Cats being returned. :(

[Karen]

Hey, to be fair, some kids DO develop allergies! My sister became allergic to the family cat when she was four, ended hospitalized with pneumonia. Kitty went to live with Grandpa on his farm. Then I was born, and I was not allergic to cats, I couldn't wait until my sister (5 years older than me) moved out we could get a cat. I played with cats, snuggled them, etc. Then, when I was 12, I suddenly became allergic to cats - had a sleepover at the house across the street, the kitten slept on my pillow, and I woke up with a full-blown asthma attack. Tested, yup. Cat allergy. Sigh.

Just saying, to defend the poor people who DO have allergic kids.

[jazzcat]

That is so sad. I know that the allergy thing does happen and if that is truly the reason the family is probably heartbroken. I also know it is an overused excuse.

[Freckles]

Alergies was the reason Freckles was at the Oregon Humane Society when I was looking for a kitty in 1988! She was about three years old, and she's still with me.

[catnapper]

Karen, I am well aware people DO have REAL allergies to cats. My own mom has BAD allergies to the cats. She can visit me, but she has to take a Benedryl as soon as sghe enters the house and she cannot touch them. If she does, her face starts swelling, and then her throat starts to close. Very scary, very real.

BUT.... do you realize how many times a month we hear the "my kids are allergic" story? It seems EVERY cat returned has that excuse. It is convenient and easy to say, without having to admit another, more accurate reason. Truth is, I myself am allergic to my cats. So is hubby and my oldest daughter. Though my allergic reaction is tolerable, and I simply take allergy pills every day to combat the problems my allergies give me.

Research has been done and provcen that people who have cats and children, actually have a LOWER rate of bad allergies and asthma than those that do not. That is NOT to say bad allergies don't develop. Anyone can develop severe allergies at any given time. We had a cat all growing up, and mom developed her alergy when I was in my freshman year of college.

I geuss when you work in rescue and hear the excuse over and over again, you start to question the validity of it.