by Kelly Szymanski

Created on: July 13, 2010

You looked down into the box and he looked up at you. Your eyes met and your heart melted. It was love at first sight.

"I'll take that one." You heard the words coming out of your mouth as if from a thousand miles away.  You lifted his tiny body gingerly, aware that he had probably never before been apart from his litter mates and had no reason to suspect they were about to be separated forever. You tuck him into your coat to protect him from the chill and fear. "Don't worry," you whisper, "I'll take care of you. I promise."

You get him home, along with a sundry of things every cat-parent needs: the dish and food to fill it with, a bed he'll never use because yours is so much more comfortable, and toys he'll tire of before the end of the week. You watch, smiling, as he begins to cautiously explore his new home.

It's only then that you realize that you've been scratching your wrist for the last ten minutes. Your eyes, and your throat, are a bit itchy, too. The horrible thought seeps in, slowly, as if it could possibly be denied: could you be allergic to this itty bitty little object of your desire?

You settle in on the couch, wondering what to expect. You have no intention of returning him. You've already fallen in love, and besides, you promised. So, what can you expect and is there anything you can do to help improve the situation?

Cat allergy symptoms might include itchy swollen eyes, nose and throat, sneezing, a rash or even hives, irritation of the skin where the cat has licked you, coughing and wheezing. Obviously, none of these are pleasant.

Fortunately for both of you, there are a number of things you can do to help improve the situation.

Many people find adequate relief with over the counter antihistamines like Claratin or Benedryl (be warned that Benedryl makes many people very sleepy). If your main symptom is eye irritation, or if you need a supplement to the over the counter medication, try over the counter eye allergy drops like Naphcon-A. If those don't offer enough relief, talk to your doctor about prescription allergy medications, or steroid nasal sprays.

Don't overlook some simple things you can do for your cat to help keep the proteins that trigger your allergies at bay.  Brush him daily, and bathe (or at least wipe him down with a damp cloth) him every couple of weeks.  After you clean him, spray him down with an allergy reducing spray that helps neutralize his dander. Make sure you feed him a high quality cat food that is high in fatty acids.

Around the house you should dust and vacuum every day. Install a good HEPA furnace filter. Wash your hand after you play with your cat or handle his toys.

Your cat is a part of your family. By taking a few extra steps, you can live comfortably together for many years to come.

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