Cat/Dog allergies

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

Cat/Dog allergies

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

I'm not allergic to animals, but I do appreciate when folks inform us beforehand if they have an allergy so that we can make sure to keep the cat out of the room and at least alleviate their suffering somewhat...

On the other hand, there have been more than one time I have wished I was allergic (does having a childhood fear of dogs that translated into an adult low tolerance for said smelly, drooling beasts count as an allergy?

) to canines so that I could get people to remove their sniffy, smelly, slobbery mutts from my presence...

crazymom5 · Senior Member

My dh is allergic to both cats and dogs, he just suffers through the visit. We've had both in the past, but his allergies seemed to worsen the last time we had a dog & cat at the same time. Of course the kids all promised to be more diligent in taking care of the pets, but it always ended up being me. I really don't care that much for dogs, but I like having a cat around.

Sometimes when dh does something that ticks me off I tell him a kitten is looking awfully cute about now.

arbilad · Head Chef

I love to sell cats to people with cat allergies. We breed Siberian cats, and most people with cat allergies don't have a problem with them. Even people with severe allergies, such as my brother, can potentially live with a Siberian without problems. Some people still have allergies to them, though, so it's not a universal fix.

That doesn't solve the problem of what to do if you have allergies and go to a friends house with a normal cat, though.

-- Edited by arbilad at 13:01, 2007-01-26

TitusTodd · Senior Member

[derail]Arbilad - can one tell if a cat is Siberian if they aren't registered? Their appearance seems to be difficult to distinguish as unique. They're touted as a more intelligent cat but that is something difficult to us in determining what breed a cat is. My BIL used to breed persians and I liked the one we had (but he took off out the front door one day and we were never able to find him). However, the Siberian's sound like a good breed.[/derail]

-- Edited by TitusTodd at 12:54, 2007-01-26

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

My wife's the one that's allergic. I always wanted a cat, but marrying a woman allergic has put a damper to that dream... I enjoy cats through my neighbors... we've adopted a few that stray into the yard, and we say hi, but don't feed them nor care for them... we just rename them names we like, and let them come and go as they please. (Beats the rats that would liver here elsewise...)

pretty much 50% of folks who have pets claim their pet is "not the kind that sheds" or that people are allergic to... And 99.99999999% (eventually someday I'll find someone who's telling the truth) they're just plain wrong.

--Ray

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

rayb wrote:

pretty much 50% of folks who have pets claim their pet is "not the kind that sheds" or that people are allergic to... And 99.99999999% (eventually someday I'll find someone who's telling the truth) they're just plain wrong.

--Ray

Um... the people who claim this must never have to sweep the floor or vacuum the couch.

Actually I had a friend who had a hairless cat, because the dad was allergic to cats. Apparently it was true - this cat didn't cause symptoms for the father. But it was about the ugliest thing alive. I'd rather have no cat at all than that skinny, scrawny, snatched bald thing.

arbilad · Head Chef

Todd, there's no way for sure to know whether a cat is a Siberian if you don't have papers. They are distinct from other breeds (a breed has to be for a major cat organization to register them), but a layman may not be able to tell the difference. But, for instance, persians have a flat face, whereas siberians do not. Also, a persian's hair tends to be longer than a siberian's. Siberians have big bellies and large hindquarters.

Ray, shedding is not the whole problem as far as allergies go. Cats have a protein in their saliva that people are allergic to. When they bathe themselves, this protein gets on their skin and hair. When skin flakes off or hair sheds, this spreads that protein throughout the environment. That's why people are still allergic to hairless cats - they still have that protein in their saliva. It is theorized that Siberians do not. I say theorized, because no one has actually done a scientific test. But there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the claim. I have sold cats to many people who had allergies to one degree or another, and they had no problems with Siberians. So, logically, it would follow that they don't have that protein, FELD1, in their saliva.

There is another protein that a smaller subset of people are allergic to, and Siberians probably have that, because a certain number of people still experience allergic symptoms to a great or small degree around Siberians.

If you want, I can mail you a sample of the hair so you can try it on your wife. Then perhaps your skepticism would be reduced somewhat. Then again, it could simply be reinforced if she's in the group that's still allergic.

BTW, I don't expect you to buy one. You're unemployed, and they cost around $600-$800, plus $250 for shipping.

salesortonscom · Wise and Revered Master

I am alergic to cats big time. I sneeze, my eyes water, and my nose runs. I have two families that I home teach and I cannot stay long at their homes. Very short visits only, otherwise I can hardly drive. I can't even go into my grandmother's home because of the cat allergy. I actually do have cats but they are outdoor cats so it doesn't bother me at all. But if I know that someone has an indoor cat, I will decline the invitation because there is almost nothing short of major medication that will stop the problem. By the way, if you want to see a picture of my kitty: https://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/jorton1/Picture073.jpg Don't make too much noise....he's sleeping!

Mahonri · Senior Bucketkeeper

We have to keep our Golden Retreiver outside. I love her but my sinus can't handle her. I hate it.... and I grew up on a farm for heaven's sake.

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

That is frustrating, Mahonri.

BTW, welcome to Bountiful!

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

In Colorado if you keep your dog outside, there's an assortment of nosy neighbors who will demand you provide deluxe accomodations for your doggie or else they'll claim you're being cruel to them, and will sue you...

--Ray

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

Yes, welcome Mahonri!

If you're so inclined, please introduce / reintroduce yourself to the rest of the peanut gallery in our Introductions section!

arbilad · Head Chef

Yes, we always welcome new victims, um, er, posters.