How a Reader Conquered Cat Allergies: A Success Story

Loved this story and asked if I could share – Marshall said I could!

“I wanted to send you an email expressing how much I love and enjoy Floppycats. Charlie and Trigg’s antics are hilarious and often make my day. I can just imagine all the fun and craziness off camera.

Your website and YouTube videos peeked my interest in adopting a cat a few years back. I had been a lifelong dog-person, but watching your videos and reading your website posts, I was interested in adding a feline friend to my family. All was going well until I had a 1:1 meeting with a gorgeous torti bobtail. I broke out head to toe in hives, requiring emergency medical care. I was crushed; I thought this dream was over.

I meet with an allergist and was given hope that there were options and treatments. After skin testing, it was quite evident that I was severely allergic to cat antigenic proteins. Worst, I was also moderately allergic to dogs! I have two. One was 12 and the other was 5 at the time. I’ve had dogs my whole life. I had later found out that allergies are an ever changing ordeal in some people.

So, I immediately started immunotherapy. I received “allergy shots” twice a week for 6 months and then weekly for a year. I showed progress and went to every other week. I had 3 severe anaphylactic reactions to the antigen, but immediate treatment, those were nipped in the bud. I was determined to get these allergies under control.

Two years later, I adopted my first cat! She’s not floppy, as she’s an American Shorthair diluted torbi. I’ve had no reactions except if I scratch her and immediately touch my eyes. Margaux is a joy to have and has been an amazing companion to my senior Labrador, Mocha. My pointer was not thrilled that she used his back as a scratcher when they first met. They now just tolerate each other.

I thought this would be a nice inspiration to those who feel they can never own a cat because of their allergies. There are viable treatments. It takes time and a decent chunk of money, but if you’re determined, it can be done. My allergist informed me that there is a “cat allergy vaccine” awaiting FDA approval. It shows promise in wiping out the immune systems response to the FEL D-1 allergen. This could open the doors for many people to finally have a cat without the 2-5 year commitment to immunotherapy.

I wanted to thank you for inspiring me to bring a cat into my life. Thank you, Jenny! Keep up the excellent work through Floppycats. I’m sometimes just as excited watching your arrival videos as Charlie and Trigg are to the unopened boxes.

Margaux was just spayed and I’ve been using your advice to keep her well hydrated. I’ve been adding hot water to her wet food to bring it up to mouse temperature. She was back to normal within about 8 hours post surgery. I believe it helped flush out the anesthetics. I will be doing this all the time. Great tip! My aunt lost a few of her cats to kidney disease over the years. When I asked her what she fed them: well, you know the answer… I encouraged her to switch over to wet food.

Cat allergies need not hinder someone to a life void of cats. I have been following cat-SPIRE closely over the last few years. It could lead to treatments for other life threatening allergies.
http://allergicliving.com/2015/02/18/a-shot-at-a-cure-for-cat-allergy/ “