SECTUAL

I think they do...

From their skin, or through their hair, or SOMETHING.

I'm kind of allergic to cats... but not ALWAYS.

It seems like whenever a cat doesn't really wanna be picked up, but I'm holding it anyway, THAT'S when I have the most intense allergic reaction.

They make my skin itch like fucking MAD.

And other times, when it seems they're enjoying being held, they don't make me itch.

I've determined that it must be due to SOMETHING they 'release' which causes an allergic reaction, like a DEFENSE MECHANISM.

I don't have a cat, this is other peoples' cats.

I LOVE cats, so much. They're my fave animal.

At least as far as domesticated animals go.

But there's just no way I could really have one...

They make me itch and irritate my skin, about 70% of the time that I handle them.

There's another possibility...

"Toxoplasmosis: Cold-like Symptoms Followed By a Strong Desire to Acquire a Cat"

http://www.sectual.com/thread-2634.html

Maybe those with toxoplasma gondii experience a triggering of psychosomatic symptoms when holding a cat that doesn't want to play.

Maybe it's a connection between the cat and the toxoplasmosis parasite working together to create a reaction in the human.

I also don't know if I actually do have toxoplasmosis. It's just a theory I'm throwing out there.

I think the more likely culprit is the cat itself, but we have to cover all the bases.

I'm only allergic to certain long-haired breeds of cats. I've never had an allergic reaction to normal cats when they don't want to be held. They usually just kick and dig their claws in if they want to be released.

They all give me hives.

cat [and dog] allergies are generally caused by having received a vaccine that was cultured in cat/dog tissue. your immune system associates the cat/dog particles with the pathogen.