Yep, my brother was so allergic to cats that anything they touched and then
he touched would cause hives.  I used to go and roll my cat around in his
bed when he was mean to me!  ;>

Hugs,

CatNipped

I definitely have more of a reaction to some cats than others. When I was
little, we had 6 cats. I could nuzzle and pet all of them except one without
a problem. Feisty,  however, had something on him that made me ITCH. I still
petted him of course and loved him up, but I would have itchy skin and red
itchy eyes. He was long haired marmalade color. One other cat made me a
little itchy and that was as an adult, our red persian Odie. Have no idea if
it was a color factor or just coincidence. As an adult, I developed what
they call dermaphasia. It's where your skin itches and is kind of the stage
right before hives. The doctor says actually I've always had it but it just
kind of comes and goes and then one day will bloom and not really go away.
However, I take Zyrtec which does absolute wonders. I even tried other
antihistamines, but they did not work have as well or as quickly. I am
actually more triggered by stress than anything on that. But if I get a
little scratch from teh cats, it ITCHES. (well, to be fair, if I get a
scratch from most things it itches and paper makes me itch too.) Babbling
now but just wanted to say, these are not always just fur friend related
even if also triggered by a fur friend and if ever a problem try Zyrtec,
because it really does work well.

Definitely, different cats have different levels and types of allergens.  DH
has co-habited with Oscar for years without troubles.  When Eros moved in, DH
had a constant cold as well as developing several more serious illnesses in
quick succession.  Now that Eros no longer lives with us, DH no longer has
these problems.

Does she go outside at all? Madeline used to give me poison ivy -- it got
to the point that I would have to wash thoroughly immediately after petting
her. I could not figure out what was happening for the longest time -- I
knew *I* wasn't touching poison ivy. Finally figured it out because it
always started on the underside of my forearms, where her feet would be
when I picked her up.

--Catherine
& Rosalie the calico

You bet. It's Toxic Snot Syndrome.

8)

I'm also affected by wet noses.  When Tiger was younger she would sometimes
curl up in my lap and tuck her head into my arm.  I'd end up all itchy
wherever she touched.  It's not just their noses, though.  If anything
breaks my skin I'll break out.  If a claw gets hooked into my skin, or I get
scratches, they all puff up.  If my lips are a little chapped and I kiss one
of the cats my lips will blow up (which is what happened about two minutes
ago, and it's very annoying!).  Just petting them does not affect me.
Kissing them when my lips aren't cracked won't do anything.  If it gets
really annoying I'll use some hydrocortisone cream but mostly I'll try not
to scratch and leave it alone.

--
Liz