Weird Question

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:03 am

Alright, this is a little different.

We've had a cat for a little over 13 years now. She's starting to get up there a bit in age.

About 2 months ago, every night when I'd go lay down in bed, my began feeling all bumpy, my nose clogged p and I start coughing uncontrollably. It only happened when I went in our room and lay down.

I went through everything, thinking my wife had changed our laundry soap, her shampoo, or something because it was very obvious I was having a reaction to something in the room.

Well, the old cat rarely leaves the room and sleeps on my pillow during the day. I eventually discovered it was her setting off these reactions in me.

But, it's just her. Not our other cat, nor any other cat. It just happens around her.

Is it possible that in her old age something has changed in her skin that would cause me to suddenly develop an allergy to her? If so, do you think it feasible that I could put her on some sort of diet that would maybe revert her to non-allergy status by me?

I'm not sure that makes sense, but I am miserable and getting rid of this cat aint too high on my list of things to do. My wife and daughter would be heartbroken.

Jackal · Post by **Jackal** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:17 am

I've had cats all my life but I'm not a vet. Having said that, my guess would be that your cat's age has caused an increase in dander which is what most people are actually allergic too.

This would also explain why this cat causes you problems and the other one doesn't (not enough dander coming from the younger cat to set off your low level allergies).

My suggestion on how to deal with this would be to have your wife brush the cat as often as possible (every other day would be good) and perhaps a dry cat shampoo for your cat once a week.
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:16 am

No, this is not a weird question. I totally disagree. Getting married to a 25 year old bag of Staypuft Marshmallows in a ceremony in Bangladesh, and questioning whether it is ok to be the best man is a weird question.

-O
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Morgrus · Post by **Morgrus** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:01 am

Jackal wrote:
I've had cats all my life but I'm not a vet. Having said that, my guess would be that your cat's age has caused an increase in dander which is what most people are actually allergic too.

This would also explain why this cat causes you problems and the other one doesn't (not enough dander coming from the younger cat to set off your low level allergies).

My suggestion on how to deal with this would be to have your wife brush the cat as often as possible (every other day would be good) and perhaps a dry cat shampoo for your cat once a week.

Yep, the only other factor in a histamine reaction with animals is bugs (mites). As a animal ages it's ability to fend of mites is reduced. Try a mild(due to age of cat)bug dip/spray if the brushing dont help or just train the cat ta take showers.
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voynich · Post by **voynich** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:28 am

Omote wrote:
Getting married to a 25 year old bag of Staypuft Marshmallows in a ceremony in Bangladesh, and questioning whether it is ok to be the best man is a weird question.

why is that weird? perhaps you are the michelin man or a ghostbuster dashiki.

here is a weird question once posed in a philosophy class:

if january is the sum of all doors, why is the cow farting behind the moon?
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Jonathan of White Haven · Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:25 am

DangerDwarf wrote:
Alright, this is a little different.

We've had a cat for a little over 13 years now. She's starting to get up there a bit in age.

About 2 months ago, every night when I'd go lay down in bed, my began feeling all bumpy, my nose clogged p and I start coughing uncontrollably. It only happened when I went in our room and lay down.

I went through everything, thinking my wife had changed our laundry soap, her shampoo, or something because it was very obvious I was having a reaction to something in the room.

Well, the old cat rarely leaves the room and sleeps on my pillow during the day. I eventually discovered it was her setting off these reactions in me.

But, it's just her. Not our other cat, nor any other cat. It just happens around her.

Is it possible that in her old age something has changed in her skin that would cause me to suddenly develop an allergy to her? If so, do you think it feasible that I could put her on some sort of diet that would maybe revert her to non-allergy status by me?

I'm not sure that makes sense, but I am miserable and getting rid of this cat aint too high on my list of things to do. My wife and daughter would be heartbroken.

I'm not a vet. Nor did I sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night. And yes, I have cats, two each, black, Humane Society issue. Kinky Friedman and J.R. Cash.

However, as I've gotten older, I have become susceptible to what's commonly referred to as "hay fever". You know, the itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, somewhat run down feeling. These are well-known symptoms of "allergies". When the pollen and mold spore counts go up, well, you get the picture. As we get older, we can develop allergies.

I suspect that over the past 13 years, you've gotten older, too. (Longevity potions do not make you younger, BTW.) Coupled with the fact that the cat in question tends to sleep on your pillow in your absence, this might have something to do with what is, from a layman's standpoint, an allergic reaction to the the combination of cat hair, cat dander, and cat spittle (on the cat hair) on your pillowcase.

There are several things you can do. While it may be emotionally painful to the cat, ban it from your bedroom. It won't completely get rid of the cat hair, but it would sharply reduce your direct (and close) exposure to it. If this isn't acceptable, put a bath towel over/around your pillow, and remove it each night before you go to bed. You can also change the pillowcase more often. The rest of the bedding, too. You can also try taking Claritin (loratidine) for a week or so to see if that helps your symptoms (it does for me, for the most part). Get the generic stuff--Wal-Mart sells it pretty cheaply, as does Walgreens.

