great post - can't wait to hear the responses!

I don't really have anything really worthwhile to contribute as I don't have allergies, I just wanted to say that the cat above looks identical to mine!

My husband is somewhat allergic to cat dander, in the sense that it exacerbates his asthma (but not in the sense that he gets sneezy and itchy-eyed whenever he is around cats). We've dealt with this by keeping the cats out of the bedroom and putting an air purifier in there. I don't know what we'd do if his allergies were worse, though.

A friend of mine is very allergic to cats yet married someone who has 5 cats. The friend takes allergy relief pills everyday. I think it's insane. One of these days there will be a research study that says long term use of the pills causes some bad side effect.

My brother had severe allergies and asthma, and we had a poodle when we were kids. No problem re the allergies at all, although the dog was a neurotic mess. Another story.

I'm allergic to Cats (with a capital C) but we have one, and I've completely acclimated to him. When we visit friends who have Cats I get sneezy and red-eyed, but at home I don't have a problem with our cat. On the other hand, if we're away for a week and our cat is with a sitter, coming back to him usually brings the allergies back for a day or two. And then I'm fine again.

my gf is allergic to cats... but only shorthairs really bother her. our fluffy kitty doesn't bother her a bit, but the roommate's short haired tiger isn't allowed in my room, and especially not on the bed, because that's when the uncontrollable sneezing begins...

i have cat allergies and own a cat, but i'm allergic to other stuff too like dust and pollen so i take medicine every day. i've never had any problems with the cat. think i've grown out of my allergy slightly since i've been around one; whether its because of passing years and just grown out of it, or being exposed to it, i have no idea.

Please don't bring home a dog, then make it live outside! They are companion animals, and need to be in the house unless you are taking them on a walk/to the park/in the yard to play. OK, off my soapbox :) As everydaydiva said, poodles are nonallergenic, or any breed mixed with a poodle can be good for people with allergies (many shelters have poddles or poodle mixes-just do a search on petfinder.com). There are also poodle breed rescues. The other plus with poodles is that they don't shed at all. I've never had one, though, so I can't comment on their temperament (though every dog is different). You could also do the allergy pill or allergy shot route, or keep the pet confined to a certain area of the house. I don't know if one room would be enough for a dog, but maybe you could keep it confined to just the first floor or the main living areas.

Or you could always get a hairless cat... (eek!)

my husband is allergic to cats, and we've always had cats (we've had up to 4). yes, he's acclimated to them, but more than that, when he starts to get allergic symptoms around them, we bathe them, and it gets rid of the allergenic substances.

i read a long time ago (circa 1993 or 1994) in TIME magazine of all places, that all you need to do is bathe your cat frequently for a time -- every other day, or every few days -- and the cat stops producing the allergen in its saliva (it's not the dander per se that is allergenic, rather, the saliva covering the dander). when you bathe frequently, the cat's body simply cannot produce enough of the allergen.

works like a charm.

those of you who take pills should give it a try, and see if it works for you.

of course, it helps to have a house with hardwood and materials that don't retain the hair, so that you can rid your house of the allergens easily.

Kitschens, I am allergic to cats as well and had a similar experience. When I moved in with my ex boyfriend who had a cat it was terrible for the first couple of weeks but then I got completely used to it and it was no problem, however I still had problems around other cats. Now my husband I would love to get a cat, but he had one growing up and had to get allergy shots 4 times a year for it and he's not willing to do that again. I guess whether or not you can adapt to it depends on the person.

There's a shot you can get: "allergy desensitization shots" or immunotherapy. I think you start by getting a shot every couple of months, then less and less frequently as your body gets more tolerant to whatever it is you're allergic to. A friend of a friend did this so she could have cats. It totally worked!

I have allergies to pet hair, but I've done well with my short haired, little shedding greyhound. Keeping the pets clean is also important. I visit friends who have pets and my reaction is much less severe if the pet has recently had a bath.

Another thing that helps is that I do not allow my dog onto my bed or furniture. Not having the hair near my face and eyes seems to keep things in check.

Of course, I need to buy stock in the Kleenex company, but it is worth it!

I'm allergic to cats & dogs, but found that out after I already had a dog (and previously had a cat for 13 years!).

The recommendations from my allergist:

- No pets in the bedroom and definitely not in the bed!
- No rugs if possible
- Have someone else bathe/groom your pet if possible
- Invest in a high quality HEPA air filter
- Find a vacuum with a HEPA filter and vacuum floors & furniture frequently

And of course, find a good allergy medicine and take it regularly.

