My cat gives me hives!
By gmakesmoney
@gmakesmoney (2923)
United States
May 30, 2008 8:46am CST
I've had my cat since she was 6 weeks old and she just turned 5 years old last week so that's a long time. Well recently anywhere she plants a kiss or licks or kneeds on me I get hives within a few seconds. If I pick her up, it's loads of sneezing. I was this allergic to cats all my life until I got her and within a couple of weeks of having her I no longer had allergies to cats. But now all of a sudden, I have to take pills which knock me out just to be in the same apartment with her. I think she senses it because she's been keeping her distance more than usual from me lately. This isn't happening to anyone else in the apartment, just me. So I'm wondering if anyone else has had something like this happen with their cat? The only change has been to her diet from Iams Indoor (which she was allergic to) to Organics By Nature (which has greatly reduced her allergies, she's in the switching phase now).
Giving her up is not an option, she's not adoptable as she has anxiety issues from a past trauma and she's so set in her very spoiled ways. Any advice?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@lynn2457 (500)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I am so sorry, I know that we have dogs around me, and if one comes up and kisses me especially on the face, I will end up with zits. Not sure why, but it just happens.
I understand this for I itch with animal hair, I found if I give the dogs and when I had cats a bath, then it was better, they have oils that my skin cannot handle, and by bathing them, it removes those oils and helps until the next bathing, I know giving cats baths are not easy, but it can be done, Mine, had a bath every 3 to 4 weeks, and I was fine.
Good luck,
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117259)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Sep 20
I've never tried bathing my cats. I get the feeling I'd get torn to pieces for trying.
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
30 May 08
I don't know that I have any advice other than not to let her lick you. My hubby gets hives from pet saliva too...our cats and our dog.
Perhaps see if there is another food that she can eat as that may be the problem for you right now. It may have changed to composition of her dander, although, I don't know if that is possible.
You might go to an herbal remedies store and ask them if they have some natural supplements you can take for pet/cat allergies. I have seasonal allergies and am taking Feverfew and Nettle Root and, I didn't have my allergies at all this year because I am taking it. Perhaps they might have something you can take for cats too. Also, is your cat an indoor or outdoor cat? If she goes outside, she may have picked something up on her fur that may be causing you problems right now.
It just occurred to me that it very well could be the food that you are feeding her. Think about how she cleans herself. If you get hives from her licking you, then, whatever is in her saliva that causes an allergic reaction will also be on her fur to a lesser degree so, when you touch her, it could be different reaction to the less potent allergin in her saliva. Does that make sense? And, since the only thing you can think of that has changed with her is her food, then maybe that is the problem.
I hope I helped! Sorry I couldn't come up with anything better! But, give what I suggested a shot and see if it does help!
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
30 May 08
Thanks that did make a lot of sense and it's helpful. I wanted to switch her to an organic diet and researched until I found a food that wouldn't affect her food allergies. I never thought to check it for something I might be allergic to as well. I read over the bag and the only thing I can think of is Fish Meal, last summer I developed a bad allergy to Tuna after a life time of having it and it gave me hives. Which is rare for me, I normally don't get hives from allergies. However she has fish wet food every night and that never bothered me, unless the stuff in her wet food is like immitation or something and the Fish Meal in the organic dry food is real and stronger? I'll have to look into that.
I took Nettle Root last year for a while and it helped for a while but not strong enough. I'll have to go into the natural pharmacy and see if they can give me a combo I can use, I can't go outside without sneazing or popping pills. I'd love to treat as naturally as possible so that's a great idea, thanks!
1 person likes this
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
30 May 08
Good! I am so glad I could be of some help! Hopefully that will be what is bothering you so that you can fix it and get back to loving her the way you both deserve! Let me know if changing her food again worked for you!
And, the feverfew in combination with the nettle root may be just the combination yu need to be able to combat your outdoor allergies. Mine were so bad last year that I thought I was dying...literally! So, to have gone from that bad last year to nothing this year was magnificent. Now, if I can fight off this cold that the hubby brought home to me from his office, I'll be thrilled! Ugh! LOL!
Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing and if you were able to remedy the problem with a change of food for your cat! Or, even something you can take that will be naturally beneficial!
