Can you become allergic to a cat after 6 years of having it?

Answer 1

It's quite possible, as I have seen the opposite happen, such as having allergies as a child and then not having them as an adult. Certain chemicals in animal dander can trigger histamines in our bodies to give us the "allergic" reactions we get, such as sneezing, watery eyes, and skin rashes. It's quite possible that you may have developed an allerdy due to certain biological changes in your body, but the best way to truly know is to go see an allergist and have him/her perform a test to see what triggers reactions in you. Another simple way to do this is to give your cat to a trusted friend or family member for about a week and see if your symptoms subside, then bring the cat back and note if you feel those allergic reactions. If having the cat around makes you sneeze, then yes, you have developed an allergy.

Answer 2

An allergy is by definition an abnormal over-response of the immune system. One must have had prior exposure to an allergen in order to become allergic. Six years is an odd time-frame, but all allergies have to begin at some time, and cannot start the first time you're exposed to cats or anything else, so why not? On the other hand, you might consider that it's something on or associated with the cat rather than the cat itself. Does the cat "cat around" (sorry) in the neighborhood, and do your symptoms improve while your scratches are healing after you bathe the cat? You can play Sherlock Holmes a bit, and before you dump the critter you might consider getting a scratch test from an allergist (doctor).

Answer 3

To the answer to your question, although an Allergy is defined as an exaggerated response to what would be usually a minor stimulus, the exact pathology behind this response in not stated. However, it is safe to use the common sense approach; just as anything you have ajusted to, you can also become annoyed, with it.

That remind me of a saying, that shows the perfect example of tolerance; "Too much of anything, isn't good for you." So if you feel the cat is what would be usually a minor stimulus, all of a sudden becomming a highly toxic substance, then you are going to have to find a way to avoid the cat - at all costs.

Scientists belive some of the causes of allergic reations are Inhalants, e.g. hair (dog and cats), animal dander, and maybe even odors. However, if you want a more accurate idea if you are allergic to cats, you should consult with your Dermatologist, for a referral to a specialist called an allergist or immunologist to get some tests to confirm or rule out your allergies.

Although the allergy skin test will probably reveal to you what you already know, one person can enjoy a dish of oysters, while another person become ill from the same food. So, whenever possible, all pets and animals should be kept at a respectful distance and certainly out of your sleeping quarters.

Hope this answers your question!

Answer 4

As a person with allergies let me give you a few of my observations. First of all I am in a similar boat with animals. Most of the time they do not bother me, however, from time to time I suffer from itchy eyes and the works.

The first thing I have noticed is that I am more allergic to cats when my other allergies are in bloom. In other my cat can be in doors all year, then comes high pollen season and boom, can barely touch the thing.

The other thing I have noticed is a link between my allergies and my health level. If I am not eating right, not taking proper vitamins and just living like a slob, the cat stuffs me right up.

My recommendations would be to try thoroughly clean your house, possibly getting rid of other allergens. Also have you gotten any new plants recently. If all else fails, take some allergy pills for a little while. Most likely the symptoms will go away since they are only a recent development in a long relationship.

Answer 5

Yes, depending upon the allergy and the cleanliness of the environment the both you and the cat share.
Cat saliva can effect some people who itch and break out when coming in contact with anything that the saliva has touched including the cat itself who cleans itself by licking its fur.

Try touching the tear gland in your eye after petting your cat and see wht happens ... if your eye gets really red and puffy and hurts like crazy within ten minutes of this then you have developed an allergy to the cats saliva not necessarily the fur or danders ... if, on the other hand, you become asthmatic and or sneeze around the cat and the house is needing cleaning, then you are allergice to the fur and danders ... maybe you always were allergic but the house was cleaner or there is a possiblity that you may have had the measles later than chilhood which someitmes brings on allergies after the measles have left you ...

Answer 6

Just last year, I was diagnosed with an allergy to the preservatives that are put in chicken, and from then on can not handle raw chicken (not even with gloves or tongs or whatnot) without breaking into hives. Now, I have been cooking chicken for at least 10 years (I am 27) and all of a sudden I am allergic? What BS. Anyway, always best to run it by your doc, but I would start taking zyrtec or claritin... those should help the sneezing to a minimum. Also, make sure your vacuum has an air filter to help with the cat hair and dander. I prefer the Dyson Animal vac, it is the best investment I have made in a home appliance! Good luck!

