| Having a cat allergy came as something of a surprise | | | | course they did. |
| to me. Growing up, I had many pets - cats, dogs and | | | | "There's your real problem", he said. "What you're |
| birds. My family were animal lovers and pets | | | | allergic to is the dander produced by your cats. When |
| abounded, so being in contact with animals was a | | | | a cat sleeps on your bed, the dander ends up in the |
| daily occurrence. No one ever seemed to suffer from | | | | sheets and the duvet and you breathe it in deeply at |
| a cat allergy or any kind of animal allergy for that | | | | night when you're asleep. Not good. That's what |
| matter. | | | | causes your wheeziness. Stop the cats sleeping in |
| After my teens and my last pet had died, I wasn't in | | | | your bedroom for two or three weeks and see if |
| a position to take on another pet for many years. | | | | that eases your symptoms. If not, you'll probably |
| Then, eleven years ago, a friend of a cousin was | | | | need to use an inhaler for the rest of your life." |
| looking for a home for their last remaining kitten. And | | | | Ok, that last sentence kinda hit me between the |
| so it was that Kira came into my life. This was a cat | | | | eyes. Much as I love my two furballs, I didn't want to |
| with attitude (and still is!) and we bonded pretty | | | | suffer a long-lasting health problem that could possibly |
| much immediately. While she was still a kitten, I'd put | | | | be avoided. |
| her in the kitchen overnight with a little cat bed to | | | | So why is dander such a problem? It's the layer of |
| sleep in and the litter box close by. | | | | dead skin that's rich in animal protein, which is |
| As she grew older, I started letting her sleep in the | | | | continuously shed by animals. Sebaceous (oil |
| bedroom. It's surprising how relaxing a cat's purring | | | | producing) glands in the skin also produce these |
| can be in wee small hours. | | | | protein allergens. Male cats have, on average, greater |
| A little over a year later, when down with the vet | | | | amounts of sebaceous secretions and therefore are |
| getting some supplies, I heard that there was a | | | | more allergenic than female or neutered male cats. |
| kitten that needed a home or it would have to be | | | | This is a result of testosterone hormone effects on |
| put to sleep. And so, Fritz came home with me that | | | | sebaceous glands. |
| day. | | | | So, with that information and the prospect of an |
| Unfortunately, Kira was less than impressed with this | | | | enduring health problem, I banned my cats from the |
| interloper and I had to keep the two separated for | | | | bedroom, threw out the duvet (on the advice of the |
| several days before an uneasy truce ensued. | | | | doctor), bought a new one and changed everything |
| They're an odd pair - Kira has attitude, Fritz is much | | | | on the bed (including getting new pillows). I didn't get |
| more companionable; what you'd call a "gentle soul". | | | | too much sleep the first few nights with the cats |
| She's still the Queen around the house and | | | | meowing and scratching on the door to get in but |
| occasionally puts Fritz in his place with a right-hook to | | | | they got used to the idea, finally. After three weeks |
| the face when she feels the need to assert her | | | | in a cat free bedroom, my wheeziness had all but |
| authority. | | | | disappeared. The cats haven't been allowed back in |
| As Fritz matured, he also was allowed into the | | | | since. |
| bedroom. Both he and Kira would sleep there during | | | | Should you find yourself with a similar cat allergy |
| the day and night, as was their want. | | | | problem, banning the cat from your bedroom is one |
| We all know that cats are the greatest | | | | possible course of action. Alternatively, you can get |
| creature-comfort-seeking animals on the planet and a | | | | your cat his own cat bed and put that somewhere |
| comfy place to catnap is one of their major | | | | out of harm's way (yours and the cat's). |
| concerns. But the place your cat chooses to snooze | | | | Since finding out I was mildly allergic to my cats, I've |
| may not be your first choice. While I didn't mind the | | | | spoken to other cat owners about it and quite a |
| cats sleeping on the bed, I did take exception to | | | | number also suffer some mild form of allergic |
| Fritz's tendency to charge in from the garden and | | | | reaction - sneezing, wheezing, watering eyes, blocked |
| sleep in a basket of warm, freshly dried laundry | | | | sinuses and so on. Owners appear to become at |
| straight from the dryer. | | | | least somewhat immune to their own cats insofar as |
| The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine | | | | the symptoms are not as pronounced as they |
| recently conducted a poll of pet-owners on the | | | | become when they're around other people's cats. |
| sleeping habits of their pets and found that 60% of | | | | But, having said that, none of us would ever part |
| them sleep in bed with one of the family. Where cats | | | | with our feline companions and would exhort others |
| are concerned, there are two potential problems | | | | to adopt a cat as a pet, as the benefits far outweigh |
| here: one is that, somehow, they manage to take up | | | | any minor inconveniences. |
| 90% of the bed and the other has to do with | | | | Animal dander allergy can significantly contribute to |
| allergies. | | | | respiratory problems involving the sinuses, nasal |
| I found I had a mild cat allergy when I started | | | | passages, and eyes, as well as causing upper |
| producing weird wheezing noises any time I was | | | | respiratory tract problems that can result in asthma |
| doing something strenuous. Coughing eased it for a | | | | (as in my case). These problems can significantly |
| few minutes but it would always return. I figured I'd | | | | diminish your quality of life despite various medical |
| developed a mild form of asthma, probably due to | | | | treatments. For some people, it can be even more |
| bad air quality and pollution, so I went to the doctor | | | | serious, leading to recurrent acute asthmatic attacks |
| to have it checked out. After listening to my lungs he | | | | that can be life threatening, requiring emergency |
| asked me one question: "Do you have a cat?" | | | | room visits and hospitalizations. The good news is |
| Well, yes, I did. Two in fact. | | | | that most people who are allergic to their pets can |
| "You're allergic to your cats", he intoned. | | | | keep their symptoms under control if they know the |
| Then he asked if the cats slept in the bedroom. Of | | | | facts. |