1/n As a kid I couldn't be in the same room as a cat, I was so allergic! Leaky eyes, snot, swollen face, etc. But allergies fluctuate with age, and now I mainly just get shortness of breath (I've had persistent asthma my entire life, but cats didn't used to trigger it, go figure)
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2/n I use Flixonase most days, an antihistamine tablet maybe a couple of times a week (I also have loads of other environmental allergies like dust, pollen, etc.), and keep my asthma controlled to the best of my ability.
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3/n If my cat allergy symptoms were as severe as in my childhood, no way in hec I could have a cat, I don't think. But it's entirely manageable. ALSO, allergen severity depends on the cat! Not necessarily breed (I don't support buying designer animals), just the individual.
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4/n I was very nervous about adopting one and we started out by fostering kittens for the Cat Protection Society. I was super allergic to one pair but had no problems with a few others. I ended up adopting a young adult cat, and the shelter gave me her bedding for a week...
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5/n ...so I could gauge my allergic reaction to her specifically (you often can't foster adult cats to 'try it out' because it's too stressful for them). I kept her blanket on my desk where I work from home and concluded I was totally fine with it. Best decision ever.
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6/n Many people with allergies have cats and manage it with a mix of regular vacuuming, medication, rules (not having the cat in your bed for example), etc. You also hear that people get 'adjusted' to their own cat's allergens and become less allergic over time.
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7/n All that said, adopting a cat is a serious commitment (emotional, financial, etc.) and should not be done lightly, especially if allergy management is a concern. But it can be done! Audrey is a delight and one of the best things to ever happen to me.pic.twitter.com/Kz0cSvPoNj
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I agree with all of these statements. I find that I'm quite allergic to cats I've never met before, but the ones I live with don't cause any reaction now
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Yeah I can't say there's no reaction (I can tell I'm less asthmatic when travelling, for example), but it's minor enough that the quality of life benefit of living with a cat FAR OUTWEIGHS the allergy.
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Replying to @nevertoocurious @GidMK and
(Also for all I know I could be allergic to the house we live in, not even the cat :D )
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I have certain days where I'll react a lot and need an antihistamine, but generally nothing unless I put my face in the cat's face and call her cutesy names So, maybe one cat-related sneeze or two a day?
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my reaction to cats is more in the area of swollen eyes, itchy membranes (eyes, palate, intranasal) I've had the same 'desensitisation' over time, but I also find specific breeds are a bigger trigger for me AFAIK it's the proteins in saliva that mediates the immune response
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Mhm, so many people think cat hair is the culprit! Nah, it's saliva proteins they deposit on their fur while baffing :D I get localised swelling if I cop a scratch on my skin, for example. And yes, different cats harbour different levels of allergen but I don't support breeding.
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