Asthmatic FIL coming to visit. Help? - Asthma Message Board

siren1024 · 11-10-2005, 02:07 PM

My FIL has severe asthma and allergies. I have two cats, and he's allergic to cats but he's developed kind of a tolerance to them. They have a cat that doesn't bother him anymore due to the exposure. He does have a little more trouble with cats that he isn't used to. They are staying at our house. He says not to worry about it, but of course I will because he has had life-threatening asthma attacks before.

He gets really wheezed up from dust, and I have hardwood floors and live in a very old building, so it's hard to keep the dust down. Also, should I change all the filters and stuff? Any severe attacks he's had have been dust related.

What do I do to lessen the irritants? I heard sweeping and vacuuming can make it worse because it stirs up the dander. Is this true? I have a month or so to prepare, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

PinkPiglet · 11-10-2005, 02:14 PM

Hmm That's tough. Although it's really hard to get rid of cat dander you can try at least. A couple days before they come I would change the filter. If possible, keep the cats out of whatever room he will be sleeping in starting now. Again, if possible, clean that room as thoroughly as possible. Wiping the walls down, the floors, etc.

Other then that, I'm hoping others have some suggestions. My son has asthma and cannot enter a house where there is or has ever been a cat. The attack comes on very suddenly. When we were looking for houses he had to come with us because we needed to know if there had ever been cats in the house.

Jeannie