Conference misery::feline_v1

    There is the Sphinx cat which is an almost hairless cat, their kinda
    ugly in a cute sorta way.
    
    Also, the Rex which is a Curley Haired Cat and the Tonkinese, similar
    in style to the older siamese are supposed to both be more tolerable
    to people who are allergic.
    
    From what I understand about cat allergies, it is usually the dander
    on the skin rather than the hair which people are allergic to. 
    If you get a cat and keep it bathed regularly it probably won't
    be a problem.  
    
    I have 5 cats and my live in SO is allergic to cats.  As long as
    the cats are bathed regularly (approx every 2 weeks), he doesn't
    have a problem with them.
    
    Good Luck
    
    purrs
    cin
    

    	See note #215 "Dealing with an allergy to cats"  for extensive
    information on the subject.  
    
    tlh
    

    Mike,
    
    When I was a child I was very allergic to cats.  My parents once
    had to leave me with a friend who had seven cats.  The first two
    days were difficult but by the third day I no longer showed any
    signs of allergic reaction.
    
    When my parents returned, I tried to convince them that I was "cured"
    and that we should get ourselves a kitten.  Well they didn't give
    in and we never had any cats when I was growing up.
    
    Ironically, I got my first cat from my father.  She (the cat) was
    a X-mas gift when I was about 18 and living in my own apartment.
    Dad's stepdaughter had found her and kept her hidden in a closet
    for three days.  Dad wouldn't let them have cats either and since
    I no longer lived with him I was the perfect solution.
    
    I have had cats ever since and I am not allergic to them at all
    now.  My husband was also allergic.  When we first started dating
    I only had the one cat.  She would jump into his lap the minute
    he walked in the door, and sit there watching his eyes swell up.
    Several years and about 11 cats later, he too is 'cured'.  I think
    maybe your bdy builds up an immunity.
    
    Any body else hve a similar story.  My sister is another example
    but I'll let her tell her own story.  I managed to convince her
    to get not one but TWO cats to help combat her allergies.
    
    JoAnn

    I understand that the Cornish Rex is the breed known for allergic
    people.  Its fur is like sheep wool, close to the skin and curly.
    Again, it's the dander on the skin that people are allergic to,
    not the hair.
    

    I was told that I couldn't have cats as a child because
    I was allergic to them. As soon as I got an apartment that
    allowed pets (about 18 years ago) I got my first cat. Neither
    I nor my husband - who has allergies to many other things -
    have any allergy problem with cats now. I don't know if
    exposure built up an immunity or if we never were allergic
    to them in the first place.

    When I grew up I had no problems with allergies at all but in
    my adulthood have developed quite a few including an allergy
    to cats.  I finally decided I couldn't live without cats and
    could live with the allergy.  What was interesting is that my
    allergy isn't to all cats, just siamese and their derivations.
    My persians with all that hair don't cause me any trouble but
    put a siamese in my lap and 15 minutes later my eyes get so 
    swollen I can't see.  So plan on spending some time with any
    cat that you are interested in adopting and see how it affects
    you...
    
    						Debbie
    

    If you explain your problem to a breeder when you purchase a
    kitten/cat, it may be possible to return the kitten (within a
    reasonable period of time) if it doesn't work out. 
    
    I would be willing to place a kitten with someone who was allergic
    being there were no other cats in the house and if it didn't work
    out within a weeks time, I would allow the cat to be returned. 
    
    This is me, I don't know about other breeders, but you might ask.
    
    I have done this once for a person who thought they were allergic,
    the kitten wasn't returned, and the couple are extremely happy.
    
    Do any other breeders do this??
    
    cin
    

    Cin,
    
    I think that your allergy/ return policy is a great idea.  I haven't
    had a litter yet, but it sounds very reasonable.  This sounds like
    something that I would like to implement in my cattery.  Alot of
    people go through life thinking they can never have a cat because
    of allergies, and this seems like a good way to find out.
    
    JoAnn

    JoAnn,
    
    How many little ones are you expecting?
    
    
    Mike

    Mike,
    
    I am a new breeder of Birmans.  Currently, neither me nor my cat
    are expecting (are you now or have you ever been....).  My cat is
    only four months old so I don't expect to have any kittens until
    at least August.
    
    As for me...I am too busy with the cats (4 of them to be exact).
    
    JoAnn
    

    I am one who also had to decide which was more important: having
    a cat and enduring my allergies or being without a cat.  After speaking
    with a friend who had had the same choice and opted for the cats,
    I stocked the house with kleenex (get the softest kind you can)
    and got 2 kittens.  I have never regretted it.  It only took 2-3
    weeks to build up the immunities for me (although those were hard
    weeks).  I now have 5 cats and only have taken a couple of days
    to get used to each cat.  Also, like someone else mentioned, there
    have been some cats that I have not been allergic to at all.
    
             Carol

    
     I used to be allergic to everything alive. When i got my cat I
    eventually got used to him but I still have trouble with dogs.
    
    PC

    Mike,
    
    I see that I have done it again in .10.  Think of it as the "royal"
    I.  I am not expecting kittens- means my cattery is not expecting
    kittens. pheww....
    
    
    

    JoAnn,
    
    Heh heh....had me there for a sec.
    
    Mike

    I don't know if this is of any help, but we found that cats that
    come from many of the Western Pacific islands do not seem to affect
    people that have alergies.  We have two from Guam and nobody has
    every sneezed because of them - this caused a problem or two with
    cat-loving people that had allergic children.  Our male tabby was
    cat-napped by the woman and it took the law to get him back!  His
    mother (also with us) hasn't been stolen, but doesn't affect anyone.
    Other people that have brought back cats from that area have noticed
    the same thing - have no idea why.  Sorry I can't offer a kitten
    but mama (Muffin) is 10 and spayed and her son (Chris) is 9 and
    neutered.
    
    I have an alergy to cats but seem to become immune after a few weeks
    - I can still sneeze up a storm in someone else's house around a
    strange cat.
    
    Ellen