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In article ,
enlightened us with... Problem 1: A few weeks ago, I had an allergy test. I wanted to know if I was allergic to cats, because, prior to just a few days ago, I hadn't been around one for a long time, and remember having had some allergic reactions that last time I was. Unfortunately, the test returned a positive result for cat allergies. However, my allergist said this could have been a "remembered allergy." Without going into the detail about what that really means (in part, because I'm not sure myself), she recommended that I take a cat or kitten home with me from wherever for a few weeks, and see what happens. For the first two days, I didn't have any reactions at all to my new kitty, but now, on the third day, I'm sneezing, my eyes are watering, and my nose is running. I never knew that an allergic reaction could be delayed, if, in fact, my allergic reaction is to my new kitten. I can go back to the allergist and obtain a prescription for Claritin, or some other allergy medication, if need be, but I couldn't go to the allergist each week for a shot, which could be the next step beyond allergy medications. My question is, do allergy medications work at all for people allergic to cats, or are shots virtually required for those who want cats, but are allergic to them? I am allergic to cats. I have 3. *g* I take allergy medications when necessary, sniffle most of the time, and keep everyone as clean as possible. The cats all get bathed once a month, brushed twice a week, and wiped down with a damp cloth daily. I vaccuum the rugs, furniture, and the cats' treehouse two to three times a week. I have never needed shots. I have found the best allergy med to be simple Benadryl. Problem 2: I can't keep my cat away from things around which he is not supposed to be. He's a baby. For example, he loves to paw at the fish in my fish tank. This isn't a problem, but when he claws at the cords to the filter and heater, that is a problem. What worries me also is that he wants to pounce on the hood of the aquarium. He's several times tried to do this, but I've caught him each time. I'm afraid that if I left him to roam the house while I'm at work, he'd jump on the hood for certain. If he did, the hood would surely snap, and he'd fall in the tank (the hood can withstand some pressure, such as my kitty walking on it, but I'm fairly certain, it can't tolerate the jolt of him jumping on it, from several feet away). He also chews at my plants, despite my every attempt to keep him from doing so. For these reasons, I left him in my room today, before leaving for work. I left for him in the room a scratching post, toys, plenty of food and water, and one of his kitty-litter boxes, but I feel really bad about leaving him in there, until I arrive home from work. Is it cruel to leave him in my room, while I'm at work (the room is fairly large, and so are the connected closet and bathroom)? It's not cruel for now, but you are better off giving him better things to do so he learns how to behave. Otherwise, he'll be stuck in there forever, and that would be cruel. Does he have a nice big cat tree (with stuff hanging from it to play with) to climb on? Does he have a good spot by the window so he can be entertained by things outside? Do you leave the TV on for him (my cats love Animal Planet)? Spray bitter apple (available in the puppy section at most pet stores) on anything you don't want him to play with. But make sure he has plenty of cool things of his own, too. If you don't want him to jump on the tank, put a chair there so he can watch. He won't need to jump if he can see fine from the chair. And do secure the tank just in case. If you can't keep him away and the tank isn't too large to move, move the tank into your room and let him have the rest of the house. Don't forget to let him know you don't want him to bother the tank. A loud clap of the hands or a squirt with water, then take him to his tree and play with him and praise him. Problem 3: I'm a bit of an insomniac, and have trouble sleeping, even under perfect conditions. Therefore, when my kitten jumps around my room after I turn in for the night, I really have a problem trying to sleep! If I put him outside of my room, he meows, because he wants to be in the room with me. I simply can't play with him, though, during his primary play hours. Is there any thing at all that I can do to simultaneously keep him happy, and allow me to sleep? I have a fully furnished basement. Would it be cruel to put him down there with his toys while I try to sleep? I don't know if he would just meow forever if I did