It also helps to find out what you are allergic to. Some people are allergic to dander, some to fur, some to saliva.

What's the point of keeing an animal if you're allergic to it?

I'm allergic to eeeevvvvvvvvvrything, so I already have to take some sort of allergy medicine just so I can breathe outside. Seriously, I'm allergic to stuff like oregano, eucalyptus, cedar wood, even mint--and that's in addition to all the mold and pollen and grass and crap. One little ol' cat isn't going to make things that much worse. So I have a cat anyway, because I've always had a kitty and it was just so sad being without one.

I've made a few specific adjustments. If I've been petting her quite a bit, it's time to go wash my hands. If she's shed all over my clothes, particularly near my face, time for the lint roller. And above all else, I never touch my face after I've petted her. For the blue moon occasions when I let her get in my face for snuggles, I then have to go wash my face. Also, she's not allowed in my bed. Once we started enforcing that rule years ago, we noticed an immediate improvement.

My main problem is if a stray hair gets into my eye. That's miserable. Otherwise, I'm mostly acclimated to her. However, other kitties can make me sniffly, red-eyed, or sneezy. Dogs just give me a major headache, so I pretty much avoid dogs. Besides, I've never met a dog that didn't want to lick me to death and I HATE that. I have noticed some difference with certain cats. Orange cats don't seem to bother me as much. Black cats are worse, which makes me sad because I adore black cats. They're so sassy!

First, what a beautiful cat in that photo! It looks like a marbled Bengal.

We have 4 cats, and my husband is moderately allergic to cats. Tips for making it work:

- vacuum frequently; I recently bought a Dyson and since then, hubby no longer has asthma attacks; it was worth every penny!

- clean up other allergies; we cleaned up our food intolerances (IgG reactions) which has helped to lighten the load on the immune system so the cats aren't such a problem. We used the Alletess 96 food panel and it worked well. Hubby went from having 10 asthma attacks/day to 1-2 thanks to this test. (turns out he was very allergic to cow's milk)

- antihistamine and anti-inflammatory; we don't like using Rx drugs and opt for natural solutions. Quercetin - a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables - is a very effective anti-histamine. This has helped with the cat allergies. Also, taking Zyflammend - a ginger/turmernic-based anti-inflammatory - has really helped as well. Allergies and inflammation go hand in hand, so attacking both sides is helpful.

- keep the pets out of the bedroom; nuff said.

- invest in a good air purifier.

We do the above and have both done fine with out multi-cat household.

Growing up, we had pets and I was allergy free. I developed allergies to pet dander, pollen and dust later. I have 2 cats and a dog and take meds for the allergies. My old allergy doc put it best when he said it is a lifestyle disease. Change my lifestyle, change my symptoms. I can't imagine living in a house without animals, just like I can't imagine not being outside when I feel like it. Pollen or no pollen.

Now I just vacuum a lot.

Hypoallergenic cats have been created, though I think it's extreme to get a designer cat just so your nose doesn't run. Wikipedia says that Siberians and Russian Blues are naturally hypoallergenic, so they might be a good breed for you cat lovers who aren't sneezing lovers.

As far as dogs go, do not get a dog unless you can handle its dander. Forcing it to live outside because it makes you sneeze is just cruel punishment for something that is your problem. Wikipedia also has a list of "hypoallergenic" dogs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_dog_breeds and they suggest spending ample time with a rescue dog before committing.

My husband is allergic but we have two cats. They get baths twice a month and their claws are clipped. Plus, he adapts to cats once he's around them for a while. With a bit of time his resistance levels goes up for specific cats. He can pick up and cuddle with our cats but he would never touch another cat without immediately washing his hands. He still feels the allergies a little at times but he wholeheartedly says it's worth it.

No pet is hypo-allergenic, but greyhounds come pretty close. They definitely cannot live outside -- they have so little hair they would freeze!

My boyfriend and I have taken in a few strays over the years, even though we're both allergic. Like others have said, you often adjust to the cat. We were both careful to wash our hands after we handled her. And I vacuumed a lot to control the dander.

On the bathing thing, I've heard that too many baths can actually result in the cat producing more dander. I found that I had the best luck with frequent brushing and using Allerpet once a week or so.

What everyone else says about acclimating!

I'm Very Allergic to Cats, but can't live without a pet...it takes me about six months to fully acclimate to a new cat (and that's living with them, not just visiting here and there). I have one cat now, and he sleeps on my pillow every night with no ill effect to me, yet I can't pet someone else's cat without getting a rash and needing to wash my hands.

