Question:

My allergist told me that some people can be allergic to cats but that their own cats wouldn’t be a trigger.  I guess we can become desensitized to our own pets but still react to a others.

Response:

You will be much better off without a cat.It was one of the worst things for me to have in my home.Thanks to everyone,the support group

Response:

If you can’t control the allergens, then yes I agree. But I have pretty bad chronic asthma, and my cat presents absolutely no problems to me at all, because I keep up the level of cleanliness. Other people’s cats DO bother me. And

If this is the case you’re lucky and long may that continue. But I still wonder if other peoples’ cats bother you because your own cat has increased your sensitivity. in terms of stress: pets can really help, and that in turn might help with dealing with a chronic disease. -j

Sure, couldn’t agree more – but why not get a pet that you aren’t allergic to? Regards Martin

Response:

For God Sake Get rid of the cat!!!!! YOU are more important than any animal….nuff said. BOB

Response:

For God Sake Get rid of the cat!!!!! YOU are more important than any animal….nuff said. BOB

If you can’t control the allergens, then yes I agree. But I have pretty bad chronic asthma, and my cat presents absolutely no problems to me at all, because I keep up the level of cleanliness. Other people’s cats DO bother me. And in terms of stress: pets can really help, and that in turn might help with dealing with a chronic disease. -j

Response:

The water needs to be quite warm, not barely warm.  Cats body temperature is higher than ours and when wet the chill very easily, so use hand-hot water, warmer than for a baby but not so hot you’d not like to get in a bath of it.  And make sure there is somewhere warm, very

But their skin is much more sensitive. It is very important that they have a warm place to dry off, especially in the winter (which is why I usually use allerpet in the winter months). It is very easy to burn their thin skin, and it is better to err on the side of too cool than too warm. warm, for the cat to finish drying in.  Some cats actually like a blow dry!  And use a mild pet shampoo, *without* conditioners.  Also make

Mine turned into a shrieking deverish from hell. And, of course you should use a mild pet shampoo, and most of them HAVE conditioning ingrediants in them. I didn’t mean to use hair conditioner. They can get dry skin easily as well, and many of the standard pet/flea shampoos on the market are very *harsh*. Make sure it isn’t a flea shampoo. You could use a very mild non-drying human shampoo, most likely. The showerhead is a very good idea. I got one that just stuck on the end of the tub faucet, when I only had a tub. If all else fails, try that allerpet, just make sure to be thorough. -j Jennifer Gerbi                          http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~gerbi Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   1-113 ESB             (217)244-0332

Response:

I just received this today from a friend and thought it might prove useful for thosewho are about to embark on their cat-bathing adventures. By the way, I am a veterinarian with multiple allergies (including all the domestic animals(!)). I love my cats, but heartily concur with the following advice. –JEM How To Bathe A Cat (Note:  Jeffery LaCroix is a veterinarian with an office in Wilmington, [DE?] He writes a column for the Morning Star called "From Paws to Tails." Here is his response to a letter regarding bathing a cat:)

Oh, please!  Just get a cat bathing sack.  Saves wear and tear all around. Chris Owens

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello. I am allergic to cats, have asthma, and have a cat. I wash the cat every week with a gentle cat shampoo. Also wiping her down with a substance called "allerpet" (and there are similar other things at the pet store) works very well. You should have done this before the cat was even in the house. Now there is dander in the house on other things than just the cat. So first: wash the cat well. make sure it is a gentle shampoo with conditioner type ingrediants so the cat’s skin isn’t hurt. Also don’t use hot water. just barely warm. Dry the cat with a towel.

