Allergies. - Plover,WI

Updated on November 12, 2013
L.K. asks from Plover, WI
14 answers

So,I recently found out i am allergic to cat dander.I have 3 cats.I wake up with a stuffy nose and itchy eyes but it last for about 10 min.I don't wanna get rid of my cats,Should I?

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H.M.

answers from Omaha on

No, if it bothers you modern medicine has a myriad of options. Take Claritin or Zyrtec. Otherwise allergie shots are a fantastic option.

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C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

Keep them out of your bedroom, wash your sheets weekly, vacuum weekly or more often.

My son and husband had cat allergies and that's what we do. Plus they take allergy medicine (Zyrtec).

2 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

No. My hubby's allergy to cats is off the chart. We have always had cats in the house.

What you need to consider is how you manage the cats. Brushing them, weekly baths (they do get used to it), using a lint brush to gather excess hair on furniture, cleaning the litter box every day, and lots more.

Taking on the cat and their hair is daunting at first but learning how to manage your cat's excess is the first step.

I don't touch the cat without going straight into the bathroom and washing my hands. If I touch my face my eyes will swell shut.

If I lay down on something the cat has been laying on I am going to clog up and swell, so I keep my side of the bed covered with a light blanket that I can pull off without shaking it and then I lay it on the floor, my side of the bed? Clean and free of animal hair.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

I used to be violently allergic to dogs. I discovered, when I had kids that wanted a dog, that you can get rid of your allergies. If you build your immune system by detoxing your home and your body, your body will not react to natural things. God gave us animals...don't think we are supposed to be allergic to them. I also take a multivitamin that actually absorbs. If you get good nutrition, your body will only react negatively to synthetic things.

The simplest thing is to get rid of the animals. But why do that if you can not only keep your cats but, get healthier...

Hope this helps!
M.

PS. Have had several inside dogs since....

1 mom found this helpful
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F.B.

answers from New York on

Depends on the severity, and the amount of help you have in caring for the cats/ maintaining your home.

I have a severe cat allergy, and my eyes will swell shut if I am near certain long haired breeds for long enough, without so much as touching them. If I had cats, I would look to have them re-homed.

If you can keep your symptoms at bay by taking an OTC allergy medicine, keeping the cats out of your bedroom, and have no trouble interracting with, caring for the cats and your home, keep them.

best,
F. B.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.G.

answers from Houston on

If you want to keep them, then your options can be to take allergy shots, or take daily doses of otc pills like Benedryl or Claritin.

Prolonged allergy symptoms can lead to really bad sinus problems which can lead to really really bad respiratory problems down the road, which you really really really don't want.

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D.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Depends on how bad the allergies are. If it really only lasts for about 10 minutes after you wake in the morning, you might be able to minimize your symptoms by simply washing all your bedding and keeping them out of your bedroom.

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*.*.

answers from New London on

I love dogs and cats ! I could never imagine not having pets !

With that being said, my pets never go in the bedrooms. I keep the doors shut.

I vaccum the kitchen and LR every day. Or, I dry swiffer ! I do not use ANY cleaners unless they are green cleaners. This only adds to allergies.

There is a high quality natural food store a few towns over. This store carries natural ideas to deal w/ allergies. There is always a nutritionist or Naturopathic dr on staff.

An air purifier is a great idea !

Keep the cats !!

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J.O.

answers from Detroit on

I think shots would be the best idea. They work, too.
No need to get rid of the cats.

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M.H.

answers from Chicago on

Keep them out of your room. Get a Heppa Air purifier, to clean the dander out of your bedroom.

You are an adult, you can make the choice if they bother your or not..

But, Once you remove them from your every day life 1. you might find you feel better in general so it was not just the 10 mins of stuffy nose and itchy eyes. 2. Your reaction to an outside cat that your body is not used to could provide a stronger reatcion.

You are the adult, your body your decison.

D.D.

answers from New York on

I'm allergic to cats and dogs (I currently have 1 of each). My best advice is to keep the cats out of your room and off your bed. Close them out of the room and then clean it top to bottom. I found that by not having my animals in the room it's helped a lot with my allergies. I wake up rested without congestion. Haven't needed my asthma inhaler in a long time.

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M.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

I agree with Celeste. Depends on the severity of your symptoms. Keep the cats out of bedroom and off the bed, wash sheets once a week (preferably) in hot water and vacuum regularly. See how it goes. You can take an OTC allergy med. Our doctor recommends Allegra or its generic equivalent, Fexofenadine (sp?). My son has a mild allergy to dogs and he manages just fine with our dogs with these steps in place.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Since I was a child, I have been allergic to cats.
I love animals and have had pets of all sorts, including cats.
But, my cats were outdoor cats. Sometimes indoors. And of course, my cats were NOT allowed on any furniture nor the bedroom. And YES, my cats were GOOD about that. They knew they could only lay down on their, cat bed. And they did not have the rule of the house. They knew where they could go or not.

If I touched my cats, and then touch my face, my eyes swell up to the point I can't see and it itches like crazy.
So, I just learned to wash my hands & face after playing with my cats and changing my clothes.
And, I take Claritin etc. if I need to.

Being allergic to fur/dander, is manifested in each individual differently.
I know someone who will actually get a rash from it.
Another who's Asthma will act up.
Because, the cat fur/fine fur that is left all over the house from the cat, affects her.

Per your Doctor, you do what you need to do.
Or what you can tolerate.
Depending on how bad your allergy is.

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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

Vaccum regularly get them in your face. If you pet the cats wash your hands right away.

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