How to Reduce Cat Allergies

The problem (I am allergic to cats)

When I am around cats, my eyes begin to swell, my throat begins to close, my breathing shortens and I have to escape! I cannot stay in a house or an apartment but a short period of time, where a cat lives. I once had a friend that had two children with severe allergies.

She had remarked that her Doctor told her if she could subject the children to their allergen without a drastic reaction, then the child could develop a natural immunity to the allergen, to some degree, over a period of time. I had a thought…..I have cat allergies. If we would get a cat maybe my allergies would subside!

The search for the solution and then living with the decision

The search was on for the right cat. My children and I finally located one that we agreed would be the right one. A male Siamese, beautiful color, cheap (free) and just the right age at 6 weeks old. At my daughter’s request we named him Teger.

For as long as Teger lived with us, which was 18 years, my allergies for cats did diminish drastically. For the first 2 to 3 months his presence caused me considerable discomfort. There was never any time when I was frightened for my health. My doctor told me that the symptoms were low and there was no concern. I did find that I could not get the cat close to my face and when he would put his claws onto my skin they would leave red marks for a few hours. I washed my hands a lot and tried to keep the kitten at a distance. There were times when I was not sure which was worse, the problem or the solution!

This was the first kitten we had ever had and also it was before I was smart enough to research the individual traits of animal breeds. Teger was a mess in many ways. He had a terrible attitude about certain things, like closed doors for instance. There was no rest until the door was opened and he could enter the room. Nothing needed other than he wanted to be able to go where he wanted, when he wanted to go.

We came to believe quickly that he was not our cat, we were HIS family and this was HIS house! When quests came to stay overnight there was strict instructions to NOT close the bedroom door completely or no one would get any sleep that night. He could “beller” louder than any newborn calf that had lost its mother. Restrooms were off limits when occupied and he did finally (after a few years) concede to that fact, although his disapproval was always obvious!

The dryer episode

I was at work one afternoon when a call came into my desk. It was my 14 year old daughter and she was crying. She was so upset it was difficult to understand what she was trying to tell me. I talked to her a moment, asked her where she was and she replied in the kitchen of our home. I Told her to sit down on the bench beside the phone and take a couple of deep breaths. All she kept saying was Teger, Teger.

Now Teger had lived with us about 12 years at that time. When she calmed down she told me she had put some blue genes into the dryer to freshen them up. When the dryer stopped she opened the door and Teger raised his head from under the blue genes and screamed at her! There was blood running from his mouth. It must have been a scene from a horror movie! She started to cry again. Upon asking her where the cat was she said he had run into the living room. Well, that told me that he was alive. I told her I would be right home.

It only took about 10 minutes for me to arrive at the house. She had calmed down considerably by that time and was rational. She explained to me again about the blue genes and I asked her if she knew just how long the dryer had ran. Maybe 10 to 15 minutes was her reply. That must have been hell for that poor cat! I located the cat in the living room. He was under an end table and had the attitude of LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE! I very gently felt his body all over with my fingers and the only place he flinched was at the base of his tail. He was doing a very unusual thing though, he was hassling.

Now dogs hassle, cats don’t. I decided to call my veterinarian to ask about that. The vet listened to my explanation of what had happened and then asked me the question, “What type of clothing was in the dryer with the cat?” When I replied blue genes, he said “That was good.” The last cat he had a call about was in with tennis shoes and the cat was D.O.A. at the clinic! The vet explained the hassling was because the cat was in shock and that if he did not return to normal breathing in about 30 minutes that I should bring him into the clinic. Tiger did survive the dryer ordeal.

He lost part of an ear and had a sore tail and one paw for a few days but after that he seemed physically normal. He kept the bad attitude for about a week. Even after all these years the event makes me smile. One other thing was different. He would no longer spend any time in laundry room! Our family was sure to keep the dryer door closed from that point on.

Teger lived with us for so many years that after he had gone there was enough of him left in the house to continue my allergic immunity for a long time. I have never had as severe reactions since then. We miss his presence.