[dazzafact]

We have got 2 cats and have had them for 8 years. My wife has just started getting an allergic reaction to them; running nose, itchy eyes and blotches. Anyone know why this has suddenly happened, whether it will now last forever and what are the best tablets to take?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Mylo]

try a citerizine based anti histamine. Sainsbury's own brand ones work pretty well and are cheap.


I occasionally get blotchy eyes when playing with my two cats. There is no rhyme or reason for it, it just happens every now and again.

[C225]

I'm allergic to cats and usually just take some hayfever tablets and it usually helps out if i have to be near cats.

[dazzafact]

But my wifes is a constant and she cannot bare to be away from them for more than 8 hours She started with sneezing like a man, and it has now progressed to a constant nose run etc when ever she is around them both. Is it advisable to take these tablets all the time as a preventative or are they just for the odd bout of eye scratching?

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by dazzafact

We have got 2 cats and have had them for 8 years. My wife has just started getting an allergic reaction to them; running nose, itchy eyes and blotches.

So it's not a seven year itch thing then?

I wonder if your cats are now picking up some allergen which they may not have been able to get to before, like an overgrowing tree or something. Many plants are poisonous and/or can cause allergic reactions.

[Adam Shaw]

Get an air ioniser, takes dust and other allergens out of the air in your house.

[Miyazaki]

Why not just shave the cats? It is summer and all, they might appriciate it.

[Setenza]

Have the cats in question contracted anything?

[jason g]

get rid of the cats.

[Steven]

lol at GG and jason

[John Henry]

Maybe she's just started to get hayfever.

[dazzafact]

Originally Posted by Malice

So it's not a seven year itch thing then?

I wonder if your cats are now picking up some allergen which they may not have been able to get to before, like an overgrowing tree or something. Many plants are poisonous and/or can cause allergic reactions.

Well they've all moved down south so maybe it's just an allergy to southern talking jessies

Originally Posted by Games Guru

Why not just shave the cats? It is summer and all, they might appriciate it.

They are both extremely fat, would not look like cute cats anymore.

Originally Posted by Xusia Of Delos

Have the cats in question contracted anything?

Not sure mate, they don't venture out of sight and scared sh!tless of other cats, so doubt it.

Originally Posted by jason g

get rid of the cats.

Originally Posted by John Henry

Maybe she's just started to get hayfever.

It is a possibility, but she gets it even when the pollen count is low. She has bought some tablets ao will see how they go.

[DVD-Man]

My GF is the same for cats and dogs, shame as she used to have one and I used to have a dog (both put down, old age, illness) now if shes in contact wth friends cats and dogs then Piritin (sp) is required but it doesn't stop the itching only the streaming eyes and nose, throat.

Liam

[RuddyRoad]

Allergies are typically an acquired phenomenon, as eventually exposure to something can cause the body to react against it (although perversely the same exposures are sometimes used to treat allergies).

Cetirizine is a pretty safe anti-histamine, so if it works, most people are happy to take them regularly. It is unlikely the allergy will go away any time soon. Interestingly, the main allergen in cat dander appears to be the cat saliva rather than the hair itself

[mjn]

I grew up with cats, with no problems, then i went to university and lived in halls, and then rented flat. Didn't have cats for about 8 years, and whenever i visited people with cats, i developed a runny nose, itchy eyes, etc, all the symptoms. The cure? As soon as i bought my first house, down the RSPCA centre picked up 2 cats, and cat overdose must have done, as my allergy pretty much cleared up straight away.