ds is "severely allergic" to cats aka I have to give up the cat I love
I feel silly being sad about this when there are so many worse things going on, but I am so sad.
My son has had allergies, but we didn't know specifially to what. We finally ignored our dr., who has been blowing us off for a year and a half, and took him to a specialist. He ran some tests and found that my son is "severely allergic" to cats and dogs and our two cats have to go.
I am so sad, I have had my cat for 8 years and she is really tuned into me. She sits by me if I am sad, sleeps at my feet, etc. She is so great.
My parents won't take her And I can't think of anyone that I know that would take her. Not only do I have to give her up, but I won't even get to see her anymore.
Has anyone else been through this?
She is too timid to be an outdoor cat, and our back yard is a hi-way, literally.
I am so bummed.
Nicole
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~Nicole~ Loving wife to the best dh, and mommy of 2 daughters and a son!
I'm not sure how old your ds is.....but have you looked into allergy shots?
I only say this becuase I am severely allergic to cats (and most everything else).....so much so that I will have troubles breathing when around them and watery eyes, sneezing, nose running....the entire thing. The breathing problems are the most frightening.
However, I did go on allergy shots a couple years ago and I now have FOUR indoor cats.
Just thought I'd throw this out at you...but I am suspecting you have already looked into it. I'm so sorry about this situation.
Michelle
__________________ "If it (salvation) is based solely on following rules, then it isn't grace via faith in Jesus Christ"
My DH is severely allergic to cats & the shots didn't work for him. Of course I had two cats that I had had for many years before we were together. DH had awful life threating asthma attacks pretty often. After many emergancy room visits and then finally a week stay in the hospital I had to find them new homes.
What we did was ask anyone we knew that we thought would be a good owner for them. Turned out that a co-worker of DH's wanted them. (They wanted full grown cats that they knew would be gentle to their kids). They have had them for about 5 years now and I've gone to visit them and can tell that they are happy. It's very hard but if you can take the time to find a good home there can be a happy ending.
HTH! : )
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Mandy
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((HUGS)) I'm so sorry you're going through that, I would hate to have to get rid of a pet, that is so hard.
My MIL had to get rid of her cat when dh brought me home to meet the family when we got engaged. I am severely allergic to cats and the reactions get worse every time, and now it doesn't even matter if that cat is there, if it's been in the room I'm in, I have severe eyes swell shut reactions. I'm always afraid the next time will be anaphylatic shock. I was on allergy shots for years and they didn't help me because I had reactions to them as well so they could never up the doses on me.
From what I understand, it is the cat dander and saliva that ppl are allergic to. There are lots of products that you can treat your cat w/ to reduce/ eliminate the dander, etc.
I'm so sorry, but also recently BTDT. My dd is also severely allergic to both cat dander and cat fur (which I also thought people were only allergic to the dander). Anyway, I'd had them forever and was heart broken. Initially we had a bunch of air purifiers, vacuumed daily, and bathed the cats regularly, but that didn't help enough and I felt (and still do) that allowing her to continue living in that environment was increasing her risk of all kinds of resperatory illness including asthma.
So, I asked everyone I knew if there was anyone that they might know that also might know someone else, etc. That didn't work. But, what did work was placing an very pleading ad in the paper. It cost us a bit of money, but it was worth it. There are many people interested in taking on older cats. I was picky about where they went and I did allow for them to be separated. In the end, I feel that they both went to wonderful homes. Also, my dd hasn't had any respiratory infection since about a month after they left.
But, it was hard. It took a couple of months from time of diagnosis until the cats found comes and I cried nearly every single day the entire way to and from work (my thinking time). So to you; I *know* how hard this is, but it really is in your small child's best interest.
talk to your vet
We've rescued our kitties through our vet's office. They know what kind of cats we like and when they have a family that can not keep their furries anymore, they call us.
It's nice to do it that way because then the vets know what kind of personality the cat has. So, check with your vet. They may have someone like myself who enjoys adopting sweet older cats.
Given that I work with animals daily and live with 7 cats, I'd make sure the allergist is right. I tested positive for cat allergies...and I am not. If it was me I'd ask a vet or friend to "board" your kitties for a month, clean the house and carpets, and see if his symptoms improve. The false positive rate for pet allergy testing is pretty high from what I was told. If your son improves with the cats gone, I'd then seek another home for them. I'd call friends, vets, shelters....
