I saw this on Kijiji.ca today (basically like Craigslist.com for Canadians):

hi there I have 2 siamese cats that need to go asap please help me out here and take one of them they have to go my daughter is getting sicker the longer there here I’ve called every where to help me and every where’s full and most places right now have a wait list…. I have a male not fixed chocolate point 13 months old up to date on shots and NOT de-clawed and a seal point 18 months not fixed and not de-clawed up to date on shots MUST GO ASAP please make me an offer no reasonable offer will be turned down THEY ARENT FREE NOR WILL I TAKE THAT OFFER …….. IF THERE NOT GONE BY TOMORROW THEY WILL BE PUT DOWN SORRY I CANT KEEP THEM AND I DONT CARE WHAT ANY ONE THINKS YOUR RUDE EMAILS ARENT NEEDED I KNOW WHAT IM DOING BUT MY DAUGHTER IS REALLY SICK I HAVE TO PROTECT MY DAUGHTER AND HELP HER GET BETTER PLEASE IM BEGGING YOU HELP ME OUT HELP THEM OUT………… I DO HAVE PHOTOS THAT I CAN SEND PLEASE DONT EMAIL ME UNLESS YOU FOR REAL ABOUT HELPING THESE BABIES OUT…… THANK YOU FOR EVEN THINKING ABOUT HELPING

After my rage subsided, I decided to try another tact: Research. So, here’s what I know.

Studies such as this one show that exposure is actually the best cure for allergies:

Conclusions Specific immunotherapy seems to be an effective treatment for cat allergy. Allergy to cats is common and often poorly controlled on conventional pharmacotherapy. Although cat allergy has not traditionally been considered as a valid indication for immunotherapy in the UK, it should now be considered as a legitimate treatment, especially for those who are unable to avoid exposure.

I know that may seem counter intuitive, but frankly, it’s the old “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” thing. I had a bit of an head start on knowing about this advice, however, as I had a bad cat allergy and had the unfortunate luck of marrying a cat lover. Much sniffling and eye watering ensued. However, I noted the sudden loss of severe symptoms a month or so in. We were catless for years again until our kids were born, then we added another cat to the house. My allergies were minimal this time, but my son’s were massive: hives, clogged sinuses, etc. etc. We had hard discussions, but decided to wait and see for a few months. After about one week, the cat was sleeping on his bed and his allergies were far less noticeable, and a month later they were gone.

My son also had peanut allergies, and immunologists are now doing the same thing, exposing kids in a controlled way to constant peanut proteins so that they can adjust sensitivity.

Basically, in my mind, it all just reinforces the whole “a pet is a forever decision” and things like the “making kids sick” is typically a non-issue in the face of the life of a pet.

Ron