Oh no! I'm allergic!!

It seems as though I'm now allergic to my cats--or more specifically Copper. For a while now, when he would rub his face on mine or my neck I would get itchy welts. But now I've started getting stuffed up and sneezing when he's in my lap--and especially in the morning cuz he sleeps on the pillow next to mine! I've always had allergies and have been on shots for about 10 years and have never tested positive for cats. The last time I asked my allergist about this, he said it was really hard to test for cat allergy--something about the dander vs. saliva and he said if I suspected I was allergic to get rid of the cat. Yeah right! That's not going to happen!! One day Copper scratched me on the inside of my arm and a HUGE welt wrapped aroung my arm--I guess we did our own skin test since he bites his nails and stuff. But I'm really sure now cuz I just got back from out of town and of course Copper is all over me and now I'm splotchy and on benadryl so I applogize for any typos. I'm sure it would be better if he didn't sleep with me, but dang! I've already had to boot the dogs out cuz of their backs. And if I close him out, no one would sleep! Does anyone know if I could maybe wipe him down with something to reduce the allergen effect? I don't think a bath is an option. Anyway, thanks in advance for listening to me vent.

 

I'm sorry to hear this. They make bath wipes for cats....maybe wiping him down with those would help?

 

There are other anti-histamines available that dont make you drowsy, maybe check with your doctor and see what they recommend I am allergic to cats also but not as bad as you are, and its only the long haired cats if they get too close to my face it triggers off an asthma attack, and I developed an allergy to rats, that sounds similar to your cat allergy, huge welts, eyes swollen and itching like crazy and asthma attacks.

 

I can't tgake antihistimines other than Advil sinus...that stuff is the only that doesn't put me into a coma.

I'd wipe the cat down daily with a dampened washcloth. There are all kinds of products out there you can buy for this purpose but a simple washcloth dampened with water has the same effects.

 

Those wipes sounds like a great idea. My brother takes Claritin once a day and it doesn't make him drowsy but he doesn't have pets. I'd recommend that you both groom Copper and do the wipe down before heading to bed. Do you have a zoom groom? It works wonders.

 

I'm sorry to hear it.

My friend has three cats and she's allergic.

She does use those bath wipes and they seem to work very well. She just wipes down the cats once in awhile. She also tries to vacuum as much as possible.

She is allergic enough that she has to keep the cats outside of her bedroom when she's sleeping (most the time - she has been known to cheat a let them in). But, it helps that the cats don't ususally sleep on her bed (that's when she gets the most reaction).

So, hopefully there are ways you can learn to modify and cope - I'm sure it will all work out.

 

Two things you can do; run down to your local pet store and get Allerpet C. If they don't have it, ask them to order it for you. It's a liquid you wipe the cat down with, and it removes a lot of the dander and dried saliva from the cats fur. It might also help if you have your cat groomed by a professional groomer on a regular basis.

The other thing is to invest in an ionic air cleaner. Yes, they're expensive. But they do work.

 

Thanks guys for all the suggestions and support! I'm going wipe him down right now and also go look for that allerpet-c. I think I've seen it here in town. I do take other antihistimines that don't make me drowsy, but at night--nothing seems to work better for me than benadryl. And I have been thinking about the ionic cleaner thing...but then I think about how fast it would get stopped up--lol. I'm gonna check into it though.

Thanks again!

 

I never had allergy to anything until I bought Hugo home. Mine was really severe, every part of my body itched and big bumps. The funny thing was, it only happened at night and would go off in the morning. I had to take pictures to show my doctor. My allergist told me most cases is not the caused of fur but saliva that transmitted to their fur when they lick.

I’m glad my allergies are gone. I need to make sure my sheets are clean (kept the door close), wipe him and vacuum the house especially sofas daily.

Hope everything will work out for you. Do let know how your progress. Best of luck.

 

I've been told the ionic air cleaners help a lot. I should invest in one...my allergies kick up bad at night. I use a prescription called Becanese - that has helped me a lot. My problem is when my allergies aren't on high alert I forget to use the stuff so by the time I start using it again I'm miserible and it's expensive

 

I use Rhinocort myself and have been off if it--like you Mary--because I was doing so well. Now I'm back on it and I'm at least trying to keep Copper from rubbing his face on mine. His eyes run a little clear stuff and I think that's the main culprit.