I found out I was allergic after my husband and I adopted our first cat. I wasn't able to deal with it though, but I tried for a few months. Tried zyrtec, claritin, you name it. I couldn't sleep and I was miserable, eyes itching, throat scratching, sneezing all day...
But when my throat started closing and I needed a rescue inhaler, I decided the cat needed to go. I was very sad and we looked for a few weeks until we found her a good home.
I don't regret my decision to re-home her, though I do regret not being tested for cat allergies before adopting a cat.

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know I had allergy until I read this thread. I got my 2 cats last year and since then my nose runs a little bit in the morning but it gets fine as the day goes by. I didn't even realize that was allergy! OP, don't think about it too much. Once you love your cats you won't get affected.

Likewise I didn't realise I was mildly allergic until I'd left home for college. We had cats all my life so I didn't notice the itchy eyes and runny nose until the first time I came back from school! It wasn't serious enough that I ever did anything about it, and I still have a cat now. Like Pp I will occasionally take a Zyrtec if its noticeably bad.

I didn't know I had allergy until I read this thread. I got my 2 cats last year and since then my nose runs a little bit in the morning but it gets fine as the day goes by. I didn't even realize that was allergy! OP, don't think about it too much. Once you love your cats you won't get affected.

Anonymous wrote:Put it in the microwave for 2 minutes on high. Problem solved.

Says the psycho future serial killer.

I'm allergic to my cats. Obviously, I didn't know this when I rescued them. Every morning, I wake up all congested, but once I leave for work, I clear up in ten minutes. Sometimes, on weekends, if I don't leave the house and the windows are closed up, I might take a zyrtec, but that's it. I do my best to keep on top of the stray hair by frequently brushing them.

It's a small inconvenience in the long run.

Even if you're allergic to cats in general, your immune system may adjust to your particular cat. That's what happened with me. I used to take daily Zyrtec when we first got him but don't need it anymore... now I can enjoy all the fuzzy kitty snuggles drug-free

Put it in the microwave for 2 minutes on high. Problem solved.

You will love your cat no matter what. I was 6.5 when we got our first kitty and she died when I was 32. I discovered I was allergic when I was 15... but that did not stop me from loving her

Nettles helped my Dh with his cat allergies. Tincture or tea.

I've had pin prick testing so I am hoping this is psychosomatic... especially as i think it may be the smell of the room in which she is adjusting to her new home... but oh no what can i do if i am??