The water needs to be quite warm, not barely warm.  Cats body temperature is higher than ours and when wet the chill very easily, so use hand-hot water, warmer than for a baby but not so hot you’d not like to get in a bath of it.  And make sure there is somewhere warm, very warm, for the cat to finish drying in.  Some cats actually like a blow dry!  And use a mild pet shampoo, *without* conditioners.  Also make sure you rinse the cat really well – would you like a mouth-ful of shampoo?  If the cat will let you use a shower head it makes rinsing really quick and easy.  Don’t forget the underneath of the cat.  And get someone to help. Also never bath a cat if it’s unwell in anyway, pregnant or nursing. PS in case you wondered it’s about 2 weeks since I last washed a cat, for his sake not mine as he was developing stud tail despite being neutered! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just using plain water will NOT get rid of the dander!!! then: clean the house. And remember: EVERY WEEK. once you get used to it, you can probably go every two weeks. Let me know how it goes! -Jenny I just received this today from a friend and thought it might prove useful for thosewho are about to embark on their cat-bathing adventures. By the way, I am a veterinarian with multiple allergies (including all the domestic animals(!)). I love my cats, but heartily concur with the following advice. –JEM How To Bathe A Cat (Note:  Jeffery LaCroix is a veterinarian with an office in Wilmington, [DE?] He writes a column for the Morning Star called "From Paws to Tails." Here is his response to a letter regarding bathing a cat:) Dear Dr. LaCroix:  I’ve heard that cats never have to be bathed, and that they have some sort of special enzyme in their saliva that keeps them clean.  This doesn’t sound believable to me because there are definite "kitty" odors on my couch and dirty cat paw prints on our white hearth. Is this true about the saliva?  If we do decide to give "Nice Kitty" a bath, how do we do that? – NSP, Wilmington Dear NSP:  Fortunately for you, several years ago a client gave me a written set of instructions about cat bathing which I am privileged to share with you: Cat Bathing As A Martial Art

This has done the rounds many times in the pet groups. Here is my version: Zen and the art of Cat Bathing Cats are very intelligent animals with a great awareness of the state of mind of all beings around them.  They can tell if you are unsure about (for example) giving them a bath, just as they can spot a totally silent tin opener at work, and hear you thinking it’s time they went to the vets again. So you simply need to know, absolutely, to the depths of your soul that the cat is going to get a bath.  There must be no gap between the theory and the belief as the cat will hear it and play merry hell.  If you truly believe then the cat lets you (OK it probably plays up a bit but it can all be controlled), and all ends safely. However clip the cat’s claws first! <snip — Surfer!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello. I am allergic to cats, have asthma, and have a cat. I wash the cat every week with a gentle cat shampoo. Also wiping her down with a substance called "allerpet" (and there are similar other things at the pet store) works very well. You should have done this before the cat was even in the house. Now there is dander in the house on other things than just the cat. So first: wash the cat well. make sure it is a gentle shampoo with conditioner type ingrediants so the cat’s skin isn’t hurt. Also don’t use hot water. just barely warm. Dry the cat with a towel. Just using plain water will NOT get rid of the dander!!! then: clean the house. And remember: EVERY WEEK. once you get used to it, you can probably go every two weeks. Let me know how it goes! -Jenny

I just received this today from a friend and thought it might prove useful for thosewho are about to embark on their cat-bathing adventures. By the way, I am a veterinarian with multiple allergies (including all the domestic animals(!)). I love my cats, but heartily concur with the following advice. –JEM How To Bathe A Cat (Note:  Jeffery LaCroix is a veterinarian with an office in Wilmington, [DE?] He writes a column for the Morning Star called "From Paws to Tails." Here is his response to a letter regarding bathing a cat:) Dear Dr. LaCroix:  I’ve heard that cats never have to be bathed, and that they have some sort of special enzyme in their saliva that keeps them clean.  This doesn’t sound believable to me because there are definite "kitty" odors on my couch and dirty cat paw prints on our white hearth. Is this true about the saliva?  If we do decide to give "Nice Kitty" a bath, how do we do that? – NSP, Wilmington Dear NSP:  Fortunately for you, several years ago a client gave me a written set of instructions about cat bathing which I am privileged to share with you: Cat Bathing As A Martial Art A.      Know that although the cat has the advantage of quickness and lack of concern for human life, you have the advantage of strength.         Capitalize on that advantage by selecting the battlefield.  Don’t try to bathe him in an open area where he can force you to chase him.  Pick a very small bathroom.         If your bathroom is more than four feet square, I recommend         that you get in the tub with the cat and close the sliding *       glass doors as if you were about to take a shower. (A simple shower curtain will not do.  A berserk cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician can shift positions.) B.      Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin from your body.  Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to dress to protect yourself.         I recommend canvas overalls tucked into high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet, a hockey face-mask, and a long-sleeved flak jacket. C.      Use the element of surprise.  Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to simply carry him to his supper dish.  (Cats will not usually notice your strange attire.  They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule.) D.      Once you are inside the bathroom, speed is essential to survival. In a single liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure, slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with shampoo.         You have begun one of the wildest 45 seconds of your life. E.      Cats have no handles.  Add the fact that he now has soapy fur, and the problem is radically compounded.         Do not expect to hold on to him for more than two or three seconds at a time.  When you have him, however, you must  remember to give him another squirt of shampoo and rub like crazy.         He’ll then spring free and fall back into the water, thereby rinsing himself off. (The national record for cats is three latherings, so don’t expect too much.) F.      Next, the cat must be dried.  Novice cat bathers always assume this part will be the most difficult, for humans generally are worn out at this point and the cat is just getting really determined.         In fact, the drying is simple compared with what you have just been through.         That’s because by now the cat is semi-permanently affixed to your right leg.         You simply pop the drain plug with your foot, reach for your towel and wait.  (Occasionally, however, the cat will end up clinging to the top of your army helmet.  If this happens, the best thing you can do is to shake him loose and to encourage him toward your leg.)  After all the water is drained from the tub, it is a simple matter to just reach down and dry the cat.         In a few days the cat will relax enough to be removed from your leg. He will usually have nothing to say for about three weeks and will spend a lot of time sitting with his back to you.         He might even become psychoceramic and develop the fixed stare of a plaster figurine.         You will be tempted to assume he is angry.         This isn’t usually the case.         As a rule he is simply plotting ways to get through your defenses and injure you for life the next time you decide to give him a bath.

