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.