cat allergies?

Question

me and my son have had pet cats before,only the last 3years we have not had any cats.Now we have one and we are both allergic!
my son will wake up in the morning with his eyes swollen and watery,my eyes will irrate me but thats it. I have washed the cat and still no luck,he is a mix medium long haired cat,but my other cats in the past were to. Is it possible to become allergic to a cat later in life? also is there a cure or no?He loves the cat!

Answer 1

All of the above answers are very good but I have another idea you can look into if all that fails. It's worth a shot.

I have four cats and am only allergic to one of them. If she (April) gets anywhere near my face, my eyes burn and get red. For years I have tried to keep her out of the bedroom because she likes to sleep on the pillows.

I was having problems with one of my other cats and bought a book on cat nutrition. http://www.belfield.com/home.html
After reading the book I put the sick cat and my other cats on a feline multi-vitamin. The sick cat got better and I noticed my cat April had a nicer coat with much less dander. Well guess what. For the past few weeks she has been sleeping on my pillow next to me and I haven't had a problem. Its winter so all the windows are closed and the furnace is blowing cat hair all over so this is normally the worst time for me.

My cats were already on a high quality natural cat food so I had never thought of vitamins.

I recommend you have the cat on a quality diet and give a try to the vitamins. I got mine at Wal-Mart and you can also find them at many health food stores, vets and pet shops. You will know in a few weeks if that helps you, and it won't cost you much money to find out.

The healthy cat book is great by the way.

Good luck!

If you want to see my cats they are at http://www.inthecompanyofcats.org
Yup, it's a website just for my cats. I think I may need professional help.

Answer 2

It is possible for a mild allergy to worsen over time. Unfortunately, there is no cure for allergies, but there are prescriptions that can help significantly.

Bathing the cat may not be the best option for reducing allergens. If you bathe the cat, make sure it is with a shampoo made specifically for cats, preferably one designed for reducing allergens. Shampoos intended for humans have the wrong pH balance for cats (or any other pets) and can actually increase the amount of dander, making the allergy worse! Dry air will increase cat dander as well. If you’ve moved from a more humid area to a dryer climate, that could make the difference. In dry climates, a humidifier can help. Just don’t let it get too humid, or you may find you have an allergy to mold.

If the cat is not a strictly indoor cat, the allergy may not be to the cat at all, but to something he is bringing in on his fur. Cats that spend time outdoors bring in all kinds of pollens and other potential allergens. If that’s the case, you’ll just have to learn to be very quick at the door to keep him in. Your best bet is to go to an allergist and get tested. Hopefully it isn’t actually the cat, but if it is, the allergist may be able to help.

Answer 3

Yes, it is possible to become allergic later in life. There are no cures as such, but an allergist can suggest treatments.

You'll have to keep the cat and the house extremely clean, and get an air cleaner to pull cat dander and fur out of the air.

Good luck! I know you must be miserable about possibly giving your furry baby away!

Answer 4

My mom and I both have really bad cat allergies and some things we do is change our furnace filters regulary, not have carpet, and if you do, shampoo it more often, not let them in the bedrooms, brush the cats regulary, wash your hands after petting the cat, all of which greatly help reduce the dander (the stuff in cat fur we're allergic to). Also, I use this perscription nasal spray for allergies which also seems to help, it's called "Beclomethasone" pernounced bec-o-neese. if you'd like to mention this to your doctor.
good luck!

Answer 5

Yes, your level of sensitivity can change. Long-haired cats can cause more allergic reactions in some people. Allergy shots and medication can help your keep your pet.

Answer 6

One thought besides the allergies - I used to buy a certain cat litter and it was perfumey and that really bothered me and probably the cat, since a cat has 10x the ability to smell compared to humans.

Definitely try an unscented litter too.