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Man With Allergies Is Painted As The Bad Guy For Not Watching Friend’s Dog As He Also Has A Cat
Allergies can range from a mild inconvenience to a serious health risk, but one thing’s for sure—they’re not something to take lightly.
So, when this Redditor agreed to house-sit for a friend during their vacation, the last thing he expected was for them to casually drop the news that they had just gotten a cat—despite knowing he was allergic. Naturally, he had no choice but to back out.
However, this decision didn’t sit well with his friend, and what started as a simple favor turned into a frustrating standoff.
The man agreed to house-sit for a friend while they were on vacation
Image credits: LightFieldStudios / Envato (not the actual photo)
But when he found out they had gotten a cat, he backed out, and the situation quickly turned sour
Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Serious_Reaction6980
Up to 20% of adults are allergic to cats
Allergies affect a significant portion of the population—up to 30–40% worldwide. Among those, around 10–20% of adults are sensitive to cats, making these furry companions a surprisingly common trigger.
In fact, cats are one of the biggest offenders when it comes to pet-related allergies, being twice as likely as dogs to cause a reaction. And despite what many believe, it’s not their fur that’s to blame. The real trouble comes from proteins found in their saliva, urine, and dander (tiny flakes of skin they shed).
According to the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, these proteins can lead to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, such as:
- Sneezing
- A runny or stuffy nose
- Red, itchy, or watery eyes
- Itchy nose, throat, or mouth
- Dry or itchy skin
- Rashes or hives
- Coughing
- Wheezing or chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
Image credits: alexander132 / Freepik (not the actual photo)
For most, these symptoms are more of an annoyance than anything else. But for others, an allergic reaction can escalate into something much more dangerous. Severe cases may result in anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition that includes swelling, difficulty breathing, and even shock.
While there’s no surefire way to prevent an allergy, there are ways to manage it. Medication or allergy shots, for example, can help reduce reactions. If you’re allergic, it’s still wise to limit your exposure to cats and consult a doctor for personalized advice. Allergies are no joke—stay safe out there!
Readers supported the author, insisting he had every right to refuse to care for the cat
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What do you think ?
RAM31280 4 hours ago (edited)
NTA, if you had sucked it up you would have sucked up the dander too and your friend would come home to you in anaphylactic shock if not a corpse half eaten by his animals.
Traveling Lady Railfan 3 hours ago
Wow you really painted a mental picture for me this morning
Load More Replies...
StumblingThroughLife 6 hours ago (edited)
I FEEL this soooo bad when it comes to cat allergies, and reading the way peeps he knows are acting like it's NOTHING, pisses me off big style. My nearly 15yr old granddaughter has a thing for cats and always talk about having one when she's older and gets her own place. I'd never be able to visit her home if she does - she knows I'm allergic to cat hair/dander, but she doesn't really click that although I occasionally have my daughter's/her mum's dog when it's needed, I'll never be able to look after a cat. My eyes swell up, skin itches, and although I only suffer seasonal Asthma, it triggers like hell around cats and even certain breeds of fluffy frequently shedding dogs. That peeps shrug it off is bloody annoying. NTA = OP.
Foxinamug 4 hours ago
Since the friend knows the allergy is quite bad (even if they don't know exactly how bad), what was their end goal? Even if they only cared about their pets and not their friend, why take the risk that the OP gets severely sick, leaving the pets completely alone (since in that scenario it's not like OP would be in a state to arrange cover AFTER they get sick)
Mau 3 hours ago
Good point. I suppose, that mostly, this friend did not think about anything else than himself,even not about pets.
Load More Replies... RAM31280 4 hours ago (edited)
NTA, if you had sucked it up you would have sucked up the dander too and your friend would come home to you in anaphylactic shock if not a corpse half eaten by his animals.
Traveling Lady Railfan 3 hours ago
Wow you really painted a mental picture for me this morning
Load More Replies... StumblingThroughLife 6 hours ago (edited)
I FEEL this soooo bad when it comes to cat allergies, and reading the way peeps he knows are acting like it's NOTHING, pisses me off big style. My nearly 15yr old granddaughter has a thing for cats and always talk about having one when she's older and gets her own place. I'd never be able to visit her home if she does - she knows I'm allergic to cat hair/dander, but she doesn't really click that although I occasionally have my daughter's/her mum's dog when it's needed, I'll never be able to look after a cat. My eyes swell up, skin itches, and although I only suffer seasonal Asthma, it triggers like hell around cats and even certain breeds of fluffy frequently shedding dogs. That peeps shrug it off is bloody annoying. NTA = OP.
Foxinamug 4 hours ago
Since the friend knows the allergy is quite bad (even if they don't know exactly how bad), what was their end goal? Even if they only cared about their pets and not their friend, why take the risk that the OP gets severely sick, leaving the pets completely alone (since in that scenario it's not like OP would be in a state to arrange cover AFTER they get sick)
Mau 3 hours ago
Good point. I suppose, that mostly, this friend did not think about anything else than himself,even not about pets.
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