairless cats are REALLY sweet and REALLY smart. I never, ever, would have considered them before getting to know the two my cousins have and they are truly awesome (and great with kids! and non-allergenic).
My roommate and I are both extremely allergic but she wanted a cat, so she got a Siberian Forest Cat. They’re naturally hypoallergenic, so we don’t have any problems, but they’re really expensive to get a purebred. And no matter how much she treats him like a dog and attempts to put him on a leash and take him for drives in the car, he refuses to act like a dog.
My husband is mildly allergic to cats, but he’s been able to keep his symptoms in check really well by taking one generic Claritin every day and the occasional Visine eye drop. We also wipe our cat down regularly with Simple Solutions wipes to reduce dander, and we keep her out of the bedrooms.
He had a few really bad days when we first got her, but he was much better in about a week, and now he only has a reaction when he forgets to take a Claritin.
Good luck!
Well, I had a whole comment planned (in essence, YOU KNOW YOU WANT A DOG! GET A DOG!) but then your last paragraph addressed that. So I am left with nothing to say, really, except you should OBVS get a dog. A chihuahua. And you should call him Stanley. And get him a tiny pink baseball bat. I mean, seriously, how could a CAT top that?
Also, our dog barks about four barks a month. You can have a dog without the barking, I promise. I can’t really do anything about the walking, although if they are small enough (YOU KNOW LIKE A PUG OR CHIHUAHUA) they can use a litter box!
My stepdad is allergic to cats and married my Mom, the cat lady. They did plenty of research and there are several breeds that are kind to the alelrgic. Siamese are particularly good for people with allergies, they also currently have a breed of Russian cat, he’s gorgeous, orange long hair, and his dander is fine for those with allergies.
mom always uses scatter rugs that can be tossed in the wash for fur removal and the inevitable puking of the fur ball. If you are interested in any of the breed names, picies or other details, drop me a line.
I’m not allergic myself, but some friends of mine went through this when they first starting dating. The guy started out having to take allergy pills every time he went over the girl’s place, but after a while (maybe six months or a year?) he got used to it, and now they’re living together happily with the cats. I don’t know if this is something people get used to in general though.
I dated a guy once who was extrememly allergic to MY two cats, but lived with SIX of his own. Whenever a new cat was added to the brood, he had a tough couple of weeks, then his system would adjust to the new cat and he’d be fine. Claritin helped during the transition period.
I believe having a cat while having allergies is entirely possible. Might I also mention that two cats are really, truly, not any more work than one, and they get so much enjoyment out of each other. I had two cats and they were so affectionate with me, but loved each other. Also, I would make sure you have an escape plan in place BEFORE a kitty comes home; if the allergies are too bad, make sure you’ve got someone who’s already willing to take the kitty on.
Barring that, rabbits also make fab pets (I had one of those, too) and most people aren’t allergic to them.
We have two cats… neither of us are allegic, but an ex-boyfriend of mine was allegic to cats and owned one. He basically took prescription antihistamines (fexofenadine works well), and sometimes needed a benadryl. Since you don’t get hives or anything, it’s doubtful you’ll need strong antihistamines.
Also, I’ve heard allergic-but-still-own-cats people say that there are things that make it better. 1) you eventually get accustomed to the dander of your own cat, so the allergy dies down; 2) dust/vaccuum regularly and hardwood floors are your friend (rugs aren’t); 3) brush the cat regularly; 4) keep it away from your face, since that’s when you’ll get really allergic; and 5) HEPA filters and ionic breezes don’t work.
I love our cats. Do does my husband. They are really a joy to own. FYI, there are two breeds of cats called Devon and Cornish Rexes that are called “allergenic” cats. My friend, Erica, owns two of them and she is intensely allergic to cats… she does well with them. If you can afford it and you want to get one, that’s a possibility. They are quite charming and look like little elves… do a google search and check them out. You can also look at http://www.breedlist.com for breeders in your area.
I used to have two cats that I wasn’t allergic to, they moved in with my mom when I moved into an apartment with a girl with serious allergies. Now when I go visit them I get a bit of an allergic reaction. I think the science of it is, one can build an immunity to the specific dander of their pet. I’ve also heard that there are some decent over the counter sprays that you put on your cat that can help control the dander. One is called “Allerpet” possibly. My sister used it in college on her illegal dorm cat and her allergic roommate never had any problems. I think you’ll be fine. Also I think cats are awesome and can be very dog like without all the downsides of being a dog.
