The Doctor says I should re-home the Kitty.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

**changed the title to make it clear that it is my doctor who says to rehome the kitty, it is not because I want to.

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I just had a consultation with an allergy and asthma specialist. Even though I don't have an allergic reaction to cats, the doctor says that research shows that people who suffer from asthma shouldn't have cats because the dander is so fine and gets deep inside our lungs. He thinks my asthma symptoms, which have worsened over the past couple of years, would decrease significantly if I re-home Penelope the Kitty and has noted that this has often been the case with his asthma patients. He may have a point, but I love my kitty so much and don't want to see her go. He said there are things I can do like bath her twice a week (which she would never tolerate) and keep her out of my room while I sleep, but these solutions wouldn't fix the issue 100%.

 

I told him that Winston has allergies and I suspect he is allergice to the cat. If that is the case, and I will know on Monday when we go for the testing, and if so, then I will consider finding her a new home. He commented on the fact that I would consider rehoming her for my dog's sake but not for myself. *sigh*.

 

This is quite a conundrum. Do cats have as difficult a time being up-rooted and rehomed as dogs do? I feel like Kitty would survive such a transition with much more ease than the doodles would. I do have a friend who I know would be interested but I'm not completely convinced she would provide Penelope with the best home. She is out most of the time, and would probably not let her sleep in her room at night, and Penelope is a very social and affectionate kitty. I don't think she'd be happy being alone so much. But I don't know, people say cats are fine on their own and at least if I give her to a friend I can see her.

 

She's such a happy-go-lucky cat and has an "any human will do" sort of attitude. Whenever there are people over rather than hiding under the bed, she is out and about leaping into people's laps and demanding cuddles. She even loves kids, and the doodles of course.

 

Also, Sophie and Winston love their kitty and would be so sad to see her go. :o( I'll never forget how much comfort she provided me when Winston was having his seizures. She knew I was upset and she tried to help me feel better. She crawled right on top of me and layed down right where the knots in my stomach were and I swear to you she sucked the stress right out of me. She cuddled up to my shoulder at night and when I stirred she licked my face. She is such a lovely lovely little kitty and I'm so lucky to have her.  

 

I had planned on getting a cat and a dog, but had intended to wait until Sophie was older before getting a cat. But then, only a few weeks after getting Sophie, there she was calling to me from her cage in Petsmart. It was love at first sight for both Sophie and I. She let sophie lick her face and wasn't bothered one bit by her crazy puppiness. After spending the night tossing and turning thinking of her, I decided to go back and adopt her (from the SPCA). Then Winston came along out of the blue and the two of them barely noticed each other at first. Nowadays it is not unusual for me to find Penelope snuggling up to him in the early hours of the morning. If ever there was a cat for me, she is it.

 

If it's just me that has the problem I think I can live with it, as I'm not even convinced the doctor is right about it. But, if it turns out she is the reason for Winston's allergies I might have to consider it. Winston needs me more than she does and it is really hard to watch him suffer.  I don't know what the answer is. I'm just feeling sad and worried about this and am needing to vent.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

You know, all of these suggestions have been really helpful. I don't know why I let this stupid doctor get the better of me. Of course people live with cats even when they have allergies and asthma. He's just an old grump. I know I'm going to have to up the ante. Vacuuming and changing my sheets once or twice a week isn't enough. I may not like vacuuming, or bathing kitties, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. I used to have a co-worker who vacuumed her place every day before she went to work. I just need to work the daily vacuuming into my routine. I have to say that since I got the air purifier in my bedroom I have noticed a difference.

I do realize there are more steps to take before making any such decision, that doctor just freaked me out and I just can't help myself from getting overwelmed. I'm going to hope and pray that Winston isn't allergic to her as that will make things so much easier.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I'm hoping for the best outcome for all of you!  I am allergic to our kitty but I just live with it.  Rooney is always sneezing and rubbing his face on the carpet - I suspect that he might be allergic also but I don't think it bad enough to do any testing.  Here in FL our kitty mostly stays on the screened lanai - so that helps.  I love my kitty and he loves us, the doods love him too - I so pray that you all get to stay together!!!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks Jane. I don't know why I always let myself get caught up in the worst case scenario type negative thinking instead of taking active steps forward. I sometimes just need to put up a post on here to help snap me out of it so I can get going. you know? There are so many steps I need to take before I get that point so there is no sense in panicking now.

