Is someone in a household has asthma, is raising a cat a bad idea?

I have a short hair cat that I’ve had for 2 years now, and my father who has asthma says that we need to get rid of her because she’ll irritate his asthma. I love my cat, but of course my father comes first, but I need to confirm whether cats irritate asthma or not. What do you think / know about this?

Also, she has been peeing and pooping sometimes in random places (she is litter trained but she’s been bad ever since about a year ago) How can I fix this?

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Best Answer: There is a lot of varying factors that could play into this. Some asthma patients have irritation and inflammation of the bronchi from different reasons. Usually, they have nothing to do with the cat. With cat allergies, it is usually an allergy to the cat's saliva - you know, the human petting the cat after the cat has cleaned himself with his tongue. Then they touch their mouth and nose and face. Jus relax, don't be silly about the cat. In all likelihood, there will be no problem relative to the cat bothering the asthma.as far as the pooping problem - have you moved her stuff? is her food and water close to the litter box? Can she always get to her potty easily? If so, clean everything, put in new litter and put her in a secluded room for a few hours. During her seclusion, go in a visit with her, love her and pet her. Keep the littler box very clean. If you do this for a couple of days, then leave her out longer and longer, she should be solid on where she should do her business. Sometimes an illness or changes in routine can bring about a bit of a rebellion. I have a persian that if I miss cleaning the litter box, she will go poop on the dog blankets/beds. She will not use a dirty litter box. Just help her out, break it down for her, and she will understand. Cats are smart and clean and neat unless they are expressing a problem. We, as cat mommies, just have to learn to listen. goodluck

7 Comments

  • Joshua M
    January 20, 2009 | Permalink |

    That will depend on why he has asthma. If it is sport induced asthma it probably wont affect him. If his asthma is a result of an allergy then a cat probably isn’t a good idea. He should talk to the doctor that prescribes his asthma medicine and ask if a cat is a bad idea.

  • spunk113
    January 20, 2009 | Permalink |

    The asthma is only a concern if your father is also allergic to cats (in which case the allergies could set off an attack). Otherwise, it shouldn’t be a problem.
    As for the other problem, you might want to get her checked out by a vet–there could be a physical reason she’s not using the litterbox, or she’s doing it just to bother you.

  • Barefoottrimmer
    January 20, 2009 | Permalink |

    There is a lot of varying factors that could play into this. Some asthma patients have irritation and inflammation of the bronchi from different reasons. Usually, they have nothing to do with the cat. With cat allergies, it is usually an allergy to the cat’s saliva – you know, the human petting the cat after the cat has cleaned himself with his tongue. Then they touch their mouth and nose and face. Jus relax, don’t be silly about the cat. In all likelihood, there will be no problem relative to the cat bothering the asthma.

    as far as the pooping problem – have you moved her stuff? is her food and water close to the litter box? Can she always get to her potty easily? If so, clean everything, put in new litter and put her in a secluded room for a few hours. During her seclusion, go in a visit with her, love her and pet her. Keep the littler box very clean. If you do this for a couple of days, then leave her out longer and longer, she should be solid on where she should do her business. Sometimes an illness or changes in routine can bring about a bit of a rebellion. I have a persian that if I miss cleaning the litter box, she will go poop on the dog blankets/beds. She will not use a dirty litter box. Just help her out, break it down for her, and she will understand. Cats are smart and clean and neat unless they are expressing a problem. We, as cat mommies, just have to learn to listen. goodluck

  • smilewaitsyou
    January 20, 2009 | Permalink |

    Yes cat dander can trigger an asthma attack, I had to get rid of my cat for the same reason.

  • hotdogmcgoo1987
    January 21, 2009 | Permalink |

    i’m very allergic to cats and dogs and if you wanna get technical, everything from latex to shellfish, iodine, batadine… anyway, i’m so allergic to dogs and cats, that when i was little and went to my grandmother’s house, i would have to take benadril where my eyes would swell up and my skin would break out from her dog. so, maybe, if your father is allergic to cats, he could get something like nasonex or clariten and try it before you get rid of your cat.

  • Arthur C
    January 21, 2009 | Permalink |

    Yes dust, poll-in,pet hair and excessive exercise can all trigger asthma

  • just mike44
    January 24, 2009 | Permalink |

    depends on the cause, status, and strenght of asthma and allergies. I have had asthma a long time and have been living with cats my whole life, but my asthma isn’t bad. If he has really bad or sensitive asthma a cat might not be a good idea.

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