Response:

Look at the big picture here.  GET RID OF THE CAT.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I have been an asthmatic for 16 years and we have recently introduced a Cat to the house which has made the asthma dramatically worse. Other than getting rid of the CAT !!! can anyone offer any advice. I am taking Bricanyl , eating Onions, Licorice etc but nothing seems to help. I have also tried the BEE PROLAPSES to no avail. Any views would be appreciated Gary London UK

Response:

Hello. I am allergic to cats, have asthma, and have a cat. I wash the cat every week with a gentle cat shampoo. Also wiping her down with a substance called "allerpet" (and there are similar other things at the pet store) works very well. You should have done this before the cat was even in the house. Now there is dander in the house on other things than just the cat. So first: wash the cat well. make sure it is a gentle shampoo with conditioner type ingrediants so the cat’s skin isn’t hurt. Also don’t use hot water. just barely warm. Dry the cat with a towel. Just using plain water will NOT get rid of the dander!!! then: clean the house. And remember: EVERY WEEK. once you get used to it, you can probably go every two weeks. Let me know how it goes! -Jenny On 12 Jun 1999, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been an asthmatic for 16 years and we have recently introduced a Cat to the house which has made the asthma dramatically worse. Other than getting rid of the CAT !!! can anyone offer any advice. I am taking Bricanyl , eating Onions, Licorice etc but nothing seems to help. I have also tried the BEE PROLAPSES to no avail. Any views would be appreciated Gary London UK

Jennifer Gerbi                          http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~gerbi Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   1-113 ESB             (217)244-0332

Response:

I have been an asthmatic for 16 years and we have recently introduced a Cat to the house which has made the asthma dramatically worse. Other than getting rid of the CAT !!! can anyone offer any advice.

The only thing I can think of is immunotherapy (allergy shots) for cat pelt. Are you using the normal methods of keeping down the amount of cat fur in your dwelling  (frequent vacuuming, regularly washing the cat in plain water, etc.)?

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been an asthmatic for 16 years and we have recently introduced a Cat to the house which has made the asthma dramatically worse. Other than getting rid of the CAT !!! can anyone offer any advice. I am taking Bricanyl , eating Onions, Licorice etc but nothing seems to help. I have also tried the BEE PROLAPSES to no avail. Any views would be appreciated Gary London UK

Not only should you keep your house clean but you should keep your self clean as well.  Don’t let the cat into your bedroom, keep your clothes free of hair and wash your hands frequently to help keep the dander away from your face.  You can limit the areas that the cat is allowed in as well.  Good luck, I hope you can keep your cat. nicamrem Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

I have been an asthmatic for 16 years and we have recently introduced a Cat to the house which has made the asthma dramatically worse. Other than getting rid of the CAT !!! can anyone offer any advice. I am taking Bricanyl , eating Onions, Licorice etc but nothing seems to help. I have also tried the BEE PROLAPSES to no avail. Any views would be appreciated Gary London UK

