I'm Very Sad

right now I have to make a very hard decision, but I know what I have to do. I was wondering if you all could help me in this time. My daughter has been having really bad ear infecions and chest colds due to allergies and we believe it involves our cats. She has never had this bad of infections till we got our cats and they have ran tests and has come to this conclusion. We all are heart broken because of this but I can't put the cats above the health of my daughter. So, I have to find homes for my fur babies, but I DO NOT want to take them to the pound. I have posted free cats to good home at pet stores but no one has called. So, I am turning to my family here for help. I want my daughter to be well but I also want my fur babies to go to a home that will take care of them. PLEASE HELP ME!!! I beating my head against a wall here!! Any halp will be appreciated!!!! Thank you ALL

Oh Jenny, I am so sorry you are faced with such a serious conundrum Have you talked to your daughter's allergist about taking a medicine such as Zyrtek? It's funny you should post this today b/c I visited an allergist just 2 hours ago about the same thing. He thought I may be allergic to my cats (tests showed I'm not, thank God), but he said if I WERE allergic, there are meds one can take so that they may also keep your cats.
So, my advice is: if there are meds for your daughter, I'd give them a shot before adopting out the kits.
Good luck with everything and I hope you can find a balance that you, your daughter, and the kits can all live with!

Keep the cats out of the bedrooms. You're lucky you live in Cali and have warmer temps. Open the windows and air out the house. Keep the windows open during the day time, especially the bedrooms, and close them at night. Do you have an electronic air cleaner on your furnace? Did you try any HEPA air cleaners? What about the Ionic Breeze?

An allergy is an over-reactive response of your immune system. An allergic person would be creating more antibodies and have more of a response to any invading organisms. I don't know if you can attribute ear infections and chest colds to allergies to cats, but I'm not a doctor. I tend to be skeptical of doctors, anyway, and it's easy for them to say get rid of the cats.

I would try some of the remedies I mentionned. My son had strep throat four times and a persistent tonsillitis in one year before we had any cats in the house. The doctor wanted to remove his tonsils. I decided to wait and forego any tonsillectomies and now he is fine, never having had strep throat since then.

If you live in or near the Los Angeles area, I can ask some of the people I know, if they'd be interested in getting a cat or cats.

She does take Zytec. She has asthma and allergies really bad. She keeps getting bronchittis and ear infections to the point that they want her to get tubes in her ears, when they ever get better. It's a very tough decision that I do not want to make but if my daughter will get better and stop stuggling with her health I will do it. I just feel terrible to have to make this decision. I just want to be a good mom and take care of my children and my fur babies. That is why I want them to go to good homes.

I live in the valley, 15 min. below Modesto.

Have you tried posting for free on Craig's List for the Sacramento and Fresno areas? If you post pix that helps a lot.
www.craigslist.org

I'm so sorry to hear that. Are you sure there isn't any medications for your daughter? Looks like your in California, so am I. Which part, if I may ask? Maybe I can help you.

As HopeHacker as mentioned, I live near LA. I'm another Jenny in California.

I live in Turlock, right under Modesto. If you could help me, I would appreciate it. Thanks!!

I'm not sure where that is. I'm look for some directions. We could maybe foster...

CaliGirl, I am praying for all of you. This must be hard on everyone!!

Just an aside, but if your doctor recommends implanting tubes into your daughter's ears, get a second opinion and a third opinion. This operation is often unnecessary and not needed. The tubes also need to be surgically removed.

Also, don't underestimate the effectiveness of some simple antihistamines for clearing congestion in the ears. I used Dimetapp for my kids whenever they came down with a cold and it really helped their ear congestion. One of the best products for allergies, IMO, is Chlortrimeton decongestant 4 hr. which is almost impossible to find in the stores. You may be able to order it from a pharmacy.

As for all medicine, the less you take the better. Remember that all medicines have side effects.

If you do decide to place your kitty up for adoption maybe you can your ask your vet to help you find a home for your kitty. I know my vet allows you to put flyers up in their office. My vet also gets quite a few calls from people looking for cats so maybe you can tell your vet and if someone calls looking for a cat that fits your cats discription they can call you. Atleast if the people are trying to adopt through a vet or see your info at the vet you know they take their current pet in. It's just an idea. I hope your daughter feel better.

I promise I'm not a saleswoman for this product, but it might help your daughter until you are able to find good homes for the kitties. I've been using the Shaper Image Ionic Breeze in my apartment and my asthma isn't nearly as bad as it was. I have one big one, one desk size, and one bathroom size that I ordered through their Outlet website- so they were all around 50% off. These things really, really work for me and I am quite allergic to my cats. I rarely have to use a rescue inhaler now. Also, keeping the cats out of her bedroom, brushing them often, bathing them can help.

So sorry to hear that...
Then a Doctor give you his opinion about if the Cats are the problem???
Just another Idea, can you ask to other Doctor to be sure that the cats are the problem???
Hope you can keep the kitties, so sad this...

here is the website where I got my Ionic Breezes- you can read about them or something- http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/ou...catid=39064300

I was going to mention those wet wipes and special shampoo products that Laureen mentioned. I bathe my cats regularily and wipe them down real good when we visit with my sister, who has bad allergies and asthma as well. She has no reaction to them.

I'll ask around and see if I can find anyone who would be willing to love your babies! I live in Oakland...not too far from you!

~Kim

Hi Jenny I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter.I have really bad allergies to cats too.It takes me months to get used to a new cat,that being said here's some sugestions...Get rid of the carpeting in her bed room if you can and replace it with vinyl or laminite.I recently purchased an Oreck air purifyer, not cheap but one of the best on the market,it really helps! As a kid I lived on claraitn b/c we always had cats, now I take Zertec as needed.

YOu know there's a topical lotion that you can put on cats that helps, it controls the dander. I used it on my cat when I first got him, I am allergic to some cats. I would try it.