Kate’s right. Chihuahua. You know you want one. I will totally dogsit (read: abduct, and “lose”) your chihuahua whenever you want.
my pal and her husband have 2 cats and are allergic to them..allergy pills or shots everyday, start bathing them from kittenhood, those wipey things. my friend isn’t always so good about those things, and when she slacks she gets excema, but bad!
I have one of each, and I grew up a cat person. The upside? Cats are WAY less maintenance than dogs and are WAY less needy. Though, they give you attention on THEIR terms, not yours. I lucked out, since Mallow is a COG (cat-dog). If you find an older rescue chihuahua-type dog, it might be the best of both worlds.
When I get back to NYC, please come by to play with Cleo and Mallow – try them out.
Oh, you should totally get a cat! Dogs are so great, but cats are even better because you get all the love and for a fraction of the work/responsibility.
I have two cats and my boyfriend is allergic, but he takes an herbal allergy medication when he’s going to be at my place for a stretch of time (we’re long distance, so every visit to my place is a stretch of time for him), and after a year+, he seems to have built up an immunity to the allergies. They aren’t 100% gone, but diminshed enough that I have hope we can all live happily together one day not only in the same city, but in the very same apartment…
Would you like my cat? She’s sweet, fun, acts like a dog but without the barking, and I’m not allergic to her, although I am to all other cats, so maybe you won’t be either. I feel guilty because I’m never home and she’s very social, so I’m trying to adopt her out.
we’ve never had issues with allergies, but sam’s best friend is very allergic and he’s stayed at our house when visiting from out of town with the magic of claritin. and my sister-in-law has been getting more allergic (to everything, not just cats) over the past few years which is problematic for their three cats, but she’s been taking allergy shots. the thing that helped the most at home was banning the cats from sleeping with them though.
if you want to experiment with cats, you can borrow our cats for a long weekend when we’re out of town at the end of july! (that’s the great thing about cats though – you can leave them for a long weekend and they’re fine!)
There are hypoallergenic cats available (http://www.allerca.com/), but they are freaking expensive. Also, get a dog. Cats are ingrates.
I can’t imagine life without my cats. I mean, really, what else could entice me to squeal with delight at their cuteness on a daily basis? My cousin, very allergic to cats, can’t imagine life without her “babies” either. She basically follows the whole vacuum, sweep, hunt cat hair dust bunnies, brush frequently, wash hands after petting but before touching eyes, cautious allergenic cat owner routine. It’s a much higher maintenance relationship than the average person has with their cat. And she still gets sneezy watery eyes runny nose messy sometimes. Worth every second, of course. It would be awesome if you could adopt a kitty and give it a loving forever home. Perhaps though, before you discover that in fact you can’t live with the allergies, you could try cat sitting a few weekends a month or something like that. That way, you don’t end up with a kitty that you have to find a new home for several months down the road.
I am one of those who used to not be allergic and now I am, but only mildly. The allergist told me that you can become allergic if you are sick and your immunities are down. The allergen gets in and settles, or something. She also told me that in 30 years of being alergist, no one she has ever diagnosed as being allergic to cats ever gave theirs up. She is not a cat person, so she thought that was silly, but any cat owner would say, “well duh.” Who would give up their adored cat? Not me. I’m used to the sniffles and itchy eyes. It’s not that bad and Booie is such a delight.
I’m not allergic. And I’ve heard the ‘get kittens’ advice before from an actual allergy doctor, so at least one healthcare professional agrees.
I wanted to weigh in on the two cats vs. one cat issue to say: it depends on the cat you get. Some cats are happier with a pal (not necessarily a sibling) and some cats are happier as singletons. There’s no way of knowing, really.
I’ve brought new cats in to our home that got along great with the previous occupants and some who’ve ignored them. They’re cats. Get used to unpredictable.
I just came across one of your posts about how you had a Dead Ophelia costume and was wondering if you have any pictures or suggestions? I’m trying to make this costume myself and running out of ideas!
I’m mildly allergic, but not terribly. One thing that I and my more allergic friends have found to be helpful is giving the kitty about a teaspoon of brewer’s yeast (you can get it in bulk at Whole Foods) every night mixed in with a tiny bit of wet cat food. The brewers yeast helps make her coat shiny, but most importantly cuts down on the dander/dandruff, which I think is what most people are allergic to, not the actual fur.
