Hi, I'm new. I need some advice before getting a cat. There're a few questions I'd like to ask before i get a cat.

1- My son (4 yo) & myself have asthma. But i don't consider it to be really bad. But we really cant stand dust (i can't empty my vacum bag). asap bas boleh tahan lagi.. but construction dust or hsehold dust mmg tak leh thn. When my son was around 2yrs or younger, i used to send him to my neighbour/babysitter's hse (who has cats) for a few hours daily, & time tu dsia selalu batuk2.. at that time i can't distinguish normal coughs to asthmatic coughs. Now that he's older, his condition has improved because he's under treatment. Is it safe for us to live with cats? I like cats but i didn't have one before coz, my father is a serious asthmatic & my mom doesn't like cats. She's a house Nazi! tak suka bulu kucing terbang2... & merata2.. Plus she doesn't like the smell of cats.

I'm thinking of getting a pet cat for me. My children are growing so I tak leh nak manja2,.. nak peluk2.. (although i still do that to my son,.. that's why dia manja terlebih.. aka mengada) I'd like to know whether it's alright for us to have cats.

2- I live on the 13th floor in a condo. residents are allowed to have pets tapi tak boleh biar pets keluar rumah. Pernah tak cats terjatuh building? i takut kalau dia main2.. lompat2 .. & being curious nak tengok apa ada kat tingkap or balcony, then suddenly terjatuh..camana?

Just wondering.. have u written to any breeders before?

Hi Muslyn,

There are some stories about cat jump out from a flat,condo,apartment before and died or got into serious injury. what you can do is make sure the balcony is always close.

About the asthma and elergy issue, i guess its up to individual on how are they willing to handle this. Its still debatable about Cats with Alergy to human but to me, ppl with genetic asthma problem will have an issue. Not only to the saliva of the cat but also the fall off furs. If you are fine with the fur then ,maybe can try to have Siberian Cat. Its your call and maybe try to visit some breeder or house that have cats and see the respond towards your alergic. So far i know that in Singapore got 1 SIB breeder there.

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umm.. I.... don't think so..

[QUOTE=horatio][COLOR=Blue]Hi Muslyn,
welcome to the forum. as long as u can maintain the cleanliness of ur house with regular vacuuming n moping, i m sure keeping a cat as a pet pose no problem. there r some vacuum cleaners which r water based in the market which u can get which i too find it much more hygienic (being one who use one )

You mean, the Rainbow Series Hydrocleaner which costs almost rm7000? My mom owns one. I know i can use hers for effective cleaning but so hard to carry that thing plus accessories all on my own..

Any particular cats i should start with? I had a cat 10 yrs ago when i was studying. Co owned with hsemates. But had crisis with them so i left. That was my only experience. I've been thinking of getting a Bengal Cat since i've always fancied leopards & tigers..It's the closest thing to a leopard. Besides, they don't have long hairs that need grooming constantly. They look easy to look after. Anymore advice?

I know various cat breeders who are asthmatic and in fact one Tasmanian judge is......... it doesn't seem to affect her. She's had British, Persian, Exotic and Jap Bobtail - no problems.

Your mum doesn't like the smell of cats? What smell?!!!!! So long as their litter trays are kept clean and males are neutered there shouldn't be any smell.

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Lesley (Tasmania)

There's really no such thing as a hypo-allergenic cat (though some Siberians and Korats tend not to upset people as much as some other breeds) but allergy, I assume, isn't your problem? I'd imagine that a breed which virtually didn't shed would be for you - Cornish Rex? Sphynx?

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Lesley (Tasmania)

I think you mean totally non-allergenic? If that's the case, I agree. But with the number of siberians in allergy homes increasing every day.. hypoallergenic still sounds good to me. Of course there are some people who are still unable to have these cats due to the nature/severity of their allergies. But my boyfriend is one successful case and I'm inclined to say that seeing is believing. He lasts 2 seconds around my domestic (stuff that, the cat doesnt even need to be in the house!) but stayed in his room for a week with my entire male. Nearly cried with happiness!

But you are right about the difference between asthmatic and allergic.. different requirements in kitties.



Muslyn the siberian breeder in australia told me that someone wrote to her saying that she and her son were asthmatic.. So I assumed you were her, sorry!

Muslyn,
This is my personal experience.
I'm NOT an asthmatic but PROOVEN allergic to cats!! (start 'Aachooo, achoo, choo, choo... getting faster by the minute- at the entrance of a cat owner's house and has both eyes swollen & nose running by the time i leave).

I braved out owning a cat recently and hey presto!! not even a tingling nose!!

I don't know the exact science behind INSTANT IMMUNITY towards cats but a doctor friend of mine in Singapore also experience the same thing (she has a persian somemore!!)

My second son IS an asthmatic but he is not allergic to cats. Instead, he is allergic to cig smoke, dust & perfumes!!

I'm going to brave out again, to visit this weekend's cat show. Don't know what'll happen, guess I'll go early in the morning before cat's fur start flying around in abundance.

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lyd