SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

I've had pets all my life, and have never been allergic. Dogs, cats, ferrets... no allergies.

This morning I was laying with my newest cat, petting him, and he likes to knead and all bite at me while I pet him (I think for him it's affection). A few minutes later when I got up, I was itchy in two places. On my arm where his nails had kneaded, and on my hand where he nibbled at me. Both areas had bumps on them too. After about an hour, it went away.

This has happened before... recently I've been having bouts of itching randomly, then bumps appear, then go away within hours. Never been able to pinpoint what I could be having a reaction too, and I'm not even sure it's always been the cat... but this time it definitely was.

WTF - why would I NOW develop an allergy at 41 years old?

FYI - this is a long haired cat and the only one I've ever owned - but I assume his nails and mouth have nothing to do with his coat... ???

Yes it is possible to develop an allergy at this age, or at any time. It usually takes being exposed to whatever the irritant is for a while before your body says nope don't like that.

Some cats tend to be more allergenic than others. Surprisingly some of the long haired breeds are less allergenic than short haired breeds, it's not the hair that you are allergic to, it is actually the proteins in their saliva, so yah, when he nibbles you, you would react more.

So stop him from nibbling, and bath him frequently would be the first line of defense.

Bathe him??????

hahahahahahahahaha oh you must be kidding!!

This cat is EVIL. He fell into my bath once, and needless to say it suddenly was like there was a tornado in that bathroom.

There will be no baths!

SSM I get ya on the bath thing, but I have done it with cats, you just have to approach it with a chainmail suit, and sedatives for the animal. LOL. I had a MaineCoon mut fall into the tub one time, and I think he soaked up about 8 gallons of water which he proceeded to spread through the entire house on his freak out run when he got out.

My evil cat now, actually enjoys a warm bath, she gets really sleepy, it's actually fun, and my daughter bathes her about once a month.

I am pretty sure that after 15yrs, I am allergic to my cat Beaches. She likes to sit on the arm of my couch and rub her face against mine - recently, this causes my eyes to water and my face to itch severely. I have started taking otc allergy medicine (Allegra). It does help - but doesn't stop all the reactions

I have 4 cats - and they all have differently personalities - for whatever reason, Beaches is the only one I seem to react to that way.

As for bathing, the only one that really needs/gets a bath is Felicia, my 6 yr old giant all black cat. Her fur is like extra dense (all of them are short haired) and she has ALOT of dander. I really expected bathing her to put me in the hospital - but she was surprisingly calm about it once she was in and wet. I did get the death glare for a few hours, but she seemed fine with it after that.

I have three dogs and recently noticed that I have become allergic to one of them. Allegra really helps. I have always had dogs and this is the first dog allergy I have had. I have been allergic to cats my entire life.

I am 43 and became allergic to my two cats about 6 months ago. So yes, it can happen

Well, I have been seeing a guy for 9 months now..About three months ago he told me he was allergic to cats..I said now you tell me..He said only if they got in his face and he said the ammonia from the litter pans really grossed him out...

But he said he has never smelt anything from the litter pans...I have 5 cats and if I was to become allergic, I would say God had to be having a good laugh...I have had cats all my life. The most was 11, 2 mama's and their babies...That has been years ago...I am the person everyone who has to get rid of their cat tends to want me to have them...All of mine are rescues...

I would have to take meds for allergies because I will always have my furbabies....

Have you tried wiping him with dander wipes? I'm allergic to cats (yet we have 1 and 1 foster kitten ). I take otc allergy med, buy the dander wipes from Petco, and have an air purifier.

I second the dander wipes! I use Kitty Wipes on my cats, who also hate baths.

Also you said it was where his little nails had kneaded on you, so it could be irritation for your skin being broken by dirty claws. Was he in the litter box right before your little snuggle session? It's possible it was infection, not allergens that was irritating you.