Cat allergies- How do you cope?

[towernick]

Guys and Gals,

I'm in a pickle. I have cat allergies and my soon to be fiancé has two cats. I'm moving in with her in a few weeks and it's usually hell for me to be over at her place unless I take a large Claritin dose. I started allergy shots over the summer and am looking for any other ideas on how not to suffer. I've been told by many people, make the bedroom a cat free environment, but that may or may not go over well with the little lady.

What do you guys recommend, any secret remedies?

[andromeda160]

Your probably just going to have to get rid of her. Or tell her she needs to get cats that aren't hypo allergenic or whatever they call it. It's not like you're magically going to rid yourself of an allergen. I asked my girlfriend to get rid of her hedgehog for the same reason and she did. It wasn't because I hated her animal, just couldn't sleep and always felt like crap

[azguy]

Seriously, you need to re-evaluate the whole situation, cat dander is everywhere, there's no way you can live there and you can't live on Claritin forever

[fmc000]

@OP: you already know the answer...

[Tokyo Time]

@OP: you already know the answer....
Buy yourself a YG Skydweller immediately. The minus ions in the gold zap any cat dander in the air and you'll be off that pesky Claritin in a jiffy.

[GradyPhilpott]

You're in for some serious soul-searching.

[Wesley Crusher]

The only option is to get rid of the cats. The situation sucks, but if your girlfriend cares about you, she will do it for you.

[Shem]

Ok, so I had exactly the same experience when I met and moved in with my wife -- severe cat allergies and mandatory cats. Don't listen to the doom and gloom. There are things you can do:

1. VACUUM CONSTANTLY. Keep the place impeccably clean. This will help a lot.
2. Keep the cats out of the bedroom if you can, and depending on how much room you have, try to reserve a "man cave" room for yourself where the cats are not allowed to go. (My home office is mine.) This way you can escape.
3. Get the allergy shots. They'll probably help, though it'll take time.
4. Take Claritin or whatever allergy medication works best for you (it's Zyrtec for me) at night. If your allergies are nasal allergies, you can also add a prescription nasal antihistamine in the morning AND even a separate nasal steroid. Allergy meds can scale, so even if Claritin isn't enough at first, there are options. I started out with Zyrtec at night and both Omnaris (steroid) and Astepro (antihistamine) nasal sprays in the morning, but now I'm fine with a single Zyrtec at night.
5. There's a very good chance that you will adapt to the cats you're exposed to frequently. I'm very allergic to cats, but after a few months, my cats only really bothered me if I touched them a lot and then touched my mucous membranes (eyes, nose)...and even then it's nowhere near like it was before. They come in the bedroom now and it's not a problem.
6. Don't drink a lot of alcohol at once -- it can trigger histamine response and make you more sensitive to allergens, including cats.
7. Invest in good air filtration. This doesn't have to be super expensive, but get something with good reviews either for your house or individual rooms. My experience is that cat allergens get airborne more easily, perhaps because they lick themselves so much and the saliva proteins get aerosolized as their fur rubs against things.
8. Give it time. Don't freak out right away and force your fiancee to get rid of the cats. Unless you're in danger of developing asthma, there's a good chance you'll be able to use lifestyle adaptations to beat this issue. I think people are far too quick to get rid of pets that cause issues like this when there can be better solutions for you and for the animals.

I've been living with my wife and two cats for over 4 years now and I don't regret it at all. It's totally tolerable.

[T. Ferguson]

Shem might have something with #8 that worked for me. I'm highly allergic but my wife pressed me to get a kitten as a pet for our son. I can only assume my body adapted because after a short while I was no longer allergic to our cat. I don't know that this always works for everyone but it did for me. I haven't been around any other cats so I really couldn't tell you if I am immune to cat dander altogether, but no problems with the one in my home.

NHow if you've been around her cats enough to have acclimated to them this may not be a solution for you. Then you've got a decision to make.

[mtrunner]

Shem has great advise. I have been in your shoes. My wife had two cats and when she moved in and they came with my wife. I could never tell my wife (fiancee at the time) to get ride of her beloved cats. Over time I actually adapted and it was completely manageable. I even ended up liking the little guys!

[towernick]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

[Laszlo]

The secret is very simple.

[swils8610]

Cats gotta go....

[Piloto]

Originally Posted by Shem

Ok, so I had exactly the same experience when I met and moved in with my wife -- severe cat allergies and mandatory cats. Don't listen to the doom and gloom. There are things you can do:

I've been living with my wife and two cats for over 4 years now and I don't regret it at all. It's totally tolerable.

This! Vacuum and wash your hands after petting them before touching your face. I am fine with it. Been six years here and I'm fine.

