So I got these two new kitties. And now my eyes are all itchy all the time and my nose runs. Turns out I’m allergic.
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Still, I’m compelled to bury my face in their little bellies. It’s very hard not to, as kitty lovers all over the world will attest.
I don’t want to have to give up the little fur balls, but I don’t want to depend on tissue boxes either. And weirdly, I don’t have this reaction to all cats my old puss died a few months ago, and I lived with him problem-free for 18 years. But these little guys are making me miserable.
I hear tales about folks who were allergic to their felines and eventually got over it. Could this happen? Meanwhile, there are coping strategies. Maybe we can work this out.
What the experts say
“Getting rid of the cats would be the ideal. Minimizing your exposure to dander and cat saliva is the next best thing. Wash your sheets in hot water, use a HEPA filter and steam clean. Homeopathic remedies could be useful not just for cat allergies. Use allium cepa if the main symptoms are profuse, watery discharge, runny eyes and runny nose, and arsenicum album if your runny nose is obstructed or stuffed up. Euphrasia is good if there’s a lot of itching, and nux vomica if there’s a lot of sneezing. A cold pack over your eyes will make them feel better. Homeopathic remedies can be hit or miss. Find what is a good fit for you. Quercetin may be helpful. [Check for drug interactions.]”
JONAH LUSIS, naturopath, Toronto
“The herb eyebright [euphrasia] is good, but it’s endangered, so it should be purchased from a grown source. Use it in combination with goldenrod. These reduce irritation in your mucous membranes. Take this combo as a tea or a tincture. Other useful herbs, depending on the individual, are nettle leaf, because it’s a natural antihistamine, and echinacea, because it’s an immune regulator. Avoid caffeine, sugar, tobacco smoke. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids are antihistamines and anti-inflammatory. There’s a link between low stomach acid and allergies, so bitters, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar can help.”
MARCIA DIXON, medical herbalist, Toronto
“There are sprays that are supposed to keep dander down. People have come in with different concoctions they’ve asked me to try. One was a drug a client wanted me to dilute and try on her cat, but I didn’t do it because I didn’t know what the effect would be. I have, unfortunately, come across nothing that really works.”
SCOTT BAINBRIDGE, veterinarian, Queen West Animal Hospital, Toronto
“Getting the cat out of the room is not the answer. The best thing is getting the cat out of the home. The allergen is so small, it spreads throughout the house. If you can’t do that, keeping the cat out of your bedroom and washing it regularly helps cut down on exposure. The next line of treatment is medications for nose or eye symptoms or asthma medications, depending on what your response is. Sometimes, yes [people do get over their allergies and become immune], but not very often. Allergies tend to lessen as people get older. There can also be differences between cats. Male cats are generally more allergenic than females. Allergy shots are not recommended for cat allergies. They have limited value and carry some risk, so it’s not appropriate for something that could just be removed.”
SUSAN TARLO, professor, department of medicine, University of Toronto
