If you are allergic to cats/dogs, are you upset when family adopts a pet?

[Anonymous]

Our 3 kids really want a cat. DH and I both like cats so we're on board with the idea. Trying to determine if SIL who is allergic will be upset about whether she can visit comfortably or will have to stay in a hotel. She is a plane ride away, not local. Thanks

[Anonymous]

How often does your SIL even visit you? I mean, she might be upset, but she doesn't live with you. This decision really has nothing to do with her.

[Anonymous]

This happened to us when we first got married with no kids. We got cats to fill the void of a miscarriage. When I finally did have a child, my sister came to show support and bond with us. She spent minutes inside the house before feeling short of breathe and spending most of the rest of her trip in her cat-free room. She told us later she nearly left that first night and stayed in a hotel. She never visited again until we moved..and the cats did not come with us! Allergies are real.

[Anonymous]

I’m allergic to cats and dogs and my siblings have both. I rarely visit because I have to stay in a hotel, plus the problem is even when I stay in a hotel, inevitably we spend a lot of time at their house. There have been times when the parents wanted to go away and I would have been happy to babysit if they did not have pets, but since they did, I had to say no. So if having her visit is important to you, I recommend not getting a cat.

[Anonymous]

No, they can stay in a hotel.

[Anonymous]

She may be upset, but she can stay in a hotel and bring her allergy medication/inhaler etc when she visits. Please vacuum and wipe down surfaces. Visiting in non-winter time will be better for social distancing and for her cat allergy.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the severity. I am allergic to cats. My eyes itch and swell a little. I get congested. NBD. My friends and family who have cats really clean where we will be going (like living room/kitchen) and I don't spend the night. I make sure I bring some Afrin and eye drops.

My friend has a cat allergy and her asthma is really triggered. She's much more restricted about where she can go.

[Anonymous]

My beloved brother is very allergic to cats and it didn’t even occur to me to not have one because of him who is also a plane ride away. Go for it!

[Anonymous]

My ILs were mad as hell when their newlywed DS and wife got two cats. FIL is allergic to cats.

The newlyweds lived a two day drive away from ILs but MIL called the couple selfish for getting cats because it meant FIL couldn't stay with them. I'd say this was well-played by my BIL and SIL, but they soon gave up theor cats to appease ILs. This couple now divorced and the ILs only ever visited once.

[Anonymous]

I am allergic to both and I would not be upset. The only thing that would bother me is if somehow the relatives getting a cat or dog were offended I didn't stay with them.

[Anonymous]

Upset, no but I probably wouldn't stay in your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happened to us when we first got married with no kids. We got cats to fill the void of a miscarriage. When I finally did have a child, my sister came to show support and bond with us. She spent minutes inside the house before feeling short of breathe and spending most of the rest of her trip in her cat-free room. She told us later she nearly left that first night and stayed in a hotel. She never visited again until we moved..and the cats did not come with us! Allergies are real.

What did you do with them?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I'm still getting the cats. There are ways to work around to minimize. But, it's my home. We love having cats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This happened to us when we first got married with no kids. We got cats to fill the void of a miscarriage. When I finally did have a child, my sister came to show support and bond with us. She spent minutes inside the house before feeling short of breathe and spending most of the rest of her trip in her cat-free room. She told us later she nearly left that first night and stayed in a hotel. She never visited again until we moved..and the cats did not come with us! Allergies are real.

What did you do with them?

Made them someone else's responsibility, as usual. That's how it usually goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I'm still getting the cats. There are ways to work around to minimize. But, it's my home. We love having cats.

I will also add: we clean a lot and well, esp. in advance of visits of folks who have allergies. If we don't know (eg, new friends) we warn ahead of time so they can either not come or take meds. And we've added air purifiers to the house. They help but do not eliminate the issues (as I am allergic also, though not violently so).