Allergies & Your Experiences
From Christal in Virginia:
I was just reading up on Cornish Rex cats, and found your website. I thought I
would reply at your request, since my Husband is allergic to cats.
It so happens that I am a big cat enthusiast, and thought that I would have to
give up on my desire to own cats, because of my husbands allergies to them.
After some research online, I found the Cornish Rex cat, and decided to see if
he could tolerate one. Sadly though, there were none close enough to us that we
could see what his reaction was. Also they seemed a bit to pricey for our
budget.
When we moved to Virginia, I chanced upon an add in the newspaper that
advertised "rare breeds" The cornish rex being one of them. I jumped at the
chance, and we soon had an appointment to visit with her cats. Since she had
about 100 cats in her house... And only about 10 of them being cornish rex. It
was not an ideal place to run the test, since from the minute he steeped into
her house. He was suffering in a big way. He stood by an ozone making machine
that she had, and would not move. She had a "test" that she said would indicate
whether or not he would react to the rexes. She had him pick up a beautiful blue
and white cornish rex kitten and hold it next to his face, then hold his other
arm out. And I was to push it down, while he tried to resist... We were
skeptical, but he did it, and was able to hold his arm up, with me pushing down
on it. We still did not think it proved anything. But she then handed him a
Bengal kitten, and the same test was run. He could not hold his arm up with even
the slightest pressure. the discomfort in his head and face was so bad. So with
that we bought the blue and white Cornish rex kitten, and love her to death. He
has no allergic reaction to her... Even if she rubs her head on his face (as she
likes to do). After reading your article, I realize that we are lucky he did not
have any allergies to her. Since the percentage of people who don't react, are
so small. We are quite a way off from where you are (Norfolk, VA, USA) But our
house has only one cornish rex... Anyone from the area who would like to see if
they would react to Cornish rex, are welcome. We can also give you the name of a
breeder in the area, where you can obtain a kitten.
Sincerely, Christal
Email SeaStarr82@aol.com
From Caroline Stevenson:
I have just been reading your page about allergic reactions to cats and found it
very interesting. I myself suffer badly in the presence of any animal with fur
or hair and so my choice of pets in the past has been limited to goldfish or
lizards! I did have a long term boyfriend at one time whose parents kept show
dogs and for the first couple of months I suffered badly every time I went to
visit. After a while my symptoms were virtually non-existent. I was able to play
about with them, have them on my lap, rub their bellies, etc. without worrying
about having streaming itchy eyes and bad asthma. I couldn't do this with any
other dogs so I presume I had built up an immunity to them specifically.
Being a cat lover I have always wanted a cat of my own but have never been brave
enough to try and get past the first few months of suffering. If I knew at the
end I would be OK then I would but I don't think I could get attached to a cat
and then have to give it back. I am interested in seeing how I react to Rex and
Sphynx cats and would like to know if there are any breeders in the Bristol/Bath
area that you know of who are willing to have people like me visit them.
If you can help Caroline, please email her at
Caroline.Stevenson@adsweu.com
From Andy Bennett in London:
Hi there, just saw your website and request for experience with rex cats and
allergy sufferers...So here goes ! After 5 years of catlessness due to my
partner Mike's allergy, and after much soul-searching and research of various
reputedly hypo-allergenic breeds from Sphynx and Rexes to Siberians, we acquired
a red cornish rex boy from Judy Picknell of Sebbitiboo. Padstow, as our little
boy is called, arrived at 3 months old and for the first few weeks caused Mike
no problems. In fact we were so delighted I even talked to Judy about getting a
second kitten. But from then on it was downhill. The streaming eyes and constant
sneezing started, which had caused us to return two earlier kittens, a Siamese
and a Foreign White, to their breeder after only 2 days. But this time Mike was
determined to give it his best shot and started taking Piriton 3-4 times daily,
and then moved onto Zirtek, a stronger one a day anti-histamine, which seemed to
do the trick for a month or so. In the mean time Padstow was getting twice
weekly wipe-downs from a product called Petal Cleanse which claims to
neautralise the fel-d1 allergen on the cats fur. But soon enough, the symptoms
returned, more disturbing accompanied by a hacking cough which got worse and
worse, and then quite severe asthma and wheezing. At this point I decided that
Padstow would have to be rehomed as Mike's life was becoming a misery.
Fortunately Judy had always been very supportive and had very generously offered
us a full money back guarantee for the first 3 months and then assurance that
she would take Paddy back at any time there after and keep or rehome him for us.