that, or just eventually forget about me and start playing. If he bothers/wakes you, put him down there. But not before. That way, he learns he gets stuck outside your room when he doesn't behave. A few days should be all it takes for him to get the hint. My parents did this with their cat and after two nights, he was very careful not to wake them. Me, I sleep like a log. Problem 4: I'm only home for about 3 hours in the evening before I go to bed. Is that enough time to spend with my kitten, or does he need more attention? Do you live alone? You may consider getting another kitten for him. That would also solve other problems with boredom and waking you. Hope this helps. Good luck with the new guy! ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Black holes were created when God divided by 0. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- |
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Sandra :
- Do you really want a cat? That was my impression. Cat owners are of a certain personality type. It might be best for all to find the cat a new home while he's still a kitten and before emotional bonds form. Regarding the alergy, it's typical for there to be a delay ....you are getting sensitized to the alergin. I'm surprised it happened so fast, it may get worse for a few weeks, then much more slowly worse for a few years. If your emotional ties can bear it, I suggest getting rid of the cat. I think drugs and such are only for people who have no other choice...perhaps a strong bond. --Doug - Generally, having a pet will make it - necessary for you to make some adjustments to your own lifestyle -- - pet-proofing your home, spending time with your cat, getting some - benefit of companionship in return. - - Just as a suggestion, adult cats are generally less of a nuisance than - kittens. They're not as over-energetic at inappropriate times, and - you can often tell a bit more about their personalities before you - adopt them, so that you won't bring home a total lap fungus when you - really want a low-maintenance independent type of cat, or vice versa. - - -Sandra |
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Sandra :
- Do you really want a cat? That was my impression. Cat owners are of a certain personality type. It might be best for all to find the cat a new home while he's still a kitten and before emotional bonds form. Regarding the alergy, it's typical for there to be a delay ....you are getting sensitized to the alergin. I'm surprised it happened so fast, it may get worse for a few weeks, then much more slowly worse for a few years. If your emotional ties can bear it, I suggest getting rid of the cat. I think drugs and such are only for people who have no other choice...perhaps a strong bond. --Doug - Generally, having a pet will make it - necessary for you to make some adjustments to your own lifestyle -- - pet-proofing your home, spending time with your cat, getting some - benefit of companionship in return. - - Just as a suggestion, adult cats are generally less of a nuisance than - kittens. They're not as over-energetic at inappropriate times, and - you can often tell a bit more about their personalities before you - adopt them, so that you won't bring home a total lap fungus when you - really want a low-maintenance independent type of cat, or vice versa. - - -Sandra |
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JR wrote:
medications. My question is, do allergy medications work at all for people allergic to cats, or are shots virtually required for those who want cats, but are allergic to them? Yes, Claritin works well for me. I take one tablet daily which allows to me enjoy the company of my 2 year old longhaired Ragdoll cat. I am allergic to cats. If I don't take the Claritin the sneezing, running nose and eye problems start up. Taking the Claritin keeps these problems at bay such that I feel completely normal. -- "Its the bugs that keep it running." -Joe Canuck |
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JR wrote:
medications. My question is, do allergy medications work at all for people allergic to cats, or are shots virtually required for those who want cats, but are allergic to them? Yes, Claritin works well for me. I take one tablet daily which allows to me enjoy the company of my 2 year old longhaired Ragdoll cat. I am allergic to cats. If I don't take the Claritin the sneezing, running nose and eye problems start up. Taking the Claritin keeps these problems at bay such that I feel completely normal. -- "Its the bugs that keep it running." -Joe Canuck |
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kaeli wrote in message . ..
