Give.me.a.break.

A few years ago there was an orange tabby cat that was living at my place of employment. It is an outdoor facility made of several different areas and buildings. They had rescued this cat out of a pipe and it had become kind of our little mascot. I work nights and would let him in my small office building to hang out with me all night. This had been going on for a year or so when a fuddy duddy coworker of mine found out about it. There are only 4 of us who work in the building and we all work alone. All of a sudden after a year of me letting this cat in,he comes down with a crippling allergy to cats. Please. I told him I stopped letting the cat in (I didnt) and he magically had no symptoms. Tell her they bought all new clothes that never saw the inside of their house and changed in the car. See how her affliction goes away. Sheesh. Or another solution, can your family have gathering at a cat free home that isn't hers? Then if she claims to have an issue with cat dander on peoples clothes she can stay away and the rest of the family can spend holiday time together.

My husband is severely allergic to cats and dogs, to the point that the attacks of asthma they cause can be life-threatening. It developed and became worse over time, to the point that, after my daughter's childhood cat passed on, we have had no more indoor cats (for my daughter's sake, this dear man suffered for some years). Fortunately, shortly after that cat passed away, we moved back to California from Massachusetts, so having cats that stay outdoors is feasible and I can continue with my crazy, life-long love of cats (have 5 currently).

Yes, my husband's asthma can be triggered by my clothes if I have been hugging cats, so I either remove my outer clothes or change clothes after doing that and coming indoors. I would think clean clothes should be okay, though. My mother's house has indoor cats everywhere, so that has been off-limits for years, as is my sister's house (dogs there, too -- even worse). I can't remember my husband being affected by the cat (and dog) dander on their clothes when they came to visit here, though. However, allergic people do have different levels of sensitivity, and the DIL might be very fearful, too, since severe allergic attacks can be frightening.

My husband is anaphylactic to dogs, cats, horses, and a few other furry mammals.

I've seen his allergy rest results (scary!) and he carries an epipen.

The allergist repeatedly tells him 'Avoid animals', and so that's what he does. It has caused strife in our family, but after taking my husband to the ER on CHRISTMAS DAY due to my sister lying about dander in her apartment (she snuck in her dog!), I can definitely testify that its not a joking manner.

There are studies showing that pet owners do bring 'clouds' of allergen with them everywhere, slowly bringing it to others' homes, the mall, etc. So I can understand the concern.

Yes, going out for groceries or shopping at a mall causes a reaction for him...he carries his epipen but normally doesn't have to use it, just the inhaler and the Benadryl. We keep such outings short though.

If we have friends over who have pets (which is rare), we request they shower before coming over, wear clean clothes (that pets haven't slept on in the hamper!), and my husband still requires the air purifier, his inhaler, and Benadryl to make it through a few hours' visit. Jackets are bagged immediately upon entering. He tries to make do in order to keep friendships, but it often leaves him tired and sick for days, often ending up with a cold or other sickness as a result.

If I visit family or friends who have pets, I have to have to bag my clothes immediately upon coming home, and do a separate load of laundry using special soap that eliminates allergens.

Its difficult, but I love my husband far too much to do anything less.