Even better my mother had been to stay and fallen for Paddy completely and was
very keen to take him herself as her own cat of 18 years had died two months
earlier. But Mike wouldn't hear of it, and insisted Padstow stay. Mike now uses
an asthma inhaler morning and evening which has totally resolved the coughing
and wheeziness. He finds that the sneezing and eye irritation only occur if
Padstow actually sleeps on his shoulders/face (!) or if Mike rubs his eyes after
stroking Paddy without washing his hands first. The Petal Cleanse regime has
stopped, though Padstow does get showered and shampooed once a fortnight which
he has almost become accustomed to! For now everything seems manageable. Paddy
is the most loving and delightful 7 month old Tom. He has the run of the whole
house, except the bedrooms and usually spends the whole day with Mike in his
office, either on his lap or on top of the computer monitor, inches from his
face. I have to say this is an arrangement I don't fully approve of and think
Mike should make his office a cat-free zone to have some respite from allergens,
but he says he'd rather have the occasional sneeze and Padstow's company... So
not a total success, but liveable with, as long as you are willing to take some
medication. Neither of us, and certainly not Mike, regret getting Paddy, and I
think we will consider another Rex kitten in a year or so if things continue to
go well . Certainly medical advances are constantly being made. Just want to say
as well though , that we wouldn't have taken Padstow on in the first place if it
wasn't for Judy Picknell's support and assurance that she would take Paddy back
if necessary. Fortunately it looks like that won't be necessary !
(Note from Judy - Andy & Mike now have two Cornish Rex, and are awaiting the
arrival of number three!!)
From Cathy in Queensland, Australia:
I was very interested to read your article on allergy sufferers and rex cats. I
am an asthmatic where most of my attacks are triggered by allergies. I love and
adore cats but was never able to have one because of my allergy to them. We
tried for 6 months when I was younger and had to give the cat away to a friend
as I just seemed to get worse. In July, 1999, I saw a program on Cornish rex
cats and contacted a breeder in my area who was very happy to have me visit to
see how I went. She also guaranteed that she would take the kitten back if I
proved to be intolerant. In fact it was like extracting teeth even trying to
convince her to part with one of her children! We took home the most beautiful
blue eyed, white male who was 4 months old. (Yes - he was deaf although we
didn't realise it at the time as he is very good at interpreting body language).
His name is Billabong which is very appropriate as we live on the Gold Coast in
Queensland, Australia. Well the great news was that I do not react to his fur. I
can even go so far as to rub my cheek against him, what luxury, but if I forget
to wash my hands after patting him or his sister (Roxy), who is six months
younger, and rub my eyes then I will pay for it with itchy eyes for at least 2
hours after. Also if they scratch me which they do occasionally as we play with
them then I will have the typical allergic reaction like a mozzy bite. The
interesting thing is that we keep them inside all the time for safety and there
is no nasty build up of fur.
I would welcome visits from any one in my area to meet my cats as I think they
are the most fun and loving cats around. I can be contacted at
chodskiss@hotmail.com and would be
interested in having an email pal who is as crazy about these cats as I am.
From Vivienne in Melbourne, Australia:
I have two 6 month old Devon Rex kittens, whom I adore. I chose the breed as I
have had allergies in the past; and after having visited a friend who had two
devons & two burmese, I had no reaction. Once my kittens came to live with me, I
started sneezing and having the hay fever symptoms again, so naturally I began
to worry. But after a few months, and after excluding them from the bedroom at
night, my allergies have died down considerably as I have assimilated to them
being in the house. I still get the occasional sneezing attack if they climb
onto my face (!) but I am not nearly as bad as I was when they first arrived.
And I wouldnt give them up for anything!
From Samantha in Sydney, Australia:
I’ve been a Devon Rex owner for many years, and have found that they are
tolerated extremely well by myself and my rather allergic family! I get hay
fever in reaction to most cats, as does my partner, and we happily live with our
Devon permanently indoors and even sleeping on our beds. Similar to Cathy in
Queensland, if I forget to wash my hands after patting him and rub my eyes then
I will get itchy eyes, and if he scratches me then I will have the typical
slightly itchy raised patches. My father is an asthma sufferer and has also
found living with Devons is not a trigger whereas other cats most definitely
are. Once comment I will add that is my own allergy is quite definitely
fur-based, as I am also allergic to dogs, rabbits, ferrets and even fur coats!
