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Posted by Kathleen on June 12, 2006, 10:16 am
Pogonip wrote:
> Phaedrine wrote:
>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Nann Bell wrote:
>>>
>>>> Back to drafting a banner pattern. Anyone have tips for working
>>>> with a cat in the house? We were adopted by one recently - a real
>>>> sweetheart who won over two life-long dog people but he just does
>>>> slow down every project I work on!
>>>
>>>
>>> Ah, yes. The quilt inspector. I do best if I can find something for
>>> my cats to do. Something that interests them more than what I am
>>> doing. That can be a challenge. Mine are fond of eating. A special
>>> treat is to be allowed into the basement - then they are busy for
>>> quite a while. I hope you find something to occupy yours. Cats
>>> have been enriching my life for a very long time.
>>
>>
>>
>> Cats are such fascinating creatures but, alas, I am so allergic to
>> them. :( My son's former piano teacher had a pair of cats that liked
>> to jump into the piano and walk on the strings while he was playing
>> during his lessons! And then there was Toonces the Driving Cat.......
>> and Kliban's cats with their tennis shoes and walking their pet dogs
>> on leashes..... heh.
>>
>> Phae
>>
> In all likelihood, you are allergic to cat dander. There are some cats
> with low to no dander that you could probably tolerate. The problem is
> in finding them. It's not a breed-specific trait. It may not be a
> priority to you to find such a beastie, but a good test is to put the
> cat on a sheet and vigorously rub the fur the "wrong" way to see what
> falls out. If you find a cat you like with low dander, having a friend
> or relative brush the cat once a week helps keep the dander down.
I would never advise a person with severe cat allergies to attempt to
adopt a so-called hypoallergenic cat. Allergies are about proteins. An
allergic person has a hyperactive immune system that reacts to harmless
substances as if they were dangerous alien invaders.
It's not just the dander and/or the fur. Cat saliva is extremely
allergenic. Cats - all cats, "low dander" and hairless included - lick
themselves, the saliva dries and ends up floating in the air as dust
where it is breathed in by everyone in the household. That's why I tell
friends with cats not to bother locking the cat in the bedroom when I
visit; the air itself is already saturated with essence of cat. I just
pre-medicate and don't stay very long; an overnight visit would be
simply out of the question.
Worse yet, the allergens linger long after the cat is gone. If you get
a cat, discover you can't tolerate it and have to re-home the animal
you'll still be coping with symptoms for weeks if not months after he or
she leaves the house. Especially if you've got carpeting and curtains
(hard surfaces are much easier to contaminate). It can get into the
ductwork, too, and be nearly impossible to remove. I wouldn't even
consider purchasing a house that had belonged to long-term cat owners
(or smokers).
And then there's the heartbreak of having to give up a pet that you've
bonded with, that has become a member of the family, because you simply
can't breathe any more.
Nope, don't do it. If you or a member of your family are seriously
allergic to cats don't let anybody talk you into bringing *any* kind of
cat home. It's not worth it.
Kathleen "The Voice of Experience" Hansen
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