Anyone with a cat allergy?

I have grown up with cats all my life, and have never had a problem before, but since I have bought our second cat, a kitten a month or so ago, I have been itchy like you wouldn't believe... it looks like mosquito bites, some look that size and some smaller sized ones, so I don't know if this is a sign? I have never reacted to something like this. I have tried an antihistamine but with no luck. The only other thing I can think of is clothes washing detergent but I have used the same one for a while and a couple of them have been on my ears?! So if anyone has any ideas please help me!! I can't stop scratching!!!

Kel I have a cat allergy that only manifested about a 3/4 years after we obtained my mums cat. I spent a week at a friends house who had 2 kittens and from that week I had the allergy which has stayed with me to this day.

My allergy sets of asthma attacks and my eyes get extremely itchy and end up bulging out of my head. No anti-histamines work with me either when I have a cat allergy happening.

When my mums dog was a puppy I broke out in a rash type thing similar to what you described and I have never been allergic to dogs. It lasted for a few months and it stopped as quick as what it started. I was also pregnant with Kameron during that time though so we think it may have been something to do with that, but it never re-occurred during subsequent pregnancies and I had no issues with our own dog.

Love

Hi Kelly,

I have a cat and i also have allergies, i have severe reactions with the same symptoms as what you have, but i react to mould, yeast and dust mites! The bumps you are describing (hives) i got when i put on an item of clothing that hadn't been worn for a while (lying in my cupboard for a season etc) and that was due to storage mites!

Do your bumps crop up and drive you insane with itch and then subside after a little while? Maybe when you leave the house or get away from your kitten? That's exactly like mine and as soon as i removed that item of clothing, after 10 minutes they would subside...

I think you should see an allergist/immunologist ASAP!! You're defn having a bad reaction to something, and you should get some tests done with an immunologist and he/she can devise a treatment plan tailored to what you're allergic to.

I'm currently on "drops" that i put under my tongue every night to stop my reactions to everything i''m allergic to, i've had eczema from head to toe for the past 8 years and for the first time i am symptom free!!

I can put you in touch with my Doctor if you like and he could refer you to one in Melbourne?! He's being doing it for 30 years and he's really good! :D

I hope that helps and you're feeling a bit better...

Sorry for rambling on! :redface:

Hi Caro,

I'm sure my Doctor would know of a good immunologist in WA!

They can pretty much test for any allergen you can think of! I had some scratch tests and some injections, but my god is it worth it! I only saw him 3 times and started the drops straight away, after about 2 weeks, my symptoms had all disappeared! After 8 years!

Let me know how you go too Caro :D

P.s. I should also mention that i needed a GP's referral, but you can just tell them which Allergist you would like to see, or they can refer one for you...

keira, if you could email the details of the immunologist asap that would be great! I have had reactions to detergents before but not with these mosquito bite looking things - a nastry red rash instead! I do find sometimes they subside - I went to a birth with hardly an itch - but it was like I walked back in the house and was itching like mad again.... I am itchy now... waaaaaaaaaaaah

info@bellybelly.com.au

Kelly, I hope this hasn't made you allergic to Simba too now :(

Hi Caro,

I did get an infraction! I really didn't know you couldn't post links! Sorry Astrolady!

But i'm glad you got some numbers for Doctors in WA! YAY!

Let me know how you go and if you find something that works for you!

Keira

Hehe, it was my own fault! Thanks Caro, but not to worry, i'll know for next time!

Have a good day :D

Can't help you on the cat allergy side of things Kel, but i had allergy testing done for my ecezma at a place in the city (just near St Vs Private).

It's more intensive than scratch testing, but it doesn't get to the root of all your problems. I had 130 disks placed on my back on the monday, went back on the wed to check them, and on the Friday they were removed.

They get you to bring in all your products (makeup and skin products), and they make them up on disks to check you for them (you can develop allergies over time.. and loose them over time also).

You need a referral from a GP or dermo.. But if you want the name of the place and a good dermo to see also, let me know (trust me, i've seen enough of them!).

In terms on washing powder, the only one i have found that i good for my skin in Omo Matic (for front loaders) Sensitive, or Omo Sensitive. The other sensitive brands weren't as good. Also make sure your fabric softner is an sensitive ones, as lots contain stuff to irritate skin also.

HTH.

Hi Yael,

I too use Omo Sensitive and find it wonderful!

How's your eczema now? After the testing with the disks, what sort of treatment do they give you? (I have a real interest in allergy stuff now, since mine have all cleared up!) :D

I agree with Omo Sensitive, but I miss the nice smells of my fave detergent! I do have eczema, so I do have to choose ones which don't cause skin reactions.

.... still itching away ... :(

Kelly did you get my email?

