Reader Reports about Overcoming Cat Allergies
Loved this story and asked if I could share – Marshall said I could!
“I wanted to send you an email expressing how much I love and enjoy Floppycats. Charlie and Trigg’s antics are hilarious and often make my day. I can just imagine all the fun and craziness off camera.
Your website and YouTube videos peeked my interest in adopting a cat a few years back. I had been a lifelong dog-person, but watching your videos and reading your website posts, I was interested in adding a feline friend to my family. All was going well until I had a 1:1 meeting with a gorgeous torti bobtail. I broke out head to toe in hives, requiring emergency medical care. I was crushed; I thought this dream was over.
I meet with an allergist and was given hope that there were options and treatments. After skin testing, it was quite evident that I was severely allergic to cat antigenic proteins. Worst, I was also moderately allergic to dogs! I have two. One was 12 and the other was 5 at the time. I’ve had dogs my whole life. I had later found out that allergies are an ever changing ordeal in some people.
So, I immediately started immunotherapy. I received “allergy shots” twice a week for 6 months and then weekly for a year. I showed progress and went to every other week. I had 3 severe anaphylactic reactions to the antigen, but immediate treatment, those were nipped in the bud. I was determined to get these allergies under control.
Two years later, I adopted my first cat! She’s not floppy, as she’s an American Shorthair diluted torbi. I’ve had no reactions except if I scratch her and immediately touch my eyes. Margaux is a joy to have and has been an amazing companion to my senior Labrador, Mocha. My pointer was not thrilled that she used his back as a scratcher when they first met. They now just tolerate each other.
I thought this would be a nice inspiration to those who feel they can never own a cat because of their allergies. There are viable treatments. It takes time and a decent chunk of money, but if you’re determined, it can be done. My allergist informed me that there is a “cat allergy vaccine” awaiting FDA approval. It shows promise in wiping out the immune systems response to the FEL D-1 allergen. This could open the doors for many people to finally have a cat without the 2-5 year commitment to immunotherapy.
I wanted to thank you for inspiring me to bring a cat into my life. Thank you, Jenny! Keep up the excellent work through Floppycats. I’m sometimes just as excited watching your arrival videos as Charlie and Trigg are to the unopened boxes.
Margaux was just spayed and I’ve been using your advice to keep her well hydrated. I’ve been adding hot water to her wet food to bring it up to mouse temperature. She was back to normal within about 8 hours post surgery. I believe it helped flush out the anesthetics. I will be doing this all the time. Great tip! My aunt lost a few of her cats to kidney disease over the years. When I asked her what she fed them: well, you know the answer… I encouraged her to switch over to wet food.
Cat allergies need not hinder someone to a life void of cats. I have been following cat-SPIRE closely over the last few years. It could lead to treatments for other life threatening allergies.
http://allergicliving.com/2015/02/18/a-shot-at-a-cure-for-cat-allergy/ “
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
Marshall, thank you so much for sharing your story with Jenny! Jenny, thank you for sharing Marshall’s awesome story with all of us!
I’m so happy that you were able to finally get your lovely feline companion! Life with cats and dogs is just wonderful and if you have children then that’s even better. Growing with animals is a wonderful life lesson for children, I think, and helps them become more responsible adults. (Just my opinion, though.) 🙂 <3
Glad your story had a happy ending, Marshall!
Big hugs!
Patti & Miss Pink Sugarbelle 🙂 <3
P.S. Lurve the photo. Gorgeous animals! 🙂 <3
i’m so glad you didn’t let your allergy keep you from the experience of living with a cat. they are such wonderful friends. i agree with what you said about “floppycats”. when i found jenny and trigg and charlie, i was hooked. they always make me smile or literally fall off my chair laughing. i love them so much and look so forward to every video jenny does. i have really bad allergies, not to cats but i’m sure all their fluff doesn’t help but i would never give them up if i was allergic to them. i would get shots every day if i had to. thanks for posting this. this will help others that may want a cat but think they can’t have one. your photo is cute as heck too. little kitty with big doggie.
I totally agree with you! 🙂 <3
Can understand your situation because I too have allergies to cats, dust, certain trees and pollen and am highly allergic to honey bee stings and rabbits. Got my first cat (silver Persian) when I was 13) despite the allergies. Am extremely allergic to rabbits but had 3 of them anyway in my 20’s. Only time it became serious was when I, like you, rubbed my eyes after holding them, but I was determined to have them anyway. Underwent allergy shots in my late 20’s (by then had 4 Persians as well). Became allergic to the allergy injections themselves after taking them every week for 2 years. Had a heart to heart with my allergist and he suggested that having the animals over time would probably lessen my reaction. Now 30 years later, I do not have any allergic reaction to my cats dander or their saliva despite rubbing them and then rubbing my face. It has been proven that kids growing up with a lot of animals around do not have as many allergies as kids who grow up in an environment without them. Truly believe that. So glad you persisted and got your kitties anyway. Will never be without mine no matter what.
BIG HUGS for all you went through when you did have your allergies, Teresa. So happy it all worked out so well in the end! YAY!!!! 🙂 <3