Cat Allergies: The Comedic Tragedy of Living with Felines When You're Allergic | The Cat Consultant

Picture this: I live with seven cats, play guardian angel to a colony of 50+ strays, and call myself a cat behaviourist. Oh, and guess what? I'm allergic to cats! Cue the cosmic irony!

I didn't always sneeze around my feline pals, but as life would have it, our immune systems play switcheroo as we age. My "seasonal" allergies turned permanent, and after a witty remark about being allergic to cats, I landed myself at an allergy specialist's office. Drumroll, please: one of my top three allergies? Cats. Oh, the poetic injustice! I guess my body waved the white flag. You win, allergens! But hold on tight, because I still have my furry bunch, volunteer fervently, and, the cherry on top, just started my own cat behaviour gig. How's that possible? Well, I've mastered the art of living with cat allergies.

Can it be done, you ask? Oh, yes! And it's a paw-sitive revelation for cats and their humans. Cat allergies rank high among the top reasons for feline abandonment in the UAE. But before you consider re-homing your furry family member due to allergies, fear not!

There are tricks up my sneezy sleeve to try before resorting to re-homing. And hey, they're not rocket science! Once you grasp the allergen game, you're halfway to victory. Did you know your cat allergy isn't to fur? It's those tricky proteins in their saliva, urine, and dander (those pesky dried skin flakes). How to dodge these allergens? Let me share the secrets passed down from the renowned allergy specialist, Dr. Michael Loubser, the allergy wizard in the UAE.

• 🐾Cat-free Zone: Keep cats out of your bedroom. I know, it's laughable! But if you can't resist your cat's bedtime cuddles, change your pillowcase often and give your bedding a spa day twice a week. It's the small wins!
• 🐾Air Affair: Invest in an allergen-zapping air purifier, especially in rooms where you and your cats lounge. Opt for the ones with high-efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filters. Also, make sure your vacuum's got a HEPA filter; it's not just blowing air—it's blowing away allergens!
• 🐾Let It Breathe: Open windows for a breath of fresh air (unless pollen's your nemesis). Keep those pesky allergens from cozying up in rugs and furniture. Speaking of which, swapping fabric furniture and rugs for their non-fabric counterparts is a win. If you can't let go of that shag carpet, a steam-clean might save the day.
• 🐾Glam Up Your Cat: Delegate grooming to a non-allergic soul. Get someone else to brush your cat, preferably in an outdoor space, so that dander takes flight with the wind. Consider "Earthbath Hypo-Allergenic Grooming Wipes for Cats or Shampoo" to give your cat's coat an allergen-free touch.
• 🐾Medicinal Tango: Consult your doc about allergy meds. For my extensive cat encounters, it was a daily dose of Zyrtec for me, but Dr. Loubser has had me off the Zyrtec for a few months already so there’s definitely hope!
• 🐾Natural Remedies: Some swear by nettle tea or quercetin for allergic blessings. Vitamins C and E might also lend a hand in calming those allergy storms. I personally dive into the medicinal whammy, but these might be worth a shot for the herbal enthusiasts out there!
• 🐾The Shot of Hope: Immunotherapy, aka allergy shots, might be your golden ticket to immunity. It's a journey—weekly, then monthly shots for a while—but some find it the golden cure.

So there you have it! Tips and tricks to battle cat allergies or at least ideas to try. It might take some effort, but in the grand play of life, aren't our furry pals totally worth it?