My best friend's daughter is allergic!?

Question

My best friend in the world, who is 30 with a 7 year old daughter, has been having problems at home. She's a single mother and living with her parents. Problem is, her mother is a total jerk and won't let her have any sort of a life. Just yesterday her mother caught her lying about working just to get out of the house for a couple of hours. I want to ask her and her daughter to move in with me, but her daughter is completely allergic to my cat. I love my cat and I have had him since he was 7 weeks old and I don't see how I can part with him. Is there anything I can do, or maybe something she can take, or anything, so that we can all live together? I'd really like to get them out of that house they're in!

Answer 1

Allergies are among the top reasons given by pet owners when relinquishing their cats or dogs to animal shelters. The HSUS belives that, with the exception of those who are extremely sensitive to animal dander, most people who love their pets can sensibly live with their allergies and be spared the heartbreak of giving up their beloved companions by following the advice in this brochure. We understand that for many people pets are often more important for their quality of life than the complete elimination of allergy symptoms.

Unfortunately, it isn't uncommon for people to think or be told that they must give up their pets regardless of whether their symptoms are simply annoying or truly life threatening. With the exception of people who are severely sensitive to pets - who according to many studies seem to be in the minority - pet owners can sensibly live with their pet allergies, symptoms can be managed, and pets can stay in their homes.

Common recommendations, such as keeping pets outdoors, are only partial solutions since the yard may have even higher concentrations of animal allergens. Responsible pet owners know that pets who live outdoors are exposed to many risks, which in turn may expose their owners to potential dangers. In addition, it's unfair to a pet, particularly one who has spent the majority of his or her life indoors, to be made to live outside, deprived of human companionship.

THE BENEFITS OF PET COMPANIONSHIP

The benefits of animal companionship to humans have long been recognized by pet owners and recently by the medical community. Studies have shown that having a pet increases survival rates in groups of patients who have suffered from cardiac arrest and that blood pressure and triglyceride and cholesterol levels are decreased. The increased physical activity that accompanies pet ownership - providing exercise, visiting the veterinarian, grooming, and affectionately stroking a pet - strengthens the heart, improves blood circulation, and slows the loss of bone tissue. Several recent studies also suggest that children exposed to pets at a young age are less likely to develop allergies to pets if their mothers aren't asthmatic.

Companion animals are also good for our emotional health. The companionship that a pet offers promotes a feeling of well-being, and caring for a companion animal provides purpose and fulfillment and lessens feelings of loneliness and depression in all age groups. Having a warm and loving relationships with an animal friend can enhance one's quality of life, and people who are happier usually don't become ill as often as those who are tense and stressed.

Studies show that only one out of five people with allergies gave up their cats or dogs when advised to do so by their physicians. And many allergic pet owners adopt new pets throughout their lives. However, living comfortably and safely with a pet, despite being allergic, requires a good understanding of the allergic condition and adherence to a few rules.

THE FACTS ABOUT ALLERGIES

Glands in the animal's skin secrete tiny allergy-triggering proteins, called allergens, that linger in the animal's fur but also float easily in the air. Allergens are present in the animal's saliva and urine and may become airborne when saliva dries on the fur. The severity of reaction to these allergens varies from one person to the next, ranging from mild sniffling and sneezing to life-threatening asthma, and can be complicated by simultaneous allergies to other irritants in the environment.

All cats and dogs are allergenic (allergy causing) to people who are allergic to animals. Cats tend to be more allergenic than dogs for allergic people, although some people are more sensitive to dogs than cats. Contrary to popular belief, there are NO nonallergenic breeds of dogs or cats; even hairless breeds may be highly allergenic.

Though common, pet allergies shouldn't be taken lightly. If you don't currently have a pet but are considering one and you know you're allergic, be sure to consider whether you can live with the allergy BEFORE bringing a new pet home. Except in the case of children, few allergy sufferers become accustomed to pets to whom they are allergic. Too many allergic owners adopt pets without thinking through the difficulties they may encounter. And too often they end up relinquishing pets, a decision that's difficult for the owner and may be life threatening for the pet.

ARE YOU SURE IT'S YOUR PET?

Asthma is a chronic illness and can be life threatening. If you think you have asthma or allergies, see your physician.