From Clive Williamson and Sheila Bourne:
I have suffered from cat and other animal allergies for the past fifty years and
was persuaded to 'try' rex cats to see if I could tolerate them....... cutting a
long story short I CAN!! My partner and I have had our two Cornish Rex 'girls'
for five months and although I had to take piriton three or four times in the
first two weeks, I now can tolerate them completely. The 'girls' are from the
Rastacat line and were rehomed via Chris Pape from an asthma sufferer.
We would be very pleased to open our home to anyone who was keen to see if they
too were able to tolerate the breed. We live in the town of Kingswinford which
is about 12 miles west of Birmingham, between Wolverhampton and Kidderminster.
Email: williamsoncs@hotmail.com
From Valérie Tasiaux, in Belgium:
Hi, I tell you my experience... in bad English sorry.
I am 30 and was allergic to cats since the age of 17. Very allergic. One year
ago I bought Gribouille, Cornish Rex. At the beginning little problems of nose,
during some days. Now, no problem. I sleep with Gribouille. I take
medicines for asthma, but I took them before Gribouille arrived. I've created a
site about allergy and rex. I've created a page about history of allergics. I
live in Belgium and am ready to welcome anyone who wants to try if he is
allergic.
chatonv@skynet.be
www.ibelgique.com/chatmaniaque
From Wendy, in Northampton:
I developed an allergy to cats 8 years ago when I was in my early twenties. I
found the allergy page on the Rexcatz International very interesting and a good
place to start researching the breed and information on allergies. It left me
hopeful that being a huge fan of cats that there was a possibility I would be
able to have them. I contacted a breeder who invited me to visit her and her
cats. I played with and cuddled them for a few hours and tried to get as much
fur as possible onto my clothing so I was exposed to them as much as possible.
This sounds awful, but I even went as far as to place the cardigan I was wearing
on my pillow that night. I had no reaction at all, not a sniffle.
The breeder then introduced me to a fellow breeder who had kittens, and I did
the same sort of test again, spending a few hours with them, having them climb
all over me and having them really close to my face etc,. Again, I had no
reaction. I had fallen in love with two Devon's a black-smokie boy (Morpheus)
and a lilac-tortie girl (Trinity) and the following month I brought them home.
For the first two day's everything was fine, but on the second night I began to
have an allergic reaction, the typical runny/itchy nose and eyes, sneezing fits
etc. I had read on the website that other people had experienced the same
reactions and that for some the reactions decreased eventually, so I took some
"over-the-counter" antihistamine to combat the immediate effects and decided to
ride it out and hope that my symptoms would diminish. I had fallen for my
Devon's the moment I saw them and could not part with them for anything.
Unfortunately my symptoms did not diminish, in fact they got worse, I had an
asthma attack. I had to go to A & E and have a nebuliser. I have never suffered
with asthma before. My doctor has prescribed me with asthma medication (a
ventolin puffer) and "Neoclarytin" an antihistamine which works extremely well,
but it is not infallible. More recently I have been prescribed a steroid based
nasal spray which has been a god-send. I am now symptom free.
It has taken a while to establish exactly what I am allergic to, I do appear to
tolerate their fur better than the lovable moggie, but I do have problems with
the dirt and dust they pick up (mine are dirt magnets, dirt dust, they find it)
and I also have problems with their litter tray. The severest reactions occur
when I have been scratched. So I take other precautions besides medication. I
wash my Devons over daily with a warm flannel, face, body and paws, they also
have a bath once a week. It sounds cruel but they love it, they are fascinated
by water. I also clean the litter tray completely once a week and skim it every
day. I use a recycled paper based cat litter which seems to produce less dust
than the wood pellet based litters. I keep the bed-room a cat free zone, wash my
hands and face after contact etc, I have found that all of these things are
really helpful.
I would caution any fellow allergy sufferer to think deeply about taking on the
devon breed purely because of their seemingly anti-allergy qualities. I really
went to great length to expose myself to them to see if I could tolerate them
and still I did not react until I got them home. It' not fair on the kitten to
have to return to the breeder and find a new home and awful to go through the
heartache of having to part with them. Taking medication every day is not ideal
and for the long term probably not the best idea, but I wouldn't change a thing.
My devons are amazing, they are adorable, deeply affectionate, playful,
mischievous and funny. They follow me around like little puppies, they really
are monkey-like, with a bit of dog, clown and meer cat, for good measure. They
have become part of our little family and are truly captivating. Devon-Rex for
life!!
