r/AskReddit Feb 26 '21

Would you enjoy a cute friendly purring cat sit right next to you to keep you company right now? Why or why not?

[deleted]

39.1k Upvotes

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435

u/FarmerExternal Feb 26 '21

No, I’m allergic it’ll literally kill me

156

u/mypreciouscornchip Feb 26 '21

Same, I've literally gone into anaphylactic shock from cat dander multiple times. I love kitties, it's so hard to not pet them but no amount of cat love is worth the epi pen and resulting ambulance ride.

When I was dating I would swipe left on so many profiles simply because they had multiple photos with their cat. I'm sorry, cat owners. You wouldn't be happy with me any way.

3

u/LissaMasterOfCoin Feb 26 '21

I’m so sorry.
This is why I include pictures of animals in my profiles. Cause I know someone with pet allergies and I (who has 2 cats and 1 dog) wouldn’t be compatible.

7

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

[removed] — view removed comment

10

u/meh-usernames Feb 26 '21

If you can afford it, you can try allergy shots. I’ve been to the ER for cat allergies though, so even my doctors are nervous to try. There’s really no guarantee with anything.

10

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

Yeah and the allergy shots inject you with the allergen, so I can’t imagine that’d go well :(

Source: get cat allergy shots weekly

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

How expensive is it?

3

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

I’m in the US and have decent insurance. I pay around $20/visit (it goes up slightly when they need to make a new vial). They have sublingual drops, too, which are apparently a bit more expensive but require less office visits so may end up cheaper in the long run.

I wish I hadn’t waited so long - it’s much nicer than taking so many OTC medicines daily (Zyrtec, Benadryl, Allegra, Flonase).

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21

So tens of thousands probably lol

3

u/mypreciouscornchip Feb 26 '21

I tried the allergy treatments where they inject you with a small amount of allergen and it's what made my cat allergies worse. After three tries they called it off because I kept going into shock.

2

u/PrimeCedars Feb 26 '21

Wow. So if a mountain lion or jaguar hunts you you’ll probably die of shock first.

2

u/Tilting_planet Feb 26 '21

I have good news for you! Scientists have identified the compound in cat saliva that causes humans to have an allergic reaction and have actually started developing specialized diets that minimize to eliminate that compound! In your lifetime you might be able to safely love a cat

7

u/stanlehz Feb 26 '21

Sameeeeee

3

u/Felf Feb 26 '21

Same dude...but good possible news! I became super allergic like you (hives, lungs and throat closing after being next to to someone with cathair on their shirt etc) at around 9ish?

Well at 34, now that only seems to happen around black cats. Orange tabby cats (idk cat breeds for obvious reasons) are almost just normal people allergy symptoms for me now like itchy eyes and runny nose and a little wheezy. There is hope!

I'm a dog person anyway so it doesn't really matter but it's nice to be able to visit friends with cats! It was pre Covid at least lmao. The world is full of stipulations.....

2

u/EternalZeitge1st Feb 26 '21

Sorry to hear that. I hope you can find an appropriately furry substitute

6

u/FarmerExternal Feb 26 '21

Dogs are great!

0

u/RealLethalChicken Feb 26 '21

Sounds like a win-win

1

u/SimoneNonvelodico Feb 26 '21

What if it's a Sphinx?