is it possible to develop a new allergy over night?

Question

We have had cats for about 3 months now and my husband has never been allergic to them. However last weekend our female cat had Kittens and now all of a sudden my husband seems to be allergic to her. He is still fine with the male cat but can not sleep in our bedroom where the Kittens are. He can sleep on the sofa with out coughing at all and his congestion seems to clear up more when he is out of the house. Could he have developed an allergy to the female cat and kittens over night? If so why, why just the female, and what do I do? We do not want to get rid of our cats we love them.

Answer 1

Yes, it's entirely possible; after taking penicillin for 13 years I became very allergic to it. Allergies can form at any time. However, before you get rid of your cats, try taking Claritin--it's over the counter and it REALLY helps with allergies.

Answer 2

Yes it is possible to develop a new allergy over night.
I would venture to say he is not allergic to just the female, but to all cats and the concentration of fur/dander is worse because there are more than one cat where the mother is. It could also be a function of some hormonal changes within the mother affecting her fur and skin. Perhaps she is shedding more dander?
He has most likely always been allergic to the cat and the SYMPTOMS are what have suddenly shown up rather than the allergy itself. I have many allergies I have no outward symptoms to unless exposure becomes high enough. If that makes any sense LOL it is getting late where I am.

For now, have him visit the doc and get some allergy meds. If it persists, shots may be in order, but they are propholactic and will work for the year following the shots. If he is worried about the shots, I can tell you they are a blessing and seem like a miracle to those of us that really suffer with many allergies. I'll take a needle over the symptoms any day!

Answer 3

Allergies can in fact occur overnight. They are basically an inappropriate hyperactive immune response. While your husband may have "developed" this allergy, it is possible that he is simply being exposed to something new. The antigens on the kittens' dander may be subtly different from both the mother and the father. This could cause an allergy to them, but not to their parents.

Your husband should be able to get a simple skin prick/scratch test to determine what is causing his allergies. This will probably be covered by insurance, and the doctor can explain to you the nature of how the allergy may have begun.

Answer 4

Our bodies are ever changing. Sometimes we develope an intolerance for certain chemicals or whatever. Some peo. develope hay fever at age 29. 1/3 grow out of it in ten years. I was one of these, and at 40, I stopped sneezing every April.
Your case: just an idea. But She's putting out different hormones now. It could be her siliva (all the licking) has something to do with it. A vet might confirm that she has a skin shedding condition that creates a flaking or dander condition. He might want to visit other cats to see what happens.

Answer 5

it might not be an allergy to cats its probaly the dander changed on her body. I have never been allergic to cats but i use to have a calico when she was in heat her dander would change or something and id get really itchy and break out in a rash. it was really weird but other than that she owuldnt bother me. i have a different cat now and she is the same breed. I had her spayed and never had a problem. Kinda weird b ut a possiblitie!

Answer 6

It could be too many of them. And in the same room he's having a allergic reaction. That's how I developed Asama and ended up in intensive care twice. My neighbor cat had kittens and they let them out between the house and I begin to have a allergic reaction to them.

Answer 7

that depends, it may have been an allergy that was there all along, you probably just never noticed it...

Answer 8

yes it is