Superman has his kryptonite. I have cats.
Actually, I DON’T have cats, because I would die. But just about everyone I know does, and therein lies the problem. See, when I’m not around cats, I don’t really have asthma. I can run, dance, jump, and do all those other lung-irritating things just fine when there’s no felines around. But as soon as there’s an ounce of cat-dander in the air, I stop being able to breathe.
Ok, ok. It’s not that bad… If I’ve taken some allergy medicine, and if the house is clean, I can stay in a cat-infested area for a day or two with few ill-effects. Shorthairs are also way easier on me than long hairs. Siamese cats are the worst – I can spend a few minutes around them, and then it’s “rush Alina to the hospital happy fun time”.
Which isn’t to say I don’t love cats. I do. They’re lovely animals, and while I am through-and-through a dog person, I do appreciate that they’re wonderful companions, especially if you’re working from home. There’s nothing quite like a purring cat to soothe frayed nerves or curl up in a comfy chair with on a rainy day.
Hedgehogs, for the record, don’t purr, and will probably pee on you if you try to curl up with them in a chair for too long. But they’re still cute.
Paul Says:
I’m the same way with dogs and cats if i have to sleep at someones house i wake up and it feels as if my sinuses have expanded 100 times over, mostly happends with cats though,
Wolfgang Says:
On an interesting note- my mother’s the same way, but short hairs bother her MORE than long hairs. We’ve yet to figure it out.
Glew Says:
Well, how fortunate you aren’t a superhero!
-Always look at the bright side of things ;D
TopHatFox Says:
Thanks. That’s my nose itching for the rest of the night now.
Chakat Firepaw Says:
There’s a really simple solution to being a superhero with that weakness:
Go the power armour route. Either as an engineering hero or by getting in touch with a super-level inventor with gear to test.
Villain: “I have… a KITTEN!”
Ultralina: “I have filters and an independent oxygen supply.”
Villain: “I have, an escape chute?”
—
Chakat Firepaw – Inventor & Scientist (Mad)
BookWyrm Says:
I have friends with asthma, so I certainly understand what you go through with cat exposure. I’m mildly allergic to cats and dogs, among other things. I have a small dog and he doesn’t bother me (except for treats, laps, walks, etc.), ‘though I suspect my sinuses would be clearer without him. My boyfriend will break out if my dog licks him, so he tries to avoid that. I would love to have a cat again, BUT my BF says that being around a cat will sensitize his system to other things (he has asthma), and if I want him to set foot in my house, no cats. Cat or BF? Hard choice. So my dog is a cat substitute (not that he isn’t darn cute himself!) Now, if I could just get him to purr….
Glew Says:
I just thought of it: as allergy is a rapidly growing public health concern, in some time the new weapon of mass destruction would be kittens and doggies and probably a bouquet of flowers.
twocats Says:
Okay, I’m confused – shorthairs are better, but Siamese are worse? Butbutbut… Siamese ARE shorthairs. (Ours might not really count anyway, he’s a Siamese-colored moggie from a mixed-bag litter. Does a REAL good imitation of an applehead sealpoint, though.)
Damien Sim Says:
My sister get the same way when she comes back to visit my parents. The cat is basically banished from the house until she leaves. Me… nothing beats going to sleep with the cat curled up on your chest 😀
LisaMarie Says:
i oddly enough have cats which i am fine with but dogs make me itch..and it sucks because i love animals too and dogs are really cute..but with my work scehdule and the fact of east coast winters on top of my allergies a dog is not practical to have. so hooray for fuzzy mobile stress relief units that are cats..you give them some food and a box to poop in and they are good until the come demanding pettins..which my 3 like to do often. lol
Gabriel Rotar Says:
I used to have a cat, he was some sort of a mix he had the siamese coloring, face structure but his hair was short, thick and stayed on like it was stuck with crazy glue, he was a walking felt cushion, also he had blue eyes. He was always there when I was getting close to critical mass. I miss Maxie 🙁
PedroSteckecilo Says:
I’m one of those crazy people who is both allergic to cats AND a cat owner. I can however build up a tolerance and my own little fuzzball doesn’t cause me to have any allergy problems. I even forget that I AM in fact allergic to cats because I’m not allergic to my own.
Linsxx Says:
Need more Moosehead…. Having withdrawals already!:)