[Katie, John & Parker pup]

Aww...that is a difficult decision! I don't know if cats are quite the same as dogs with separation problems but when we adopted our cat Maxine from the animal shelter I was volunteering for at the time, she had been through multiple homes (because people don't listen when certain things are recommended like no small children) and then returned because she bit their kid or something. She was declawed so she didn't frighten me like she seemed to frighten all of her previous owners and my sister and I weren't babies when we brought her home (I was 16 and my sister was 11). Maxine has some personality issues because of her turmoil filled life and once she realized she had found her forever home and relaxed, she turned into a really sweet and loving cat...not the same cat that screamed every time you picked her up when we had first brought her home! They definitely sense things but if it is what you have to do and you can find her a loving home then she will be fine!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Two of my three kids have asthma and hayfever and cats are a major problem for both of them that has gotten worse as they have gotten older.  I'll be the dr. is correct in saying that the cat is contributing to your problems, but you can decide what you want to do about it.  It is harder for you to know what to do about Winston (if cat allergies even factor in or how severely) because while we accept adjusting ourselves, we want everything perfect for our children (even if they are 4-legged and furry).  I will keep my fingers crossed that cats don't figure in to Winston's allergies.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks Jared, but I'm not allergic to the cat. Asthma is a much worse issue. The cat is not the sole source of my problem, but the doctor says she is overloading my system. If this were a question of itchy watery eyes and a bit of sneezing that could be cured with a benedryl then i wouldn't even be thinking this. Do your allergies leave you struggling to breathe to the point where you struggle to walk the dogs? I walk to work and there are days when I have to stop and sit down two or three times on my way because i'm having trouble breathing. By the time I get there i'm so dizzy and listless it takes me a while to recover and get any work done.  I've woken up in the night with it. I've had a few really  bad episodes where I've had to consider calling emergency. Last summer I almost had to go on full blown steroids to control it. Spring, summer and fall are the worst, but winter is bad too because extreme cold locks up my lungs. So actually, sometimes winter is the worst. I don't mean to be dramatic but this issue isn't simple and quality of life is important to me.

In terms of dogs with allergies, I don't think people who have ever experienced a dog with bad allergies really understands it. I'm sure that if your Dakota was licking, stcratching and chewing on her self to the point where she bleeds through her skin and almost always has infections in her paws, skin and ears, then you might feel differently about letting her or your pug suffer. Please don't underestimate how difficult it is to watch. When we get otuside Winston dives into the snow and rolls around frantically trying to relieve the itching. It's heartbreaking as he seems so desperate.

Winston may not be allergic to the cat, but I'm convinced there is something in my apartment that is setting him off. It's the dead of winter and there are no allergens outside. He is also much better and much happier when he is outside in the snow. Once I get a clear answer I will begin to take all the precautions I need to make sure we all healthy. Rehoming kitty is the worst case scenario. I really don't want have to go there, but depending on how things go there is a real possibility that I would need to consider it down the road.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

OMG Jared that sounds terrible! I would have at least hopped in a taxi! yikes. yea, I should open my windows more often. I do it sometimes but not every day. that's a good idea.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Sherri - we did have quite a snow melt this week, which always sets off my environmental allergies (I have a cold too, so it's sort of hard to tell).  If Winston was mostly having really bad itchyness in the last week or so, it could be partly related to that.

Oh well, we'll find out after the test Monday!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Good point. Higher humidity exacerbates allergic symptoms.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

it's pretty much been constant. His paws started getting better but then his ears got really bad. Now he's attacking his paws again. Just when I think it's starting to improve it goes down hill again.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Yeah constant wouldn't be weather related then :(  Hopefully it can be resolved soon and Winnie can get some relief!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

True-Hepa air filters may help - i have small ones in the bedroom and lounge. They can be noisy, but I actually like the background noise, and it seems to reduce Coopers random barking when she "hears" something at night

I think it would be easier on the cat to be rehomed than Winston, and easier to find the cat a home too. When does Winston have his tests?