I have had 3 cats for 4 years now, two of them have been with me for about 9 years. One of the 9 year-olds just recently died of cancer. The other two have been unusually affectionate lately, so that's how I first realized the problem. I've never had cat allergies (sneezing, breathing, etc) in the past, and I regularly take Claritin for other allergies.
When my 9 year old Bengal cat brushes her wet nose or face against my arm, I instantly get welts everywhere she has touched me. In the past, when she would scratch me, the scratch would raise and get itchy (which never happened with any of the others). I would wash the scratches with antibiotic soap, and they would be fine.
I hate this because it's difficult to give her affection when I'm breaking out in welts. Could something be wrong with her? Could I be developing a new allergy to this cat that's been with me for 9 years? What can I do?
Allergy to old cat?
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globug92000
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2003 11:07 am
Re: Allergy to old cat?
I feel for you, completely. I've had cats since 1982 and never had any allergies to anything 'til last year. Spring and Fall got worse for awhile, but then it seemed much more frequent. Allergy testing in September showed the garden variety outdoor allergies, but then when he said, "Cats"!! (horrors). He said that the biggest reaction was to the cats! I've heard it's the proteins in their saliva that we react to, so the rubbing his face or wet nose against you would aggrivate your allergies, if in fact you've developed an allergy. It's frustrating, isn't it, to have cats and love them so, and be allergic. I take Allegra and it helps a LOT. I also keep tabs on the cat hair in the house, (keep it brushed up), vacuum often, use fiber-fill pillows, etc. Anything you can do to keep allergies down. Good luck with you and your little ones.
Re: Allergy to old cat?
most of the cat allergies are from the saliva which is transmitted by their licking of their fur...it once was though that wiping them with a damp cloth that had been soaked or wetted with distilled water....might try this , it an old theory but might work.....