Am I allergic?

I just got my first cat ever and he's an absolute darling...but I've been breaking out in hives on my forearms! They aren't TOO bad, but the itch is constant and annoying. The thing is, I don't have any other symptoms - no sneezing, congestion, watering eyes, asthma, nothing. Just itchy forearms. And even though my cat's rubbed up on my legs, belly and shoulders, I don't have hives there.

As a university student I can't really afford the $350 fee to get tested at the allergy clinic, so I'm hoping the experienced cat people here might have come across something like this. Is this a cat allergy? Or just a coincidental unrelated skin issue?

Does he lick your forearms? Could it be the litter you're using? The dust from it could be getting on your hands and forearms, but your hands may not be affected because you're washing them thoroughly right away. You could try washing your forearms immediately after scooping, too, and trying a different litter.

Have you tried something OTC for allergies?  Benedryl?  Zyrtec, Allegra, or Claritin?

Is there a general health clinic at your school where they can at least take a look at the rash?

Cat allergies can manifest in a lot of different ways, including skin issues (itching, hives) and sinus issues (sneezing, watery eyes, blocked nose), and unfortunately allergies to so many other things have the same appearance! With the current season, you could also be developing seasonal allergies. I know a lot of people who suffer from pollen allergies early in spring, but a few years back I started becoming symptomatic with June grass (late June, July, and some August) allergies later in the summer. Benadryl and other antihistamines can relieve symptoms, but there are a plethora of potential causes for the rash. If you can get to a generic clinic, they may be able to tell you if it's due to a topical irritation like from friction or something else.

When I had a bad reaction to my friend's cat's fur and dander (thick and greasy, with dandruff), it was isolated to areas where I used to have problem skin - it had long since healed. I had eczema as a child and it flared up on the insides of my elbows, backs of my knees, and spots on my neck. I would only get itchy and red on those areas after interacting with the cat. It may not be affecting other parts of you if you've had sensitivity on your arm specifically in the past.

I did suspect it might be the litter, so my partner's been in charge of all litterbox doings for the past 3 days, but I'm still getting hives.

I haven't tried any allergy meds - from what I remember from my very hay-fevery childhood, Clarityn and Zyrtec are primarily targetted at nose troubles. Do you know of any antihistamines or other OTC stuff that work on skin allergies? Please, anyone! I don't want to give up my kitty.

There is a clinic at my school, but I suspect they'd just refer me to an allergist. They usually deal with stuff like flu and stomachaches. I will be giving it a go, definitely, but they always have long waiting times and it could be a couple weeks before I get an appointment. I do have problem skin, but it's always been on my face (lucky me!), like eczema and acne. Right now my face might be a bit drier and itchier than usual, but there's no noticeable flare up of anything and I could just be being extra sensitive to itch because of my spotty arms.

I don't get extra hives in areas he touches or licks. It's just a general all-over case of hives on my arms. Argh! I wish I knew what was causing this!

The pharmacist I work for frequently suggests Benadryl for children who are experiencing itchiness because it's great for providing relief without having to give them any drugs. They make a topical cream you can check your local drug store for!

http://www.benadryl.ca/topical-relief-medicine/itch-cream

Oh, you goddess. Going to march down to the pharmacy tomorrow! Thanks! *hugs*

I have bad cat allergies. Bad. I will start with hives and itching if I stop taking allergy meds. Zyrtec works well for me.

I have a ton of allergies as well, and I use Reactine which works wonders. I do find that it's strong and will cause drowsiness, so I take half the dose. Good luck!

Hi guys, thanks for all the suggestions. Here's an update: the pharmacist doubted I was allergic to cats with my explanation of the arm hives. She said the only way to know for sure without testing was to get a cat to scratch or bite you, and see if you break out in swelling, redness and hives around the area.

Well, I got scratched today. No hives or itching, but some redness and swelling, which to me just looks like a normal byproduct of broken skin. So I'm back here seeking second (or more) opinions... does this look like I'm having an allergic reaction?



Thanks!

Those look like normal scratches to me too. Considering it's broken skin and cat claws and teeth can have some pretty nasty funk (bacteria and such) in them, I always expect them to act a bit differently than scraping your arm on the corner of an object. If the swelling gets worse or doesn't go down in an hour or two, especially after you've cleaned it, you could be more sensitive to cats in that sense but this doesn't look like allergies to me.

That looks like regular cat scratches to me as well.

Sweet! I guess I'm not allergic to cats then! I wonder what it could be, my arms are still itching. I've changed litter brands but it hasn't gone away. :/

whiskylollipop said:

 
Sweet! I guess I'm not allergic to cats then! I wonder what it could be, my arms are still itching. I've changed litter brands but it hasn't gone away. :/

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Are your arms scratched?  The scratches look like a typical reaction to scratches, but if the skin on your arms is intact then I'd say that you're having what sounds like a mild reaction.  After handling kitty, do you wash your arms with soap and water?

peaches08 said:

 
Are your arms scratched?  The scratches look like a typical reaction to scratches, but if the skin on your arms is intact then I'd say that you're having what sounds like a mild reaction.  After handling kitty, do you wash your arms with soap and water?

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No, he doesn't scratch normally. The photos of the scratches on my legs only happened because he jumped off my lap after being spooked by a sound.

To be honest I try to remember to wash my hands but forget to half the time! He doesn't come into much direct contact with my arms though, if any part of me should be reacting I'd think it should be my calves and ankles or hands. What a weird, oddly specific reaction I'm getting.

Your scratches look pretty normal to me, and if the swell more or get very red they need medical attention due to the bacteria cats carry on their teeth and claws - not an alergic response.   This need for medical attention is rare but normal and certainly not desireable!

Have a think about any new things you have started to use, or brought in to the home since you adopted your cat.  It may be completely unrelated to him or something you are using for him so don't focus only on cat things.  With the litter it could be clay dust as much as any perfume or other ingredient, or something you are using to clean the tray with.  

Once you start to scratch your skin you can quickly get in to a cycle with it which is hard to stop.   Using a product to moisturize and dull the itching is useful in breaking the cycle.

Since the rash is only on your forearms there is the possibility that this is a contact allergy.  Are you wearing a watch or other metal jewelery on your wrists that might contain nickel?  If you are, this could be the cause of your rash.