Posted by Mary on May 31, 2001 at 23:49:32:
In Reply to: Re: introduction update... posted by Andyck on May 31, 2001 at 22:55:57:
I am definitely allergic to her - big time :(
I did go out and get another litter tonight just in case, but that didn't change anything. Molly and Romy are using the same litter as usual, Bijou has been using a different litter, a clay one.
I knew it was her tho, and not the litter, when she scratched me just a tiny bit tonight and I immediately welted up. I have been scratched pretty badly by the other two before, and even got infected from their scratches, but never welted up. So that is not a good sign at all. I used to be very allergic to cats, but I've been getting allergy shots for a year now, and it has worked very well for me. Besides the fact that Molly and Romy have never bothered me at all, I can go to a shelter and spend a few hours petting al the cats, with no reactions. Even if they scratch me a little, still no reaction. A few months before I got Molly, and started getting shots, I went to the shelter one day to look at the kitties, and I couldn't last more than 20 minutes. My hands were totally welted just from petting the cats and having some of them lick me. So I know that I've come a LONG way with the allergy thing.. so to be so affected by Bijou is just weird. There's just something about her I guess. What a total bummer :(
I called the girl I got her from tonight and talked to her about it. I think if Bijou was not an affectionate cat, and hated being touched or held, I might be able to deal with it. But she is a total cuddler, climbs all over me, wants to sleep on me and just be held and petted. I held her for about a minute today before I went to work, and just that alone was enough to make me miserable all day long, and Allegra doesn't even touch it. So the girl said she was willing to take her back, and try to find a new home :(
I had planned on bringing her into work tomorrow because everyone wanted to see her.. so maybe someone tomorrow will fall in love with her and want to give her a good home. It kills me to do that, because I have already gotten SO attached to her, but to be this affected by her just tells me it will be big trouble for me, and I don't want to end up avoiding her or discouraging affection because of how it makes me feel.
sooo.. there's the update. It's really the pits :((
Mary :(
: It sounds like the kitty introductions are right on line with where they should be. It may take some additional time with Molly, but I am sure that she will come around.
: As for your allergies, I agree with D~. The new litter along with the increased activity of the kitties is what could be causing your problems. If Romy, Molly, and Bijou are using the same litter or if even just one of them is and spreading the dust and scent around, this could be causing your alergic reaction. Although you do have to consider that Bijou might have a stronger scent/hair/dandruff problem than Molly or Romy and that could be causing your problem. When you kept Bijou in a seperate room, were you having problems being in there with her? If not, then I think it might be the litter.