In article , enlightened us with... Problem 1: A few weeks ago, I had an allergy test. I wanted to know if I was allergic to cats, because, prior to just a few days ago, I hadn't been around one for a long time, and remember having had some allergic reactions that last time I was. Unfortunately, the test returned a positive result for cat allergies. However, my allergist said this could have been a "remembered allergy." Without going into the detail about what that really means (in part, because I'm not sure myself), she recommended that I take a cat or kitten home with me from wherever for a few weeks, and see what happens. For the first two days, I didn't have any reactions at all to my new kitty, but now, on the third day, I'm sneezing, my eyes are watering, and my nose is running. I never knew that an allergic reaction could be delayed, if, in fact, my allergic reaction is to my new kitten. I can go back to the allergist and obtain a prescription for Claritin, or some other allergy medication, if need be, but I couldn't go to the allergist each week for a shot, which could be the next step beyond allergy medications. My question is, do allergy medications work at all for people allergic to cats, or are shots virtually required for those who want cats, but are allergic to them? I am allergic to cats. I have 3. *g* I take allergy medications when necessary, sniffle most of the time, and keep everyone as clean as possible. The cats all get bathed once a month, brushed twice a week, and wiped down with a damp cloth daily. I vaccuum the rugs, furniture, and the cats' treehouse two to three times a week. I have never needed shots. I have found the best allergy med to be simple Benadryl. Problem 2: I can't keep my cat away from things around which he is not supposed to be. He's a baby. For example, he loves to paw at the fish in my fish tank. This isn't a problem, but when he claws at the cords to the filter and heater, that is a problem. What worries me also is that he wants to pounce on the hood of the aquarium. He's several times tried to do this, but I've caught him each time. I'm afraid that if I left him to roam the house while I'm at work, he'd jump on the hood for certain. If he did, the hood would surely snap, and he'd fall in the tank (the hood can withstand some pressure, such as my kitty walking on it, but I'm fairly certain, it can't tolerate the jolt of him jumping on it, from several feet away). He also chews at my plants, despite my every attempt to keep him from doing so. For these reasons, I left him in my room today, before leaving for work. I left for him in the room a scratching post, toys, plenty of food and water, and one of his kitty-litter boxes, but I feel really bad about leaving him in there, until I arrive home from work. Is it cruel to leave him in my room, while I'm at work (the room is fairly large, and so are the connected closet and bathroom)? It's not cruel for now, but you are better off giving him better things to do so he learns how to behave. Otherwise, he'll be stuck in there forever, and that would be cruel. Does he have a nice big cat tree (with stuff hanging from it to play with) to climb on? Does he have a good spot by the window so he can be entertained by things outside? Do you leave the TV on for him (my cats love Animal Planet)? Spray bitter apple (available in the puppy section at most pet stores) on anything you don't want him to play with. But make sure he has plenty of cool things of his own, too. If you don't want him to jump on the tank, put a chair there so he can watch. He won't need to jump if he can see fine from the chair. And do secure the tank just in case. If you can't keep him away and the tank isn't too large to move, move the tank into your room and let him have the rest of the house. Don't forget to let him know you don't want him to bother the tank. A loud clap of the hands or a squirt with water, then take him to his tree and play with him and praise him. Problem 3: I'm a bit of an insomniac, and have trouble sleeping, even under perfect conditions. Therefore, when my kitten jumps around my room after I turn in for the night, I really have a problem trying to sleep! If I put him outside of my room, he meows, because he wants to be in the room with me. I simply can't play with him, though, during his primary play hours. Is there any thing at all that I can do to simultaneously keep him happy, and allow me to sleep? I have a fully furnished basement. Would it be cruel to put him down there with his toys while I try to sleep? I don't know if he would just meow forever if I did that, or just eventually forget about me and start playing. If he bothers/wakes you, put him down there. But not before. That way, he learns he gets stuck outside your room when he doesn't behave. A few days should be all it takes for him to get the hint. My parents did this with their cat and after two nights, he was very careful not to wake them. Me, I sleep like a log. Problem 4: I'm only home for about 3 hours in the evening before I go to bed. Is that enough time to spend with my kitten, or does he need more attention? Do you live alone? You may consider getting another kitten for him. That would also solve other problems with boredom and waking you. Hope this helps. Good luck with the new guy! ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Black holes were created when God divided by 0. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- Wow--thanks, Kaeli. You answered each question with great advice. I'm sure I will put all of it to good use! JR |
#10
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kaeli wrote in message . ..
