Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Calling All Cat Owners

Lisa

Recommended Posts

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

I'm housing my daughter's cat for, umm...five weeks now, with two to go.

My eyes are scratchy, blood shot and watery. Contacts are a no go.

My question is: We have had cats for many years. But in their later years we were in less direct contact. The last of three passed a year ago. All of which were in their twenties.

Could I be allergic to a particular cat. :unsure:

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Yes-- you can definitely be allergic to only certain cats.

Have you tried Claritin?

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
  • Author

Yes-- you can definitely be allergic to only certain cats.

Have you tried Claritin?

Interesting! Thank you. I will try the Claritin.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

It may also involve sensitization. That is similar to the concept with the allergy injections.

Repeated exposure over time may reduce your sensitivity. The shots seek to do this by building up your tolerance with repeated exposure once a week, then every two weeks, then once a month.

I tested as a teenager as being allergic to cats. In the summer of 1995, a cat adopted us. Over time, I got used to him being around, and did not react. We have had cats ever since, with the peak population being four from 2005 to 2008. I traveled a lot for business, and found that I would have a reaction when I came home from a trip of about a week (or longer). It would take a day or so, and my sensitivities would subside. I learned to take an antihistamine before boarding my flight home.

Your experience may differ.

genieb Newbie
genieb
Posted

Could be. Breeds and even individual cats differ in hair length, texture and dander. You might also want to look at anything that came with the cat like scented kitty litter. I used to have a lot of trouble cleaning the box until I figured that one out.

rosetapper23 Explorer
rosetapper23
Posted

It also might be that the cats' food contains gluten, which is common. Even if you wash your hands after feeding them, they lick their fur....and then you pet them.

If you'd prefer a more homeopathic, natural remedy for allergies, Sabadin by Boiron is quite good. My mother and several of my most allergic friends all swear by it--and they'd tried everything previously. I don't tend to have many allergies that require medication, but I've become a lot more careful with feeding my cats.

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

I have a specific problem with long haired cats. My husband's cat makes me break out in hives. It used to sleep in his bed, that was an automatic no go for me when we got married. (It had nothing to do with my hives or allergies either!) His is the only cat I've ever had contact with that has caused me to have a rash or hives since I was a teenager.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

Sorry, I just now saw this. I test allergic to cats. I had two as a child. No problems. Have had roommates with cats. Taken in strays. No problems. Have owned three as an adult. No problem. Can go to cat shows, cat shelters, etc. Usually no problems.

Visited my nephew who had a mom cat and babies. Sneezed my head off. Broke out head to toe in hives. Eyes got itchy. Daughter reacted the same way. She used to test as allergic but does not now.

It might also be the food. I am highly intolerant to eggs. I won a free can of some kind of cat food when we first got our current cats. I didn't know then that all they like is tuna. I bought a can of stuff with eggs in it. The baby cat ate a little then licked my arm. I broke out in hives.

beachbirdie Contributor
beachbirdie
Posted

I'm housing my daughter's cat for, umm...five weeks now, with two to go.

My eyes are scratchy, blood shot and watery. Contacts are a no go.

My question is: We have had cats for many years. But in their later years we were in less direct contact. The last of three passed a year ago. All of which were in their twenties.

Could I be allergic to a particular cat. :unsure:

Have you tried those disposable moist wipes you can wipe down a cat with? Takes some of the allergen off the fur. Sorry you're suffering...I know how it feels, I'm allergic to two of the most common substances around my place (dust and mold) and have allergies most of the time. It's miserable!

heathenly Apprentice
heathenly
Posted

Your visit is probably over, but: Zyrtec. The only one that ever worked for my cat allergy. Hope you survived!

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all for your input! This MOM insisted that the cat follow her owner. Said cat left today. Holding ground on NO never felt so good! :D

heathenly Apprentice
heathenly
Posted

Hahahaha! I bet!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,683
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jean Tonkin
    Newest Member
    Jean Tonkin
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I'd go with a vodka tonic, but that's just me😉
    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.