However, don't be quick to blame the family pet for allergies. Ask your allergist to specifically test for allergies to pet dander rather than making an assumption. And understand that allergies are cumulative. Many allergy sufferers are sensitive to more than one allergen. So if you're allergic to dust, insecticides, pollen, cigarette smoke, and cat dander, you'll need to reduce the overall allergen level in your environment by concentrating on all of the causes, not just the pet allergy.

SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR PET

Take heart! It may not be necessary to part with your beloved pet. If your allergist has done skin and blood tests to determine your sensitivity to animals and your allergies - while miserable - are not life threatening, a combination of approaches - medical control of symptoms, good housecleaning methods, and immunotherapy - is most likely to succeed in alleviating allergies. An allergist who understands your commitment to keeping your pet will discuss sensible ways to reduce your symptoms, such as:

*Create an allergy-free area - preferably the bedrooms - and strictly prohibit the pet's access to them.
*Wash your hands after touching your pet and before touching your eyes or face.
*Vacuum daily to get rid of shedded fur; wear a dust mask to vacuum, and use a vacuum with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
*Use furnace filters that trap pet dander and change them regularly to maximize efficiency.
*Discuss household changes and symptom-relieving medications with your allergist.
*Discuss treatments for your pet that may reduce your allergic reaction with your veterinarian.
*Use impermeable covers for mattresses and pillows to prevent allergen particles brought into the room on clothes and other objects from penetrating and accumulating in them.
*Replace heavy curtains and drapes with fabrics you can wash regularly.

LIFE-THREATENING PET ALLERGIES

Keeping both pets and people safe and healthy is very important to the HSUS. If your allergies are life threatening and you decide to find a new responsible home for your pet, find out how at www.hsus.org/pets. Although it can take up to six months to completely eliminate allergens in a home where a pet has lived, replacing carpeting, furniture, and drapes and cleaning walls may help reduce the dander level more quickly.

We applaud your efforts to keep you AND your pet safe. Good luck reducing your allergy symptoms!

To order copies of this brochure, write to:
Pets for Life
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
www.petsforlife.org
202-452-1100

Answer 2

You might want to re-think your offer because it might be more problematic than you think. And, your friend has a child and so do you -- your furry child -- so you have to keep that in mind as a priority as well.

If you decide to move forward, there are holistic/homeopathic doctors who can work wonders with allergies. There are also allergy shots. Many people with allergies are fine by just not touching their face or eyes after petting a cat or dog -- others can't be anywhere near an animal. I once briefly had a boss who was allergic to ME because he was so allergic to cats, and I had cats. The cats touching me and then me going to work having touched cats caused a noticeable allergic reaction.
Your better bet would be to help them FIND another place to live. At 30 your friend should be somewhat self sufficient -- and if the current issue was "lying about working" -- as in she's living with her parents with her child and IS NOT working -- it's not something you want to take on unless YOU want to support this little family for the foreseeable future. Be pro-active, but not enabling.

Answer 3

The doctors can prescribe really good antihistamines for allergies like that. Also, make sure you vacuum the house and furniture to remove any pet dander, and bathe the cat. If she is still having problems, maybe you can set up an area in your house just for the cat.

Answer 4

well talk to your friend to see if it's alright before you do anything, but you can get some arm and hammer stuff for your carpets and brush your cat and get an air purifier and that should help. vaccuum your carpets 2-3 times a week and brush your cat at least once a week. nature's merical makes stuff to cut down on cat dander you can try that as well, and make sure that the cat isn't allowed in the room that the kid will be staying in. make sure you clean that inside and out really good.

Answer 5

Hint: people with cat allergies aren't really allergic to their fur, they're allergic to the saliva that cats leave on their fur when they groom themselves. Therefore bathing the cat won't help cause it'll just groom itself right after. I'm pretty sure there's a safe medication out there her doc can prescribe, or just go with allergy meds like Claratin or something.

Answer 6

Get rid of the cat, fumigate the house, and take them in to live with you. A best friend should always come first, and you can find a nice home for your cat whom you may be able to visit from time to time.

Good luck!!

Answer 7

What about allergy meds? And just keep the cat out of the girl's room.

Answer 8

there are plenty of dander control products at a veternarians office, the little girl shouldn't have to be medicated just to be around your cat. you shouldn't have to give up your cat that you have had for so long.

Answer 9

i dont know thats hard um.........try get rid of either the cat or the kid hard question isnt it?