Cat Allergies?!
Question: I currently own a 6 year old cat. I have had her since she was 3 weeks old ( I fostered her for the humane society...fell in love...and kept her), and do not experience any sort of allergic reaction to her. The only allergic reaction I experience with her is if I pet her for an extended period of time, and then don't immediately wash my hands afterwards, my eyes get SLIGHTLY irritated. Nothing serious though.
However, when I volunteer with the cats/kittens at the HS, I often find myself with itchy eyes, a scratchy throat, and consistant sneezing. It has gotten to the point that I have to take allergy meds right before I go or I can not work with them. It only takes 20 minutes of volunteering before the symptoms appear full blast.
I also foster kittens, and for the first day that they are in my house, I get allergy symptoms, but after a couple of days, I'm fine, with absolutely no symptoms.
Answers: I currently own a 6 year old cat. I have had her since she was 3 weeks old ( I fostered her for the humane society...fell in love...and kept her), and do not experience any sort of allergic reaction to her. The only allergic reaction I experience with her is if I pet her for an extended period of time, and then don't immediately wash my hands afterwards, my eyes get SLIGHTLY irritated. Nothing serious though.
However, when I volunteer with the cats/kittens at the HS, I often find myself with itchy eyes, a scratchy throat, and consistant sneezing. It has gotten to the point that I have to take allergy meds right before I go or I can not work with them. It only takes 20 minutes of volunteering before the symptoms appear full blast.
I also foster kittens, and for the first day that they are in my house, I get allergy symptoms, but after a couple of days, I'm fine, with absolutely no symptoms.
I'm allergic to cats also but yet I have 3 indoors. I'm really good with them and like you said, you get used to that particular cat dander from being exposed to it constantly. When I go to anyone of my friends houses that has cats, I will not pet them cause I will go into a allergy attack. My friend had a burmese cat once and I was so highly allergic that I could not go over her house anymore. I didn't even have to be in the same room with the cat, it was just being in that house thats how allergic I was. So I can love on my cats also but I really have to be careful to wash my hands after a prolong loving session. I can let them rub on my face but immediately have to go wash my face or I will be sorry. So you are allergic to cats but have a built up tolerance to your own. Happy sneezing and itchy eyes :)
You answered your own question.. :-)
You might also be having a reaction to the other substances on the animals at the humane society. You most likely keep your pet much cleaner than some of the animals at the shelter, especially if you are dealing with animals as they first come in. Same with the animals you foster, symptoms the first day, a good scrub and no more symptoms...
allergens are proteins found not only in dander, but also saliva and urine. The air in your home is cleaner than the clinic and the particle concentration on the pet wears off after you get it home.
I don't know if you knew of these other allergens, but I am sure that the dust particle concentrations of the combined sources stay dense in the air, at the clinic, even with normal cleanliness and ventilation.
an inexpensive particle mask would help -- they come several in a pack or box.
Also you may inquire as to the type of filter that they use in the air conditioning system -- they may not be using a special one that filters out allergens, that is, particles as small as they are.
Also the air conditioning duct work probably has a heavy build up of the allergens and also, there maybe mold which is another allergen, that can be dangerous to your health. the system should be cleaned more regularly than normal.
I, too, am allergic to cats, which really stinks. :(
Yeah, you just about answered you own question! When you're around your cat, that's just one cat and not as much dander. At the HS you are around multiple cats--multiply your cat's dander times how many cats you're around at the HS, and that's a ton of dander!
If you take a teaspoon of LOCAL honey each day, your allergies to pets Will go away. The honey will work with your body to develop immunity to any air born irritant around you. Like all herbal remedies, it will take a while to become effective but you will also notice that you get less cold and flu symptoms as well. Get off the prescription meds-they dry out your body and cause long term damage to your organs.
All my cats have been "outdoor cats". I mean they are let to wqnder around outside, I know there well be some who say thats wrong, they just seem to be happier. I have never lost one. I found out it was not the cat I was allergic to but they are getting in two., so from the time they are kittens they learn they will have a bath once aweek