Hi Gary, Ok, I’ve some experience of this because cats are one of the biggest triggers to my asthma and I have had the misfortune to live in several houses/flats with cats over the years. Back in my early childhood my parents thought it would be a good idea to get a cat (not knowing that I would be allergic) and my asthma got a LOT worse. That cat only lasted a few years before being run over, which was good for me but not for the cat However,  I never developed any significant immunity to it and my asthma remained bad until the cat was no longer around. After a gap of some years my parents decided to get a another cat (doh!) using the selfish excuses I’m afraid I have often heard from cat owners over the years of "oh you’ll get used to it in time", "its all in your mind anyway" and "it’ll help you with your allergy to other peoples’ cats". Yeah right. Well I didn’t and it didn’t. Yes, over the years I built up some very limited tolerance to it as long as it didn’t come anywhere near me, didn’t enter my bedroom and we hoovered regularly. But I stress -limited-. I still got nasty attacks a lot of the time, especially if the wretched thing sneaked into my bedroom for a kip, the cat spent a lot of time outdoors as a result and if I went away for as little as a week that limited immunity had vanished and took months to rebuild again. What’s more, living with a cat did -nothing- to help with my tolerance of other peoples’ cats. In fact, given I had several very serious encounters with other peoples’ cats during this time, I actually have a feeling it made me MORE sensitive to other peoples cats because now that I don’t live with any cats any more I can cope with exposure for somewhat longer before a major attack comes on (its inevitable, but takes longer now than when I used to live with cats). In my adult years I have had to live in ‘cat infested’ houses/flats for a number of reasons at different times and have never lasted the distance before having to pack my bags and leave. Sadly too many people would rather wave goodbye to their flatmates than their beloved cats (in all these instances except one I wasn’t foolish enough to move in with cats, they were moved in with me). In my experience, you will not develop a significant tolerance to the cat and will always have problems. And yes, as someone else has mentioned, add colds and flu into the equation and you have a nightmare on your hands. Why risk your health like this? To add some further experiences. My sister shares my allergy. She chooses to live with 2 cats (her choice – she’s insane IMO). Her asthma is very chronic with regular serious acute phases which seem to be almost every time she catches a minor cold. If she gets a heavy cold or flu it gets severe and she has been hospotalised. But she refuses to accept it’s the cats (why are cat lovers so blinkered about things?) despite being told by everyone, including her doctor, that they definitely play a significant role. Let me guess, you got a cat because your partner wanted one? If so, ask your partner which is more important – having you around in a healthy and active state, free of the risk of a life-threatening attack, or having a piece of mobile decorative fur about the place to coo at from time to time Simply put, keep the cat and you will keep your asthma In my experience, far from building up a tolerance, you will always have problems and probably also increase your sensitivity to other peoples cats too. Regards and best wishes Martin London UK

Response:

I have been an asthmatic for 16 years and we have recently introduced a Cat to the house which has made the asthma dramatically worse. Other than getting rid of the CAT !!! can anyone offer any advice. I am taking Bricanyl , eating Onions, Licorice etc but nothing seems to help. I have also tried the BEE PROLAPSES to no avail. Any views would be appreciated Gary London UK

Response:

Hi Gary,    The only alternative is to find a suitable home for your cats.  Accolate helps people with cat sensitivities.  The more you become exposed to the dander of the cat it can lead to a life threatening situation. Your health is more important. Keeping the cat in your home is like playing russian roulette, life is more important than keeping a cat. Sincerely, Sandy

Response:

well its probably an old wives tale but i heard that the onions and licorice helped some people but not me !!! thanks for your help

Response:

I have been an asthmatic for 16 years and we have recently introduced a Cat to the house which has made the asthma dramatically worse. Other than getting rid of the CAT !!! can anyone offer any advice.

I’ve had asthma since childhood and the worst aggravating factor to developing this for me,.. is cats. I would be very worried for your health if you came down with a severe upper respiratory/flu combination with asthma that became worse because of the cats. Not even speaking of the cats, the u.r.f.c w/ asthma can be a ‘mother’. 1 week of being utterly unable to be on your feet, and another week to get your strength back.

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