Cats

[billeyler]

Georgian (pronounced George-Anne) had that fun party the other night.  She was very conscientious about having cats, knowing how may people are allergic and had thoroughly cleaned her house and put her two cats into a spare room.

I always like visiting the owner's pets when I'm somewhere.  I went into the room to see what the cats were like.  One must have been cowering under the bed, but her big black and white cat, Buddy, was up on top of a cage.  As soon as I opened the door, he got up and stretched, and started talking to me very loudly, looking right into my eyes.  I gave him a welcome scritch around the ears and as cats do, he started reacting happily, still talking all the while.  (I have no idea what the cat was saying, but it was the most verbal cat I've ever heard, outside of meowing.)

I'm severely allergic to cats.  Immediately, I went to the washroom and washed up; I always use my left hand when I pet a cat.  But I like to make friends with cats.

When I was 12 and my body chemistry was in the throes of the great male change, I had a near anaphylactic seizure from being around a cat.  I must have petted it, then rubbed my eyes...both eyes burned and swoll up so badly, I could barely see, and my throat nearly closed up.    I had never been allergic to one until then (that I remember).  After that time, I became allergic to lots and lots of things in the air and suffered for many years with weepy, swollen eyes, sneezing and clogged or runny sinuses.

During two memorable calling trips (Detroit and Seattle), my hosts had one or more cats, and lived in horribly unsanitary conditions.  BOTH times, I got bronchitis and was ill for weeks.  Never again.

But still I'm sad that I have this particular allergy and generally won't go visit friends that have cats.  Now and again, I do like to play with fire and pet one.   But as in many things, I'm VERY VERY careful!

Many of my allergies seem to have gone away or tempered over the years.  I wish this one would.

Comments

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

You'd be safe in our house... no pets at all. kent4str sheds like a yak in spring but that's about all. :-)

[deege.livejournal.com]

I am very allergic to cats as well. People often think that I just don't like cats -- which is sort of true-- and that I say I'm allergic as an excuse. Then they change their tune when they see that my eyes are swollen shut and I'm having trouble breathing. It's quite awful. I try to avoid them as much as possible, but whenever I'm near a cat he/she will choose me out of anyone in the room to brush up against repeatedly. It's as though cats can tell that I'm allergic to them. Creepy.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

I understand you well on that one...and the same thing happens to me.

Since Danny is allergic to cats and (most) dogs, and has that horrendous milk protein allergy, at least I understand that you can't just poo-poo someone's allergies that you DON'T have.

He wasn't allergic to my Schnauzers, so all was well in the world!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh dear - I guess I shouldn't offer crash space in Sunnyvale should you be out here again. Cleaning well enough for allergies is a daunting task in a carpeted house (presuming simple vacuuming won't do it).

Bummer that you're allergic to a creature you enjoy making friends with!

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

That sad part of that is that I didn't realize that you and Rob live close by where Allan lives. I would have loved at least a short visit with you all.