I hope this is helpful to fellow cat loving, devon loving allergy sufferers
wendy@giddings.fsnet.co.uk
From Gilly Fisner, in Northampton:
I thought my experience with Cornish Rex cats might be of interest to you. It
suggests that not only can Cornish Rexes be hypo-allergenic, but they may
actually reduce or even cure a cat allergy.
Since childhood, I had suffered from a cat allergy. I wasn't one of those people
who would implode as soon as they walked into a cat-owned house, but if I petted
a cat or allowed one to sit on me, I would almost invariably end up with
swollen, runny eyes, sneezing, etc., particularly if I accidentally touched my
face. In general, this didn't stop me from cuddling cats, I just took
antihistamines, or suffered. I eventually got to the position of being able to
get cats of my own, and started to research if there was any way of minimizing
the allergic reaction. I happened to see an article somewhere suggesting that
Cornish Rexes might cause less of a reaction. I found a breeder not too far
away. Although she also bred Siamese, she removed these from the room and
hoovered it thoroughly before I arrived, leaving only a half dozen Cornish
Rexes, and a Sphynx. She kindly let me sit for two hours, cuddling her cats and
waiting for a reaction. None came. Some months later I managed to acquire a pair
of kittens, two brothers.
That was 11 years ago. I have never once had a reaction to my boys, although
they sleep in my bed, are very cuddly, and I love to kiss their little curly
tummies. Touching my face or rubbing my eyes has never been a problem.
This is definitely not true for all allergy-sufferers. Several of my friends
react as badly to my boys as to any other cats. It seems that those people who
are allergic to furry animals in general (as I am), rather than cats in
particular, are most likely to have no reaction to the Cornish Rex.
But the really fascinating bit of this is that I seem to have been cured of my
allergy completely, possibly due to long-term exposure to the very minute
amounts of allergen the Cornish Rex still possesses -- maybe it is something
like the way homeopathic allergy remedies have a dilution of 1 part per billion?
I haven't had an allergic reaction to a cat in years. So much so, that I now run
a boarding cattery, with no sensitivity whatever.
gfilsner@dsl.pipex.com
From the Smith family:
Just a note to let you know of our experiences of devon rex and allergies. My
husband has had a cat allergy ever since I can remember, he gets itchy streaming
eyes and sneezing but never any breathing problems. He relied upon Piriton to
alleviate the problem. If we visited family with cats however, he noticed
whenever he called at his friends with 2 devons he was fine without medication.
I finely managed to get him to agree to consider getting one. I fell in love
with a kitten we found on this site. We contacted the breeder (Rexitude Devon
Rex) and she was wonderful. Eventually in October I finally got my devon rex,
Frank, I have waited 8 years for a cat. I wish would have found out sooner that
devons didn't make him suffer!!!!!!
neil@smithn28.fsnet.co.uk
From Peter Bacon:
I first visited your web site some 4 years ago when looking to balance the
family's desire to own a cat with my fairly extreme allergic reaction to most "moggies".
(Sneezing, real difficulty breathing, rash). I am very grateful for the guidance
received, and especially to Sandra Humphries, our most local rex only breeder
for the several visits made prior to becoming the happy owners of one of her
devon rex kittens.
You will gather from this that my allergic reaction to the devon rex is not
extreme. In my experience I am able to live alongside a rex quite happily, maybe
experiencing marginally more "stuffy or runny nose" symptoms when in close
contact for longer periods e.g winter weekends when both the cat and I spend
long periods in the house. When out working during the week I would say there
are no symptoms arising from a single evening's exposure. On this basis I would
conclude that the rex hair does not affect me in the same way as other cats.
I will stroke and handle the cat quite happily on a limited basis but here is
where I must raise a caution relating to the 7 allergens mentioned in the web
site article. If the cat has been cleaning himself, or licks me I will soon
develop a sneezing fit, so I am clearly allergic to cat saliva. (hand washing
after contact does limit the effects}. A scratch or prolonged contact can also
bring me out in raised "weals" that itch terribly.
Thankfully knowing this I can control my contact with the cat whilst the rest of
the family enjoy his presence to the full, and we would not be without him, he
is really affection and quite a character.
I hope this helps any who finds themselves in my position. We have no other pets
and would be happy to let visitors meet our cat to see
if they react in any way.
Thanks again for your help.
|