I ended up being allergic to outdoor things, and mold and dust. Allergy tests can help point you in the right direction, but they are not 100%. I tested positive on my skin and blood allergy tests for cats, and on the skin one for dogs. I am not allergic to either.
__________________ "Custom will reconcile people to any atrocity."
George Bernard Shaw
I'd just like to second the suggestion of allergy shots (if your ds is old enough). I got allergy shots from the age of 4 (maybe younger - but I definitely know that at 4, I was getting them) all the way through junior high, at which time I outgrew my allergies.
It was NOT a big deal for me, at all. I'd get a shot every two weeks, occasionally every week if my allergies got worse or we were trying a different "formula" (sorry, not sure what the official term is there). When I was in grade school, there were three boys in my class who got allergy shots, too. We all just went down to the school nurse and then went back to class. One of the boys was able to stop taking the shots four years before the rest of us - we were all jealous, but later he told us HE was jealous of us b/c we still got to leave class to go get the shots, lol!
Just wanted to say - it's not bad at all. I was even offered the chance to give myself my shots (when I got older), but turned it down. I was allergic to a ton of things, including cats and dogs. We had cats all through my childhood, and I would get the shots again in a heartbeat to preserve that child/pet relationship. I loved our cats!
I also think that Denise's suggestion of a "trial run" sounds like an excellent idea. It would be horrible to give your pets away and then find that they weren't the cause of the allergies after all.
Tough decision. If your ds is old enough, you might try talking it through with him?
Kinsey
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LOL! I've been through that. Except I was the kid who was found to be severely allergic to cats and dogs. (and most other animals too) Except it never occured to my parents to get rid of our pets. We had 4 indoor cats and 6 indoor/outdoor dogs. Oh and a couple horses in the backyard. Instead I took pills and had shots a couple times a week. I'm glad you made the decision to get rid of the cats, I hope you find someone you know to take them so you can see them. It would be scary sending them somewhere where you don't know how they really will be. I'm sorry
The shots didn't work for me. If I go near any cats or dogs, spend more than a couple minutes in the home of a pet owner I am miserable. I can't go to petting zoos or anything fun. I love animals so much but I can never touch them or hug them without feeling like I'm going to die. The allergy medications don't help me much, they take the edge off but I still feel horrible when ANY animal dander gets near me
I agree with the trial though, however, I wonder if you send the cat off she will still have symptoms for a while, the hair and dander seems to linger. It takes a while to get all of it out since the stuff that is most bothersome is invisible. It's worth a try though.
That stinks, we just went through a similar situation with our dog we have had for 6 years. Not for allergies, but aggression. Luckily a friend offered to take her, she's there for a 2 week trial period and he says she is adjusting great We thought we were going to have to take her to Animal Friends (local no-kill shelter). They reccommended calling the vet or running an ad with a petfinder website to find placement. But I would call your local shelter and see what kind of services they provide.
Sorry that you have to go through this.
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Becky, mama to Althea Rose (9/6/02), my light and smiling star. Email Amity Feedback
I luckily could take my cat to my folks when I married my dh years ago.
The cat was 16 years old at the time and my dh could not live with her (we took a memorable trip to an ER when his eyes swelled up like bumpy golfballs and I knew it wouldn't ever work)
I would drive to see the cat every other day and hold her on my lap (at least long enough to drink a cup of coffee with my mom)
The cat lived to be almost 20 and I kept the visits up for those 4 years.
It WAS so hard not having her live with me. I chose my dh over her though. I just couldn't help it. I wish they could have lived together in the same home with me!
I hope you will find a good solution to a new home for your sweet kitty!
And I can't think of anyone that I know that would take her. Not only do I have to give her up, but I won't even get to see her anymore.
to you; I *know* how hard this is, but it really is in your small child's best interest.
We thought we were going to have to take her to Animal Friends (local no-kill shelter). They reccommended calling the vet or running an ad with a petfinder website to find placement. But I would call your local shelter and see what kind of services they provide. 
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