In article , enlightened us with... Problem 1: A few weeks ago, I had an allergy test. I wanted to know if I was allergic to cats, because, prior to just a few days ago, I hadn't been around one for a long time, and remember having had some allergic reactions that last time I was. Unfortunately, the test returned a positive result for cat allergies. However, my allergist said this could have been a "remembered allergy." Without going into the detail about what that really means (in part, because I'm not sure myself), she recommended that I take a cat or kitten home with me from wherever for a few weeks, and see what happens. For the first two days, I didn't have any reactions at all to my new kitty, but now, on the third day, I'm sneezing, my eyes are watering, and my nose is running. I never knew that an allergic reaction could be delayed, if, in fact, my allergic reaction is to my new kitten. I can go back to the allergist and obtain a prescription for Claritin, or some other allergy medication, if need be, but I couldn't go to the allergist each week for a shot, which could be the next step beyond allergy medications. My question is, do allergy medications work at all for people allergic to cats, or are shots virtually required for those who want cats, but are allergic to them? I am allergic to cats. I have 3. *g* I take allergy medications when necessary, sniffle most of the time, and keep everyone as clean as possible. The cats all get bathed once a month, brushed twice a week, and wiped down with a damp cloth daily. I vaccuum the rugs, furniture, and the cats' treehouse two to three times a week. I have never needed shots. I have found the best allergy med to be simple Benadryl. Problem 2: I can't keep my cat away from things around which he is not supposed to be. He's a baby. For example, he loves to paw at the fish in my fish tank. This isn't a problem, but when he claws at the cords to the filter and heater, that is a problem. What worries me also is that he wants to pounce on the hood of the aquarium. He's several times tried to do this, but I've caught him each time. I'm afraid that if I left him to roam the house while I'm at work, he'd jump on the hood for certain. If he did, the hood would surely snap, and he'd fall in the tank (the hood can withstand some pressure, such as my kitty walking on it, but I'm fairly certain, it can't tolerate the jolt of him jumping on it, from several feet away). He also chews at my plants, despite my every attempt to keep him from doing so. For these reasons, I left him in my room today, before leaving for work. I left for him in the room a scratching post, toys, plenty of food and water, and one of his kitty-litter boxes, but I feel really bad about leaving him in there, until I arrive home from work. Is it cruel to leave him in my room, while I'm at work (the room is fairly large, and so are the connected closet and bathroom)? It's not cruel for now, but you are better off giving him better things to do so he learns how to behave. Otherwise, he'll be stuck in there forever, and that would be cruel. Does he have a nice big cat tree (with stuff hanging from it to play with) to climb on? Does he have a good spot by the window so he can be entertained by things outside? Do you leave the TV on for him (my cats love Animal Planet)? Spray bitter apple (available in the puppy section at most pet stores) on anything you don't want him to play with. But make sure he has plenty of cool things of his own, too. If you don't want him to jump on the tank, put a chair there so he can watch. He won't need to jump if he can see fine from the chair. And do secure the tank just in case. If you can't keep him away and the tank isn't too large to move, move the tank into your room and let him have the rest of the house. Don't forget to let him know you don't want him to bother the tank. A loud clap of the hands or a squirt with water, then take him to his tree and play with him and praise him. Problem 3: I'm a bit of an insomniac, and have trouble sleeping, even under perfect conditions. Therefore, when my kitten jumps around my room after I turn in for the night, I really have a problem trying to sleep! If I put him outside of my room, he meows, because he wants to be in the room with me. I simply can't play with him, though, during his primary play hours. Is there any thing at all that I can do to simultaneously keep him happy, and allow me to sleep? I have a fully furnished basement. Would it be cruel to put him down there with his toys while I try to sleep? I don't know if he would just meow forever if I did that, or just eventually forget about me and start playing. If he bothers/wakes you, put him down there. But not before. That way, he learns he gets stuck outside your room when he doesn't behave. A few days should be all it takes for him to get the hint. My parents did this with their cat and after two nights, he was very careful not to wake them. Me, I sleep like a log. Problem 4: I'm only home for about 3 hours in the evening before I go to bed. Is that enough time to spend with my kitten, or does he need more attention? Do you live alone? You may consider getting another kitten for him. That would also solve other problems with boredom and waking you. Hope this helps. Good luck with the new guy! ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Black holes were created when God divided by 0. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- Wow--thanks, Kaeli. You answered each question with great advice. I'm sure I will put all of it to good use! JR |
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