My Niece has lived with this cat all of her life and is crazy about the cat. We thought she had Asthma and we took her to get an allergy test and she is allergic to cats.. I don't know what to do. I have had the cat for 18 years and it is not a loving cat it doesn't like to be held by anyone...yet he lets my neice carry him all over the place.
What should I do? She does not want me to get rid of him. If I do who would want a 18 year old cat that has to be indoor because he is declawed and not affectionate.
Any Suggestions?
2006-09-09 09:59:14 · 19 answers · asked by ha1313 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Keep the cat.
2006-09-09 10:01:31 · answer #1 · answered by Toronto 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Get rid of the niece! Just kidding (sort of) I would first completely go overboard cleaning and ridding the house of dander. I am not saying that you are not a good housekeeper those little danders are just tricky. Then I heard that bathing them in spring water helps eliminate the allergic reaction. I know that would probably be quite a feat.
I too am severely allergic to cats. Some cats bother me worse than others. Most of the time if the house does not have a lot of latent dander in carpet, etc. and I don't touch the cat and then touch around my face I am okay. You definitely have to train your niece to not pick him up and play with him.
Also invest in an air purifier or ionizer. I have heard they work wonders in these types of cases.
2006-09-09 10:06:42 · answer #2 · answered by tallred63 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My honest and only solution would be Benadryl or some other allergy medication. I am allergic to my cat and that works fine.
I hate to sound insensitive but in all honesty the cat won't live more than a few more years, so she won't be dependent on medication for the rest of her life or anything. Also, moving or losing a person the cat is attached to is very traumatic for cats and could be a life-threatening experience for such an elderly cat. It would be cruel to subject the cat to that.
2006-09-09 10:56:35 · answer #3 · answered by Nick Hahn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I too am allergic to cats, but I find if you are around certain ones u get used to them. make sure you hoover daily to prevent hair build up, and keep a nice flow of air through the house. Don't dump the cat, he needs you and after 18years surely he is as much part of the family as your niece, who im assuming doesn't live with you anyway!!!
BTW - De clawed???? how cruel!! not a good thing to do, maybe the cat would be better off elsewhere
2006-09-09 10:07:45 · answer #4 · answered by Serry's mum 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cat lives with you, BUT - its not your cat.
The cat has chosen your niece to be its ideal master (poor thing is getting senile in it's old age - lmao!!), that's why it only lets her pick it up.
Don't worry about it.
Keep the dumb animal, its already purrrrty old, it'll buy the farm sooner or later.
I'm Severely Allergic to cats myself. But I also love cats too.
If I'm not around a cat for more than two weeks, my allergies come back.
But because of my Love of cats, my body has developed a Tolerance on it's Own.
As your niece gets older and her immune system matures, she too will develop a higher tolerance for cats, and she may get one for herself someday.
Even if someone is allergic to a cat, they can either take the shots and pills, or simply suffer for a couple weeks, and in no time after that, their immune system will eventually adapt on its own.
I have two cats, who live with me all the time, they're my little buddies. Oh once in a while I may have a little itchy eye, or a sneeze once in a while, but my love for the silly creatures and their love of me, is the best meds that money can't buy.
Good luck & happy Purr-r-r-r-r-r-r-r's to you!!
Cheers !!!
2006-09-09 10:24:02 · answer #5 · answered by somber_pieces 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep this cat. You made the commitment to it 18 years ago. Possibly confine the cat when your neice is at the house. Or discuss witht he doctor what kind of allergy meds your neice can be on
2006-09-09 11:04:54 · answer #6 · answered by joythegreat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep the cat sad truth is at 18 it will not be an issue for too much longer, and unless the allergy is severer there are plenty of meds that will minimise the symptoms.
2006-09-09 10:09:25 · answer #7 · answered by Den P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are great shampoo's that will help with this. It sometimes is not the hair ...that one is allergic to.. but the dander...
Cats will sometimes bond strongly to only one family member, much like a bird sometimes..
If it is eighteen years old then try to make the life of the cat as pleasurable as possible and be happy they make each other happy, for not to many animals live this long..
2006-09-09 10:34:48 · answer #8 · answered by laveda4you 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Niece can take allergy shots to help cure the allergies. they may take 1 to 5 years.
Often people grow out of allergies and gain new ones.
2006-09-09 10:05:19 · answer #9 · answered by Robert F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, keep the cat. Isn't there an allergy shot they can give your niece? Ask the Dr about it.
2006-09-09 10:08:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep the act and get allergy medication or shots for your niece.
2006-09-09 17:51:45 · answer #11 · answered by Classy Granny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