lose my allergy to cats

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i have a ton of allergies and have taken allergy shots for years. at one point i tested allergic to cats in the standard allergy skin tests that doctors do. the doc added "cat" to my allergy shot mix and i no longer test allergic. i've got 2 cats and have had cats for most of my life.

are you talking about owning a cat or about having problems when you go visit someone with a cat?

if you don't have allergies to other things and are just looking for a quick fix, the best thing to do is take over the counter antihistamines. all of them work basically the same, but some of them need to be taken every day to build up in your body (claritin), some will work quickly and then wear off (benadryl & chlortrimeton) and some make you more tired than others (benadryl = sleep for me).
 
I have accute asthma and have always been able to acclimate to my kitties. Now, my newest HAS been the most challenging, she also has the longest fur of any cat that has "owned" me... but I'm determined. :) Good luck, I'm SURE you can find a doctor that can help you with shots or some kind of drugs.

My best,
jeanne
 
my hubby and I are allergic to cats. When I found out that the allergy shots were just tiny doses of CAT to build up your immunity - screw the shots - we got cats to become less sensitive allergy-wise to them.

We still have allergy problems occasionally - usually when sick or tired or worn out.

So we just buy monster-sized bottles of Zyrtec or Claritin from Costco to take when itchy or sniffly once or twice a week.

And love /hug / pet our cats every day --
 
How severe an allergy is it?

If you have ever had difficulty breathing due to your throat closing up (anaphylaxis), please have your doc prescribe you an Epi Pen. This is an injection pen that you use if you are having trouble breathing through your throat and lungs. It provides a short acting treatment to buy you time to get to an emergency room. It only lasts long enough to get to help, not long enough to get you through an entire anaphylactic allergy attack.

Any allergy desensitization should be done with a qualified allergist; the home remedy of living with a cat is ill-advised if you don't have the Epi pen to help you get to a hospital.

If the cat will allow it, it is possible to bathe it and remove a large amount of allergen (cat spit, skin cells, etc).

Using a HEPA air filtration system may further reduce the airborn particles which may trigger allergy. Diligent vacuuming (also with HEPA filtration) helps. Reducing soft fuzzy coverings that hold dust helps - carpet is basically a dirt sponge in disguise, drapes hold a fair bit of dust too. Use bedding which may be washed in hot water (weekly if not more often). Keep any cat/pets out of the bedroom. Use dust protectors on pillows (reduces dust mites, which just build on any other allergy).

It can be pretty rigorous to keep the home environment in a reduced allergen state.
 
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