On the downside, if I go on vacation for any amount of time, I need to re-acclimate a little to my own cat when I return. That's never fun.

Ditto with dogs. Visiting my parents always means an increase in allergies, but I'm sure if I lived with a dog I'd be as fine as I am with my cat.

I'm in agreement with everyone's suggestions about acclimating and conscientious clean up (regular vacuuming, bathing of pets, etc.).

Also I heard that some people who are allergic to cats aren't allergic to kittens. Determined to have pets in my home again, I got two kittens from the shelter and gave them baths monthly. I've had them for 4 years now and their baths are only once or twice a year now. I don't have a problem with the allergies. I visited my brother yesterday, he has two cats (and he's not nearly as anal as I am about cleanliness) and I was fine petting and playing with them.

I wonder if the same holds true for folks allergic to dogs? If you get them as a puppy and groom them regularly? Would that work?

i am only allergic to SOME cats, usually ones that eat dry food. I found that dry food leaves more of a dust in their fur after grooming themselves. i'm not nearly as allergic to wet food cats (meat out the can) even tho i've heard that stuff is bad for the cat as their tiny livers cant handle it, is that true? Me and my husband would love a kitty, but we're tentative about it because of my allergy. i have asthma too and it usually worsens around cats, with the accomponyment of runny nose and eyes.

Gyrt, I just wanted to correct your post about allergy shots. I just finished up my latest round of shots (I've been getting them since high school) and when I first started off I got one shot a week for many weeks and then every 2 weeks and then every 3 weeks etc... Allergy shots have helped me immensely but they are a very long term treatment and it can take a year or more to really feel any relief. AND your allergies can change every 10 years so what you're allergic to now may not have been an issue in your childhood.

My father also has allergies and at 71 is still getting monthly allergy shots.

Here's a great list of "hypoallergenic" dog breeds on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_dog_breeds

I'm allergic to cats-so I got a rabbit!

We got a Bichone Frise because they really don't shed and they are good for those with allergies. The only shedding is from their long tails, and it's almost like people hair.

I tried to bring home a kitten but my family wasn't having it. My brother is very allergic (and has no health insurance, so pills/shots are out) and my mom just plain doesn't like them, although she and I aren't allergic. When I move out again, I'm using a cat as insurance against my family visiting me. Ever.

Mom got allergy shots weekly/monthly for many years when I was a kid. Somehow I'm the only one in the family not allergic to anything at all, damn my luck (and desire for a cat).

i am, or was, allergic to cats. all these nuggets of advice people would give about certain breeds or coat colors being less allergenic just did not seem to apply to me -- if it was a cat, i would start sneezing and tearing up. my friends had to keep their pets away from me so i wouldn't, like, die at their homes.

but i really, really wanted a cat of my own, so i talked to a few people who were also allergic. some claimed that repeated exposure helped them develop tolerance to the allergens, and others claimed that it simply made them more sensitized. although i knew it would be smarter to steer clear, i kept hoping i could overcome the allergies, so i started visiting the local shelter a couple times a week. the first few times, i was a sopping, dripping, hoarse-voiced mess, but after a few months, my symptoms started to recede. unfortunately, by the time i thought i was good enough to bring home a cat, the shelter almost wouldn't let me adopt, because they'd all seen me being really allergic!

but i finally brought home my cat, and i really haven't had any problems. i'd purchased a HEPA air filter and allergy wipes and pills, but i haven't really needed to use them after the first month. about the only concession i make now is to wear a mask if i'm brushing his fur, because that always makes me sneeze. as a bonus, my boyfriend, who is also allergic and didn't like cats initially, seems to have developed resistance and likes my cat so much that he now talks about getting one of his own. a lot of people told me i would regret adopting a cat, but it's been almost a year and that definitely has not been the case.

If you are allergic to an animal and are thinking of getting one and making them live in a closed off room or outside I would suggest you don't. What kind of life is that for the animal?

I am allergic to dogs but decided to get one anyway a year or so ago. My allergy is on the mild side in that I don't always sneeze and have itchy eyes around my pup, but I do sort of live in a state of constant congestion. At first I was taking an OTC allergy pill (like a Claritan) but have found my allergy to get better with time. I decided I didn't want to take a pill everyday and chose to live with a little congestion. I have to be diligent abount cleaning the house and the dog to help with this.

I guess depending on the severity of your allergy and what you are willing to live with, it can be worth extra maintenance to own a pet, but please keep the pet's quality of life in mind too.

