Before my kids, I raised and showed Persian Cats. DS #1 was fine. DS #2 was ill to the point of almost monthly hospitalization the 1st 4 years of his life. I never even gave the cats a thought. At age 3 he was diagnosed w/ severe allergic asthma, but at that point too young to be tested. I began 'reducing' my cat numbers by having everyone fixed so no more kittens, giving some to other show breeders/friends. Finally when he was 6 we discovered he was allergic to every animal except dogs, all grasses, trees, plants (except 3). I then took another 2 years to find the perfect forever home for my last 3 cats. It broke DS's heart, but has given him a life without breathing treatments every 3 hours night/day 365 days/yr.
It is a very tough decision to make. |