While kittens are undeniably fun, there are a lot of slightly older cats in shelters that need homes. Sometimes it’s nice to start with a cat with a personality that’s a known entity – you never really know what you’re going to end up with with a kitten. Kitties are the best. Good luck!
Hey Krissa…need your help! I can’t remember whose blog I read it on but I’m thinking it was you or This Fish…it was a post or a link about the best things to do in New York that aren’t your typical touristy experiences. Have a friend at work who just won a trip from Australia to New York and she’s looking for an authentic New York Experience. If it was on your blog, any chance you could send me the link? Thanks Heaps…Tan xox
I second the light-haired cat thing — my husband is/was (supposedly) mildly allergic. Our cat is white and he’s never had a problem. She is also short haired and we have area rugs which we vacuum several times a week. Good luck with your pet search. I would also recommend not letting the cat sleep on your pillows (I know, it’s an obvious tip but they like to burrow in there sometimes when you’re at work).
I love cats to death – but have a hard time forming a mental image of you emptying a litter box. Are you sure you know what you’re getting into?
As I get older my allergies, to everything, are getting worse. I thought I was developing cat allergies (tight chest, wheezing, asthma attacks, etc) and was very *very* sad as I have two cats I adore. After a long time and a little luck I discovered I was allergic any cat litter that has that funky powdery cat litter smell. I changed litters and now I’m fine. What a Brady Bunch moment.
P.S. I’m horribly allergic to dogs with an oily coat, like Labs.
My ex was allergic to our cat when we first got her, but then he went to a new asthma/allergy specialist, and they gave him some medicine that actually worked, and voila, he was cured.
I love my cat to bits; the main problem in having her is that she claws up all of the furniture. Other than that, I can’t say a bad thing about her. Just make sure you have people in your life willing to watch kitty while you’re out of town–cats tend not to travel or kennel as well as dogs.
From an article on allergies:
Female cats generally make less Fel d 1 than male cats.
Light-colored cats generally make less than dark-colored cats.
Long-haired cats may give off less allergen into their environment than short-haired cats, because their long fur holds the protein against the skin better.
Some people dispute that hair makes a difference. I have a black and white domestic mediumhair and I am convinced that I have less of a reaction to him. Also, you can give your cat baths or use the fur wipes and regular brushing to cut down on the allergens.
However, if you are slightly allergic I would say go on a medication (Clarinex, Allegra)that is specifically for allergies – as they say an ounce of prevention….
I had an allergy test done and on the scale (1-8) -my allergy to cats was a 2. My allergy to Dust/dust mites was an 8++.
I was mildly allergic to my dog when I first got him–super itchy eyes and some stuffiness and sneezing. Eventually it just got better and better. It still flares up from time to time, but so long as I wash my hands after I pet him, I’m ok even then. I say if you’re willing, go for it!
I’m not necessarily allergic to the cat. I just can’t stand going within ten feet of the litterbox.
Be sure to get some heavy duty/extremely odor absorbant cat litter and one of those plug-in air freshener things.
I once dated a guy who had a cat that I was horribly allergic to. I used to double dose on Reactine before staying over, but always woke up wheezing and sneezing because the cat insisted on sleeping on my chest. He (the bf) claimed that I’d grow immune to my cat allergies, but instead, they got a lot worse. Now I still can’t entire a home with a cat or that used to have a cat without getting hives.
If you want a dog-cat, may I suggest a Maine Coon (or, like our family cat, a “Mainly” Coon)? I have no idea about their allergenicity, but they’re very lovable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_Coon
I have two cats. I am allergic to cats (really, anything with fur) but about the level of allergic you guys are: eye-itchy/sneezy. The way I get around it is by taking allergy medicine every day (just the pill kind, like claritin not shots or anything), having wood floors (cat hair gets into wall to wall carpeting and never wants to leave), and vacuuming twice a week.
Also, if you make sure to brush them, it cuts down on the shedding.
I tend to get sneezy around cats when I haven’t been around them. BUT, then I usually get used to them. So there is hope.
Also, Claretin is a beautiful thing!
I usually get sneezy when I haven’t been around a cat in awhile, but I quickly get used to their fur and all gets better. So there is hope.
Also, Claratin is lovely!