Answer 7

Unfortunately, people can develop allergies to things that have been present in their lives all along. Just last year, I was diagnosed with an allergy to the preservatives that are put in chicken, and from then on can not handle raw chicken (not even with gloves or tongs or whatnot) without breaking into hives. Now, I have been cooking chicken for at least 10 years (I am 27) and all of a sudden I am allergic? What BS. Anyway, always best to run it by your doc, but I would start taking zyrtec or claritin... those should help the sneezing to a minimum. Also, make sure your vacuum has an air filter to help with the cat hair and dander. I prefer the Dyson Animal vac, it is the best investment I have made in a home appliance! Good luck!

Answer 8

Yes you can also if you have allergies or asthma, the cat can become a trigger instead of a true allergy. You could be tested for cats at an allergists office, they take little tiny follicles of allergens and put them just under the skin, usually in the first 10-20 minutes you will see a reaction if you are allergic, sometimes a bump like a mosquito bite, sometimes just really red and itchy. If you are allergic you can get shots to desensitize yourself. You can also take benedryl or antihistimines to help. Be sure you wash your hands after petting, brush your cat wearing gloves so you don't get dander on your hands, and keep the cat out of your bedroom so you don't breathe in pollens at night. Also vacuum each day, bathe your cat if you can do that, and buy a good air cleaner. My father is very allergic to cats, we have 4 and he does ok with them if we are diligent in keeping things clean. I can't bathe mine but I brush them and also use special antiallergy pet wipes on them. They are confined to only certain rooms and not his bedroom, we have an air cleaner.

If you are just triggering from the cat, the tests would show there was not a true allergy but other allergies and the cat dander or fur could be causing symptoms that you might not have if the other allergies are treated with shots too.

Good luck!

Answer 9

does your cat go outside or has it gotten a new bed or powder or shampoo? I think after 6 years it is more likely that you are allergic to something that is ON the cat rather than the cat itself. Pregnancy and some illnesses can cause an otherwise dormant allergy to manifest. Personally I would try bathing the cat once a week or so with a cat shampoo that does not cause me to sneeze and see if that clears up the problem. That is after I was sure I could answer NO to all the other questions. Good luck

Answer 10

allergies to things that have been present in their lives all along. Just last year, I was diagnosed with an allergy to the preservatives that are put in chicken, and from then on can not handle raw chicken (not even with gloves or tongs or whatnot) without breaking into hives. Now, I have been cooking chicken for at least 10 years (I am 27) and all of a sudden I am allergic? What BS. Anyway, always best to run it by your doc, but I would start taking zyrtec or claritin... those should help the sneezing to a minimum. Also, make sure your vacuum has an air filter to help with the cat hair and dander. I prefer the Dyson Animal vac, it is the best investment I have made in a home appliance! Good luck!

Answer 11

Yes, that's how allergies usually occur. You are exposed to something over a period of time, and your body decides that it is an invader, sending out histamines to correct the problem. Histamines cause allergy symptoms. It's a different type of allergy, but as an example, I ate shellfish for years, no problem. Then I ate some, and didn't feel quite right afterwards. Thinking it was just bad seafood, I ate some again a 2 weeks later, and had an allergic reaction with hives, stomach upset, tingling in my throat, sneezing. My doctor told me that if I eat it again, it will be enough exposure that the next time I eat shellfish, it could cause anaphylactic shock. So I won't risk it now. But with cats, that type of allergy can be just part of your makeup, or it could come on suddenly. Suddenly, because you have to be exposed to something for your body to decide it's bad. Also, black or darker haired cats, especially long haired ones, tend to be worse for allergies. If you weren't having symptoms before, that doesn't necessarily mean you weren't allergic, just mildly allergic, and the cat wasn't enough of a trigger. Does your cat shed more/ or have more dander in it's older age? That could be part of the worsening of a mild allergy as well. There is a whole lot on the internet about allergies, and there is a whole lot of confusing stuff I could go into about them, but suffice it to say, the answer to your question is, yes.