Let us know if any of those suggestions help.
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DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:19 am

Yeah, I started taking an allergy pill about a month ago. It helps to a dregree. The cat has also been stopped from sleeping and lounging in our room and while it has stopped the the coughy-wheezes at bed-time for me, she's still in the house and my eyes and sinuses are paying the price.

I think we'll try the brushing and bath thing.The sandpaper eyes and constant earaches from the congestion are kicking my ass.

Morgrus · Post by **Morgrus** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:55 pm

voynich wrote:
why is that weird? perhaps you are the michelin man or a ghostbuster dashiki.

here is a weird question once posed in a philosophy class:

if january is the sum of all doors, why is the cow farting behind the moon?

42, but only with your towel.
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shadoes · Post by **shadoes** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:17 pm

Get a new pillow..sleep on it at night. In the morning place the pillow in the closet and put the old pillow back on the bed for the cat to sleep in. Or move the old pillow and see if it is that spot or just the pillow the cat likes

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:32 pm

I have a solution...Move the freakin cat. or better yet...

Get rid of all your cats.

Get a cool Labrador Retriever instead.

Labs kick butt!!!

What???
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Jonathan of White Haven · Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:42 pm

DangerDwarf wrote:
Yeah, I started taking an allergy pill about a month ago. It helps to a dregree. The cat has also been stopped from sleeping and lounging in our room and while it has stopped the the coughy-wheezes at bed-time for me, she's still in the house and my eyes and sinuses are paying the price.

I think we'll try the brushing and bath thing.The sandpaper eyes and constant earaches from the congestion are kicking my ass.

Ooh! Cat-bathing as a martial art! Wear motocross leathers...
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Deogolf · Post by **Deogolf** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:23 pm

Jonathan of White Haven wrote:
Ooh! Cat-bathing as a martial art! Wear motocross leathers...

Or bettery yet - wash from a distance with a high-power hose! Not that easy hitting a irritated moving target!!
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Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:32 pm

Joe wrote:
I have a solution...Move the freakin cat. or better yet...

Get rid of all your cats.

Get a cool Labrador Retriever instead.

Labs kick butt!!!

What???

Heh, cats are OK, but I'm allergic to short haired ones.

And recently I've developed allergies to a lesser extent to short haired dogs.

Love Labs, but I think they're short haired, no?

I'd like to get a Irish Setter maybe.

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Joe · Post by **Joe** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:34 pm

[/quote]

Quote:
Or bettery yet - wash from a distance with a high-power hose! Not that easy hitting a irritated moving target!!

Nah, they move too fast. it will never work.

it's better to staple there tails to the clothes line to let them hang dry.

Any dogs are good...I love em all. But they have to be bigger than...oh i don't know...a freaking cat!

Just kidding i like cats. I like them deep fried in beer batter better than bbq'd.
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Deogolf · Post by **Deogolf** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:42 pm

Joe wrote:

Quote:
Or bettery yet - wash from a distance with a high-power hose! Not that easy hitting a irritated moving target!!

Nah, they move too fast. it will never work.

it's better to staple there tails to the clothes line to let them hang dry.

Any dogs are good...I love em all. But they have to be bigger than...oh i don't know...a freaking cat!

Just kidding i like cats. I like them deep fried in beer batter better than bbq'd.[/quote]

Tether them first, then let them have it!

I don't think I've ever tried them deep fried in beer...
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Joe · Post by **Joe** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:46 pm

I live in the southwest so we have them many ways. Ever try gato tamales? MM MM...a bit stringy though
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DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:28 pm

Joe wrote:
I have a solution...Move the freakin cat. or better yet...

Get rid of all your cats.

Get a cool Labrador Retriever instead.

Labs kick butt!!!

What???

Labs r teh l0se!

My dwag r teh W1n!!!!!

Boooooooooo labs.

Haha! Dumb labs.

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:30 pm

And with his ears? my dawg can fly!

Fly.

Child Eating

Superdawg.

Of l33t!

Egg of Coot · Post by **Egg of Coot** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:41 pm

I do a lot of work with feral cats - including taming wild born kittens. I can probably provide you with some tips regarding bathing and grooming uncooperative animals. Let me know if you're interested.

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Thegreenman · Post by **Thegreenman** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:17 pm

Hey DD,

I just had a allergy screening yesterday, the series of 90 allergen serums pricked into your skin.

Until last year, I never had a single allergy problem. Now, according to the tests I am not only allergic to dogs, but also hamsters, horses, and in a bizarre twist of fate typical of my life - as I am a landscape designer, I'm also allergic to every single one of the Tree pollens they tested for.

Getting older definitely changes your allergies and tolerances.

I'd have guess you're allergic to the cat, and at bare minimum you really need to keep it off of your bed and out of your bedroom at all times.

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:46 pm

Yeah, she's out of the room. So no coughing / hacking / choking spells for 2 weeks now. But, she's still in the house so constant clogged sinuses and irritated eyes though.

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:48 pm

Egg of Coot wrote:
I do a lot of work with feral cats - including taming wild born kittens. I can probably provide you with some tips regarding bathing and grooming uncooperative animals. Let me know if you're interested.

The Egg

Thanks, but she's always been pretty tame when it comes to a bath. She just tries to explode your head with a disdainful glare. So far she hasn't exhibited any success in the psychic head explosion department though. Not from lack of trying however.

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