My wife and I have been wanting a cat for about forever and our recent move to a larger place has made the idea more feasible. Except, I'm allergic to cats. Not -deathly- allergic, mind you... just mildly.

Is there any recommendations ya'll would have before this adoption takes place?

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Answers

Also, cuddle-ness -is- a factor... are there breeds a little more loving than others?

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Don't get a breed. Cats do not have the long history that dogs have with selective breeding to get specific character traits. There are a few breeds of cats that have distinctive personalities -- Siamese cats come to mind -- but if you want a cat, pretty much any type of cat will do as well as another. With specific breeds, you're more like to get a disease-ridden pain in the ass, and you'll support an industry that serves no good purpose that I've ever been able to determine.

If you care about cuddliness, pick the one who snuggles right up to you and starts to purr. Probably your best bet is a cat who is a little shy but warms up to you pretty quickly.

If you want a funny, obnoxious pain in the ass, choose the one who reaches out the cage to grab you as you walk by. (Guess how I chose all of my cats?)

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

Your cat will hate you....but giving it a bath regularly will keep down your allergic reaction to it. Get a hepa filter for your living room and bedroom to keep as much dander as possible out of the air. If you're only mildly allergic, those two things should pretty much take care of it. I think there is also some kind of spray for your upholstery and furniture that kind of neutralizes the dander.

Or you could wait a few years. I heard about some gene manipulation experiment to produce hypoallergenic cats. I'm guessing it would be one expensive damn cat.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

I'm also fairly allergic to cats. Mine would murder me if I tried to bathe them, but I do find that washing my hands after I pet them helps.

What am I saying? I'm sick all the damn time. Don't get a cat. Cats are here to kill you.

-- Anonymous, August 03, 2001

I am allergic to cats, and we have 4 of them. And I hate them, but that is a story for another day, isn't it?

If you start bathing a cat as a tiny kitten, you might be able to bathe it for the lifespan of the cat, which, if you are lucky, will be about 8 months. Should the damned beast live longer than that, there are spray on, wipe off type things that will greatly reduce any discomfort you might have, with the added benefit of adding slightly to the discomfort of the cat.

Check this stuff out from Drs. Foster and Smith. It works.

I find life is more pleasant if the cats aren't allowed access to our bedroom much - especially at night, as most cats have an inate need to sleep on your face and head, which isn't going to help your allergies much.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001

My best friend, who's 5 months pregnant and allergic to cats, is coming to visit me from abroad, and I have a cat. When she usually visits me (not preggies), sometimes she gets sick, sometimes not, and sometimes she takes a pill and everything is fine. This time I'm a bit panicked, because I really don't know what her reaction will be, what to do to my flat to help her from getting sick, and I don't know if she can take allergy medication while pregnant. I am afraid she'll end up checking in a hotel huge and all alone, or take the next train back home, because she can't stand it. I have no idea what a "hepa filter" is, how it translates to Spanish (I'm in Spain), or if they have those sprays you talked about. Well, I have one week to dust the entire place, chang every sheet, nuke (well roll up) every carpet. Wash the cat?? Apart from getting myself a few more permanent scares, can it really help?

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001