Cat Allergies - How to get tested/Fixed? Immunotherapy?

[Salgar]

Hi Everyone!

When I was young 0-16, I had cat allergies, I think I didn't notice much as I was quite used to our cat at home. Since then, I haven't had a cat, and any time I go to someones house which has a cat I quickly get a runny nose/sneezing, a weird throat scratching thing which is awful and a stye in my eye. It varies quite a lot depending on the cat.

Now, at 28, I'd quite like to get a cat! But I don't want it to be a miserable sniffing hell.

I have never been tested for allergies, so I'm not sure if it is the fur, or the things in their ears? or something else. My brother had very bad asthema and hayfever used to set it off when he was younger, and he had a series of injections lasting some months which desensitized him to it. It helped quite a lot. Do they do similar things here? I believe it's called immunotherapy.

So can anyone recommend a course of action? Should I go to a GP and get tested or will they tell me it isn't critical and I should go away? Or should I go to a specialist clinic? If so which one? (I'm in London)

[dai1983]

I used to be the same with the wife's cat when we were dating. I took loads of allergy tablets but suddenly I was cured. I'm still the same with certain dogs but not our husky. Maybe there's certain hair cats that would be suitable?

[Junior Mint]

Believe it or not there are "low allergy" cats out there. Google it. Here's an article for an example: http://www.catster.com/cat-breeds/hypoallergenic-c...

Scottish Folds are quite low allergy.

[Mellow Matt]

My dad used to be allergic to dog lick, then we got a dog, and after a few thousand licks he's not allergic anymore.

Try rubbing your face on a cat for a few weeks and see if it gets better. Maybe.