I'm guessing all of the "get rid of the cats" comments are coming from dog people. Why don't you guys think of getting rid of your dogs... Yeah, thats what I thought.

[towernick]

I'm a dog person, soon to be fiancé is a cat person, getting rid of them isn't really an option. Possibly as a last resort they go live with her mom, but that's an option we'd both like to avoid.

[vitalsignsrn]

This doesn't sound like a very healthy environment for you to be in. A lot of people dont even want to take a Tylenol & you decide to live on Claritin & allergy shots? I love animals, grew up with dogs & cats. I had a cat when I met my ex-husband, & before we got married, my parents took the cat. I never thought for one second to put the cat before his comfort! Now is another story. I would shove a cat down his pants, but back then no.

You have nothing to lose to try the advice about co-habitating with the cats but I would nail down an objective timeframe for this & allow your fiance to come to an understanding or preparation that the cats might have to go. Ask the allergist/doctor about long term effects of Claritin. Not recommended. All the best.

[cop414]

Originally Posted by vitalsignsrn

This doesn't sound like a very healthy environment for you to be in. A lot of people dont even want to take a Tylenol & you decide to live on Claritin & allergy shots? I love animals, grew up with dogs & cats. I had a cat when I met my ex-husband, & before we got married, my parents took the cat. I never thought for one second to put the cat before his comfort! Now is another story. I would shove a cat down his pants, but back then no.

You have nothing to lose to try the advice about co-habitating with the cats but I would nail down an objective timeframe for this & allow your fiance to come to an understanding or preparation that the cats might have to go. Ask the allergist/doctor about long term effects of Claritin. Not recommended. All the best.

I would shove a cat down his pants... OMG Judy do you have any idea of the jokes that are brewing in my pea brain right now,,,,,

[vitalsignsrn]

I can imagine Tim. I'm laughing my guts out right now. I have admitted to having quite a potty mind.

[cop414]

Originally Posted by vitalsignsrn

I can imagine Tim. I'm laughing my guts out right now. I have admitted to having quite a potty mind.

Birds of a feather Judy, birds of a feather...

[james1787]

Shem has some great advice.. worth trying those first before doing anything drastic.

[SUBversive]

Try leaving the door open and then playing dumb .....

[Boothroyd]

Ragamuffin/hypoallergenic cat breed perhaps? Can you place her current cats with a friend and get another breed?

After all, if you are engaged (or getting engaged), she should understand the current situation isn't tenable if you can't adapt to cat dander.

A good friend of mine was in a similar situation. He put up with it the best he could, then they got married and had children. The kids were allergic also. So the cats had to go. Better to figure out the situation now.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by SUBversive

Try leaving the door open and then playing dumb .....

Cats are smart mate, they will find their way back no problem.




I'd ask her to get rid of the cats.

[Lgear080]

Same situation here... Gf w two cats, facing a move-in, etc.
I made it a point to take a daily Claritin, vacuum / dust, and brush
The cats to clear overcoat. Within a month I was able to titrate
The Claritin. Two years later we are married and I'm still cleaning
And brushing, but very rarely in need of Claritin.

Everyone has their own triggers, however I've read abit and found
Hand washing after any contact is a good idea. This due to saliva
Being a source of reaction. I think having a positive attitude and
Being pro-active will also benefit you greatly.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by SUBversive

Try leaving the door open and then playing dumb .....

I tried that with my ex-wife, didn't work.

[bayerische]

I'm allergic to cats (unfortunately) we had many cats when I was younger and lived at home. My room was a "sort-of" cat free environment, but even though minimizing the exposure, I did have allergies for the most part, although pretty mild symptoms.

Today, being not exposed to cats for 15 or so years, after a few hours at my parents house I'm done... Not even medicine helps.

So continuous exposure will help you, but if you have severe allergies... It's a difficult situation, as cats are EVERYWHERE.

I'd like a cat, but can't have one, as I remember the days living on allergy medicine, and it wasn't fun!

We had cats at home when I was young, because I wanted them too. I'm also slightly allergic to dogs, but I'd say 1/10th of my allergy to cats.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I tried that with my ex-wife, didn't work.

[cop414]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I tried that with my ex-wife, didn't work.

Worked for me, cost me a house though...

[powerfunk]

Originally Posted by Shem

5. There's a very good chance that you will adapt to the cats you're exposed to frequently.

This. My wife used to be allergic to my (our) cat; it doesn't even bother her anymore. YMMV, but I'd have been heartbroken if my wife straight-up asked me to get rid of the cat. :(

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by cop414

Worked for me, cost me a house though...

Well, you know why divorces are expensive, right.
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.........because they are worth it.