Cat allergy - time for the cat to go?

[chubbermommy]

This may be a silly question but DS has a slight cat allergy (stuffy nose). I also do, but it's never been a big problem. Until now, with PANDAS, I'm wondering if having the cat around is causing some sort of inflammatory response that, however slight it may be, certainly doesn't help things. DS and DD would be heartbroken to see our cat go, but what can I do? I think it's time for the cat to find another home. Any thoughts? This allergy WOULD cause complications with PANDAS, would it not?

 

 

[ibcdbwc]

This is a hard decision. The reality is that there are a billion air allergens in the world from dust mites to fungal spores (all houses have some degree of mold and mildew), to pests/insects, dead skin cells, chemicals from our cleaners and "fresheners." Of course what we ingest is equally problematic. All adds up to us living in a constant state of inflammation more or less, with or without cats. Our immune systems are overloaded.

 

So yes, cats can certainly complicate the issue especially if one has a true allergy (IgE/histamine response???) to the dander of a cat. It's not the cat itself, it's the dander. Also be aware, that removing the pet does NOT remove the allergens. Your home and your system are filled with the dander already.

 

Certainly there are steps to take to increase the air quality in the home, and decrease the damage by all the potential allergens. It's probably more of how much you can do -- while dealing the strain of PANDAS/PANS. Washing the furniture, using hepa vacuums, checking your ventilation systems, perhaps installing air filters...

 

All of this you'd need to do with or without the cat still in the home because again, homes are loaded with all sorts of allergens. If you choose to keep your pet (and what about the stress of losing an animal?- certainly something to consider). Make sure, to keep the cat out of bedrooms and to wash the cat periodically to remove excess dander. People with mild allergies can live with their animals but it's a process. And of course, reducing ALL the other billions of allergens would help as well (encase mattresses, pillows, wash linens frequently, check for chemical irritants, dust mites and mold are a real problem...)

 

Good luck. It's a tough call for sure!

[qannie47]

A hard decision indeed. If you feel that the cat is causing too much of a problem, in your shoes, I would probably find another home for it. Hopefully it wont come to that.

[Chemar]

There are special shampoos you can use on the cat to reduce the dander & saliva allergens.

 

http://www.petmd.com/cat/care/evr_ct_cat_allergies

 

http://www.allergystore.com/cat_allergies.htm

 

The trauma of giving away a beloved family pet would be a lot worse than trying to minimize the allergens imo

Both the kids and the cat would be mega stressed at parting.

[3bmom]

I agree with Chemar. Emotional stresses no matter how small seem to influence our kids. Like a coin it is the other side of PANDAS. That being said years ago before PANDAS came into our lives my husband had severe cat allergies. We couldn't even have dinner at a family members home if they had a cat. He gave up gluten for heartburn issues and lost his cat allergy! We thought it bizarre until we entered world of the immune system.

 

I think it all goes back to layers and which layer of inflammation is personally worse for you.

[chubbermommy]

Yeah...it's a tough decision. Right now we have a door to the upstairs area so the cat is not allowed in bedrooms. I wish we could wash her, but the last time we actually bathed her was over 10 years ago and it did NOT go well . DS is adamant that we keep her. I said, 'even if it makes your PANDAS better?', he still wanted to keep her. So I guess she is staying for now, and I have extra cleaning to do.

[nicklemama]

We found DS has a cat allergy, very mild but still showed up on intradermal testing. Um, we have 3 cats. Here is the allergists answer because he knows his patients aren't going to get rid of the pet. Daily Claritin. Cats not allowed in DS room. Vacuum with a HEPA filter. It's been two years now, I think. Daily Claritin has helped a lot and DS is doing well. Our cats are old and infirm and we would not find them new homes. Promised allergist we would not get replacement cats when these pass away.

 

He also has dust/mites allergy pretty significant. I encased all the mattresses and pillows in the house. Has feather allergy. Got rid of the down pillows on his bed.

 

Finding a new doc and treating with double abx has been the single most significant thing for improvement.

[nicklemama]

There was no question we would not get rid of the cats. I see your cat is old too. It's very hard to find homes for old cats. One thing we are looking at is replacing all the upstairs carpeting with wood. Our cats do not go upstairs so it's been easy to keep the out of DS room.

[Rachel]

We have two cats but none of us have cat allergies. However, I do use the Allerpet product because it does help with seasonal allergies that we have. We do go outside and what we bring in on our shoes may wind up on the cats body. I sweep and vacum 2-3 times a week and use the allerpet during ragweed season.