:( Kelly!! I haven't seen a cat allergy like that, I do know that you can get hive type symptoms from some dogs, like Shar Pei's tend to give me the hives if I have to restrain them for work... but cat allergies tend to be more hay fever like symptoms.

I hope it isn't Simba. Maybe try giving him a bath?? (how funny would that be....) see if that helps. Just a warm salt water bath should help pull away any stuff on his fur like dander or something that can help.

My MUm is allergic to cats but has always had cats all her life and my niece is also allergic.

Matthew was allergic when he was a young baby but thankfully grew out of it (he didn`t have a choice LOL), he`d come up with hives on his face,hands where the cat touched him,

Kel I used to breed cats and once I took one of my Scottish Folds to Zaki's class for show and tell and two children broke out with mosquito-bite like hives, so it is possible it's a cat allergy, I'm afriad....

I am like Kathryn & I cannot go into a house if they have indoor cats as withing mins I am itching, sneezing & my eyes puff up out of my head & try to protect themselves by making this foul Jelly type stuff that oozes...

So I am huge cat hater! Sorry cats but you just make my life hell... I bought a kitten for my niece & it had been about 10yrs since I'd been near a cat, I popped the kitten in the backseat of the car & got DH to carry it in the box straight to the laundry as we were taking it to her the following day... About 5 mins later I was sneezing, itching & sat in a cold shower as my eyes were going crazy...
I went to stay at mum & Dads whilst my sis came & picked up the kitten & cleaned the house of any cat hair!
Thankfully the kitten stayed outdoors so i could visit the following day to wish my niece a happy birthday!

Kelly - i am allergic to cats and i get very itchy and little bite like marks (like mosq. bites). My lip also swells and if i rub my eyes that is the end of me (they close up and get swollen and very itchy).....if you feel like testing then rub your eyes after touching a cat - you can just rinse with water and after a while it does go - but very annoying if you want to test it ! I have also used Albalon A eye drops and the itchiness goes immediately....but i have stopped touching cats (and other animals).

Oh no :( I hope I am not allergic to my kitty waaaaah.... I can't not hold him he's so gorgeous!!!!

OMG, I just read this:

:

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High Tech Cats Wont Cause Allergy

A line of specially-bred, hypo-allergenic cats could soon be in Australia after local pet lovers inundated the creators of the breed with inquiries.

An American firm, Allerca, claims to have used genetic analysis and selective breeding to produce the cats, which are expected to cost Australian buyers up to $9000 each.

For the money, people with cat allergies may be able to bring home a pet cat for the first time without suffering a severe physical reaction.

An Allerca sales and service spokesman said Australians were among those wanting to buy the cats after they featured in international media reports last week.

"I would say there has been a significant interest from Australia," the spokesman said.

"I have taken about six calls [from Australia] myself and I'm just one of the team."

Allerca claims a protein secreted by the sebaceous glands of cats, known as FEL D1, is the major cause of cat allergies.

Found in skin and saliva, it can remain airborne for months and is about 10 times smaller than pollen or dust particles.

People allergic to the protein experience symptoms including red, itchy, watery, or swollen eyes, runny or congested noses, sore throat and shortness of breath. Their skin could also develop itchy rashes or hives.

Allerca claims it identified the gene responsible for FEL D1 and then tested cats looking for individuals with "genetic divergences" – slight genetic differences.

By crossbreeding these cats, the company claims it has produced a variety of feline that produces a different version of FEL D1 that does not triggers the auto-immune system of people allergic to cats.

Critics have suggested other allergens may still be present in the cats.

But Allerca claims tests prove the cats are safe for allergy sufferers.

"None of the human subjects exposed to the [Allerca] cats reacted in any way," the company said in a statement.

"When these same volunteers were exposed to [regular] cats, the subjects demonstrated classic symptoms of a feline allergic reaction, including watery eyes, runny noses, hives and itchy skin."

The cats sold by the company are medium-sized and weigh four to eight kilograms as adults.

The company said they matured at three years, had a long life expectancy and were sweet and affectionate.

However they did not come cheap.

For American customers the cat costs about $5300 with an additional $1335 payable for processing and delivery.

On top of that international customers must pay a charge of between $1340 and $2680, depending on their location.

The company said interest had been high and customers were not currently able to select particular colours.

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I am coming late to this thread, but I'm 12wks and just went away for three days to kick back a bit and immediately got a horror cold & sore throat. The sore throat was gone this morning and has been replaced by what you've been describing. Hivey looking welts - they look like mega mozzie bites!! SOOOOO itchy. They actually started yesterday, but were mingling with my eczema which always plays up in winter due to heating etc.

One of them is on my lip - I look beaten up!! Went to a doctor who is also an OB. and he prescribed me Celestone - which I have used in the past to control eczema. I'm not sure about it though, but don't know what else to do. Don't know what caused my reaction?!
:(
Beth