I'm a serious allergy sufferer, with a dog. Here's what I do:

1. Take allergy meds religiously. I use a pill and nasal spray. Without this stuff, I develop sinus infections about every 6 weeks.

2. Bathe the dog at least once a week.

3. NEVER touch your face after petting the dog. You just have to become religious about washing your hands after touching anything having to do with the pet. Also means: no pets in bed!

4. Vacuum at least once a week, wipe down most surfaces every two to three weeks, and wash your bedsheets at least every other week.

Allergy shots also do wonders if you can afford them.

Following these rules, me and my pup coexist without very little problem!

allergies aside... I want those stairs!!!! love the texture! (;

I'm allergic and am owned by Chloe the cat. I stopped taking allergy pills and was determined to get my body more acclimated to Chloe off sinus drugs, but after months still had massive sinus issues and consumed a box of tissues every week.

My mom turned me on to quercitin, and after about a week, I've been very happy ever since. I take one pill morning & night. It *really* helps decrease the allergic reaction and inflammation over time. Sometimes before bed I also use a homeopathic nasal spray called Similasan.

Oh, and I used to regularly bathe my other cat with plain water regularly, and that does help. However, Chloe will shred me if I tried it.

ive found that once i had cats, im became 'used' to them and didnt have very bad allergies, i just have to wash my hands occasionally after petting or my eyes will still get really itchy.

on that note: wash your hands and face a lot! dont be lazy about that and you really wont have any problems.

on the flip side, after being away from my childhood dog, when i go home to visit my parents im super allergic to it!

i really think you can get used to a pet if you have allergies, and i agree, i dont think most people are allergic to kitten fur so maybe getting a kitten would help? as it grows you would be slowly getting used to it?

I'm allergic to cats, but it's mostly manageable. Like others here, I've become acclimated for the most part. Normally, the allergies flare up now and then, but I just take some quercetin (a natural antihistamine); it usually does the trick.

That said, I recently adopted a kitten and I'm much more allergic to her than to other cats. I don't know if kittens have more intense dander or what, but antihistamines will be my way of life for a while it seems.

I am extremely allergic to cats. Itchy sore red eyes, itchy welts on my skin. It becomes pretty unbearable when the wheezing and asthma starts. A friend of ours recently got a kitten and I can't go over their house any more. If I do I stand outside to chat to them. I know that it seems rude. But would you eat avocado in a salad if it meant death, just cos it would be rude to pick it out. Hell no. I am completely aginst taking allergy med's for the rest of my life. Also on the point attemptedly made by FatalFlower that a hairless cat would be good for allergy sufferers. People aren't just allergic to dander... the thing that makes me break out in hives is their saliva. Cos they lick themselves everywhere and the hair gets shed everywhere anything I touch that cats have touched make me itch!!!

I much prefer dogs. AND cats are horrible for the Australian wildlife. A lot of animals are going extinct due to the recently introduced preditor of the domestic cat. Now they are talking about bringing in the Savannah cats which are much larger and suited for hunting. If any of you want to see Koala's in the future... better do it now, before they all get eaten or run over. :(

i once read a couple things about what cats are best for allergy sufferers to be around, although i am not sure if they are true.
1. lighter colored cats (black cats are the worst)
2. female rather than male cats (males produce more of the pheromone that humans tend to be allergic to)
3. kittens (young cats produce significantly less dander)
anyone know if there is truth to this?

One word:

POODLE.

best dog ever. No sneezy-sneezy.

i'm late to the discussion, but just wanted to throw in my two cents. i am allergic to cats (and dogs). i had one cat, my now-husband had two, we've now been married for one year and had three cats in a 650 sq ft condo. i was fine w/ my one cat a 600 sq ft studio. couldn't pet her then touch my face, was a little sneezy sometimes, but nothing unmanageable. also, i grew up w/ three cats in a townhouse...that was also manageable. 3 cats in a smaller space is definitely tougher on my allergies. for a year, i told myself that my body would adjust to the cats, but it didn't do that and over the past year, my allergies have turned into some pretty bad asthma. getting rid of the cats is *not* an option, though. and at this point, moving into a larger place isn't really an option either. after going to see an allergist, he suggested many of the steps above (air purifier in the bedroom, bathing the cats - which is so not happening, but i'm going to look into the anti-dander wipes, removing the carpet in the bedroom, lots of vacuuming, hepa filters). getting ready to tackle all of his steps, start taking medicine more regularly, and start allergy shots asap. so anyway...in short, yes, you can have a pet and have allergies. but you have to be committed and willing to change your habits, too! (all of which are worth it to me...love the three kitties!)