Problem with cats?

Question

I want to buy one, but I am allergic. What should I do?

Answer 1

Well, there is one completely hairless cat. It is called a Sphynx. It's appearance, well, it takes some getting used to! And you may still be allergic to it!! Try to spend time with any cat that you are considering bringing into your home. Korats are low-allergy, due to the fact that they have single-coats, and don't shed very much at all. Cats with single-coats only have the longer guard hair, and not the downy undercoat. Korats are beautiful, too. Good luck!

Answer 2

In addition to all the good suggestions, an ordinary shorthair cat might be okay under these circumstances:
1. Vacuum frequently
2. Take your allergy medication as directed by your doctor
3. Open windows just a crack for ventilation
4. Shut the bedroom door so the cat can't get in. You need at least one cat-free room.
5. Get a HEPA filter.
6. Under no circumstances should you sleep with the cat.

Are you willing to do these things? A pound cat would be okay if they would take it back if your allergies were too severe. Most cat breeders would take a cat back if you became allergic. They might even give you some of your money back.

Answer 3

First, ask your doctor if there is anyway that you can have a cat. Is there anything you can take, such as antihistimines, shots, and so on. Most doctors won't do it, but yours might. If he says so, and only if he says so, look for a shorthaired cat. I actually overcame an allergy to cat. But most people don't. I was determined to have cats. I had never been allergic to cats until 1991. I was spending the evening with my sister-in-law who had just shy of a ton of cats, all inside, all extremely furry. It was a cold Missouri evening, so she had the heat turned up so high, I could barely breath. The combination of that and all the cats caused me to throw up an allergy that lasted until I got my current cat. If I had cats they had to be outdoor cats. That came to an abrupt halt when I found my favorite cat in the highway, dead. So when i got my current cat, I was determined not to be allergic..And so far I'm no more allergic to him than to plastic. Before, if I handled a cat, I had to be sure to wash my hands before I accidentally touched my face. I don't have to anymore. And I haven't had problems with other cats either. Looks like I conquered it, Thank God.

Answer 4

I would suggest that if you feel the need to have a cat, get a shorthaired cat. You're probably allergic to a few things as a whole - as they're the most common causes of pet allergies. The saliva from the cat, the dander in the air and the oil that cats ooze to maintain their coat from the sebaceous glands all contain a molecule called Fel d 1. If the saliva and oil is a major problem, rinsing any shorthaired cat in plain water once a week to once a month will keep allergy problems to a minimum, but NOT get rid of them altogether. You can try air purifiers and vaccuuming regularly to keep the dander to a minimum. But, if you choose to get a cat at all, try to get a trial period that guarantees that you will be refunded your money should you not be able to keep the cat - this is most often acheived by buying from a breeder, as shelters rarely have that type of return policy.

Remember that NO cat is completely hypoallergentic - even those $4000 ones advertised as such. Different people have different allergies and respond to cats differently. Even hairless cats exude oil that you can be allergic to.

Answer 5

You will sneeze and suffer, even if you do take medication.
Chances are very good that you will get tired of this and then abandon the pet at a shelter, or, even worse, on the street.

Not a good idea.
Even a hairless cat has dander- which contains the protein you are allergic to. Short hair cats do NOT cause less discomfort than longhair cats.
How about a fish?

Answer 6

My son has pet allergies, this worked for us and i've recommended it to many people who have had success with it. I don't know if it's available there but Fido's allergy relief spay (put it on your pet, not you) is great if you can't bathe the cat. (Eg: winter) There are also allergy clinics available and they can desensitise you to the allergens, I know some people who have used this and are now allergy free.

Research has proven that by bathing your cat monthly in warm water (use no soap), you can limit the allergen that the animal produces.

According to immunologist Dr. James Wedner, cats stop making the allergy-causing protein after three to eight months. The effect is also improved by vacuum-cleaning rugs and carpets weekly, keeping furniture clean and banning your cat from your bed.

Don't expect your cat to take kindly to the new regimen.
"Introduce the cat to water gradually," says
Dr. Wedner. The first time, get their paws wet. Then with each successive bath, cover them with a little more water."

Answer 7

I see some people are recommending shorthairs, and that is a possibility... But one of my shorthairs makes my allergies act up more than my longhair does.
One way drs will treat allergies is by giving you shots. In this way they're helping you build up an immunity to the allergen. From my own experience and from speaking with others with allergies, I can tell you that if you get a cat you are more likely than not to build an immunity to the dander over time- within a couple of months. So if you're willing to suffer with over the counter medications and a box of Kleenex for awhile, it will eventually pretty much take care of itself.
-Just avoid sticking your face directly in it's fur after that initial couple of months or it will still set your nose to running. :-)

Answer 8

Stick to Short hair cats. We are allergic too but we still have a cat. You can actually get over an allergy with a cat from it just being around you long enough. You are actually allergic rto the dander so I would suggest making sure the cat is bathed regular and make sure you have a good skin care product to keep their skin mosturized so you don't get dry flaking skin all over our house. Also you can buy over the counter allergy medicine for bad days with your allergies.

Please don't buy a cat. There are thousands and thousands of cats in pounds and human societies that need good loving homes.

Answer 9

I'm allergic to cats as well, but I still have them. I think after a while you just become immune to it. There are also hairless cats.

Answer 10

My Niece has the same problem so we got her a hairless cat. Like on Austin powers a little more responsibility because they get cold but very loving.