Conference misery::feline

    
    It turns out people are typically not allergic to cat hair or dander
    (dried skin), but to cats' saliva.  My guess is that there might be enough
    variability in the protein mix in cat saliva from one cat to the next
    that one could have an allergic reaction to a protein present to a
    greater degree in one cat's saliva but to a lesser degree in another's,
    and hence seem more allergic to one cat than to another.
    
    I'm just conjecturing, but saliva as the basis for allergies to cats
    is well established at this point.   
     
    len.
    

    Some people are definitely allergic to some cats and not others. 
    Nearly anyone who was allergic to any cat was allergic to my dear
    Siamese, the late Nebula.  My friend John, who adopted "Puddy" from
    this file a year or so ago and was once owned by Nugget (a great
    kitty!), is very allergic to some cats (Nebula was one of them) but not
    at all allergic to any kittens.  So he has never adopted a cat younger
    than about six months.  With older cats, if he holds one in his arms
    near his sinuses for a few minutes, it becomes real obvious whether or
    not John will be able to add the cat to his household.  Good luck!
    
    /Charlotte

    It's also possible that there's something temporary on the new
    cat's fur, since it's just been a week.  Probably somewhere in
    here is an allergy note, but I'll just mention that I have heard
    of people having good results with the bathing (or wiping down with a
    damp cloth??), plus the Enviracaire HEPA-type air cleaning machine I
    got because my cat has allergies helps an enormous amount;  as I
    understand it, anything that reduces allergins in general helps
    calm down allergic reactions to specific items, and the HEPA air
    filters do that.  You probably also want to keep the new kitty from
    sleeping on your son's bed and perhaps even out of his room :-(
    
                          

    
    I am more allergic to my siamese, who seems to shed constantly,
    than to my abysinian, who does not seem to shed much. They are
    both considered short-hair, but the texture is different. But
    I think the saliva is the key. I get hives when my siamese
    licks me, which fortunately does not happen often. I don't
    get hives when the Abysinian licks me. I do brush the siamese
    as often as I can to help prevent furball and to help my
    allergies. I wash him 3 or 4 times a year when he gets grungy,
    since he goes outside. You may want to clip the claws before
    bathing if the cat is not used to it. Mine are so used to it
    that they don't figh, the siamese, 11 now, will acutally quietly
    sit in the sink until I'm done. I wash them in the sink, half
    filled with warm (100 F) water. Sometimes, I put some baby shampoo
    right in the water, like a teaspoon. I'll put their hind legs in the
    sink, and pour the water over them with a cup and scrub gently. You 
    will need some help to hold the front legs together, firm but not hard 
    enough to hurt, over the edge of the sink/counter. Don't wash the head.
    Talk to the animal calmly. I don't rinse if the water does not feel soapy. 
    Towel dry and put the cat in a sunny spot. The cat will lick him/herself dry.
    The key is to have *everything* ready and do it as fast as you can without
    getting nervous. It gets easier each time. 
    
    
    Eva

    Somewhere in here I posted an article called "Dander Away!".  It
    suggested that rinsing the cat in distilled water cuts the allergens
    significantly.  Even if you can't bathe or rinse the kitty perhaps
    you could hold him and sponge him down with the distilled water.
    
    If I can locate that article I'll send you a copy.
    
    Jan

    
    Well I for one am certainly allergic to cats (of course I have
    three of them).  I found that after awhile I sort of build up
    an immunity to each one.  With me it takes about two months after
    each new family addition to get to the point I can have them anywhere
    near my face.  Heck for all the joy they have given me, I figure
    a couple months of sneezing, itching and puffy eyes is worth it.
    I just make sure whenever a new kitten comes along it is spring
    or summer and doors and windows can be open for fresh air..
    
    Becky 
    

The one cat in my house that gives me problems is Hobbes. Partly because
he is a big kisser, and partly because his spit bothers me more.
The other guys lick me and know problems. He licks me and I'd better wash
or find Benadryl FAST. Worse yet is touching my eyes after hobbes.
One night I got one of his hairs IN my eye somehow (certain it was his as
he had been loving me fiercely for about 30 mins) and my eye looked like
I had a shiner except for  no blackness. Other guys are no problem, its
just him. Darn shame is he's the big lap cat of the house... but I have
to be REAL careful around him.

Thanks,
Keith

    IT IS NICE TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE WHO REALLY LIKE CATS EVEN THOU THEY
    ARE ALLERGIC TO THEM. I HAVE FIVE CATS, ONE LONGHAIR, ONE WITH VERY
    SHORT HAIR AND THE OTHER THREE ARE SHORT HAIR. FROM WHAT I HAVE
    HEARD, THE OIL IN THE COAT ON A SHORT HAIR WILL CAUSE MORE ALLERGIC
    REACTIONS THAN A LONG HAIR, I HAVE SEEN THIS WHEN FRIENDS CAME OVER
    AND THEY REACT TO KNOBOWITZ, THATS THE REALLY SHORT HAIR. 

	I am allergic to just about everything that breathes oxygen and
	has any sort of fur or feather. When I was tested, the only
	animal listed that didn't
	come up with a positive reaction was cows. And ..since I love
	animals...and haven't found any lap cows yet, I have
	two dogs a cat and a bird..(had a gerbil , but he just
	passed on)...and basically..I just don't care. I can't
	take any of the allergy pills or shots any more as I 
	had a heart attack a few years back and ..well...

	I just livwe with it. Have made the choice..I'd rather sniffle and
	have a cat on my lap...than be breathing clearly and have no
	critters. 


	some people can't be reached by logic !
	peace
	dotty

    Lap cows!  Bwahahahahahaha!
    
    I never thought of myself as allergic to cats, but I do keep a box of
    kleenex in every room of the house, since I'm *always* a little bit
    sniffly.  Maybe the kitties are the reason, but so be it!  They're a
    non-negotiable part of my life.  (How can anyone do without the honor
    of being owned by a cat?)
    
    Leslie