Is this an allergic reaction?

Cat allergic reaction..pls help!?

• How long does cat allergic reaction appear!?? We got our 2 indoors cats as kittens more than 4 years ago. It was in jan2012, my stepson who is 15 years old seems to having some sort of reaction as what his mom kept telling my husband. She did mentioned that whenever she gets her son home, he seems to start having running nose, breathing heavily. But we have not seen much reaction from our son when he was in our home, all these years since we did tried out best , not to let him touch, near or go into their bedroom too! So, my questions is "is it possible to have the cat allergic reaction after hours leaving our home??" , it is possible to have a cat allergic reaction after not having any for few years..??" or "perhaps its a non- cat allergic he's is developing cause it is spring season right?"..... Currently, the cats are confined in the garage and not allowed into the house. I tried cleaning the house as much as i could, wiping everywhere i could with soapy washcloth, to hopefully, wipe the dander away?? I love my stepson and wants him to have his stay with us, most comfortable and enjoyable. But my love my cats like my own children too :( I miss having them in the house! Should my stepson get an allergy test done? How can we convince his mother to have one done?? I do have my suspicious...however it's been difficult for me to share this sentiments to my husband. I have suggested an allergy test from the get-go. This is my observant over the years, the boys dont really wore enough layers during winter and they always had to deal with sniffles every winter, wet spring. Just this January, we were informed by his mom that he was breathing miserably when he gets to their home....why only now!?? This whole week, the boys stayed with us over 5 days, it was only just one occassion where he did came over for dinner and kept wiping his nose, like it was runny while kept rubbing his nose and eyes. But he kept saying he is fine and breathing normal while eating his dinner... and he is FINE the rest of the stay....!!! ...Could he be having allergic to cleaning products, air fresherner or could be a sinus problem..?? Hubby did told me that he got a bleeding nose once on sledding accident when he was less 5 years old but never told his Mother! I'm concerned and worried....!!! Do reply...would love to hear suggestions

• Answer:

  I would highly suggest an allergy test. If he is having those symptoms when he gets to her home but not while he's in your home then he is probably allergic to something in her home. If he was allergic to your cats then he would probably start having allergy symptoms very recently after encountering the cats, not hours later. An allergy test is going to be the best thing to determine exactly what it is that he's allergic to, but either way he would probably highly benefit from an allergy medication like claritin which can be bought without a prescription as loratadine. This is what I take and it works wonderfully. I also have cats in my house and it controls my allergy symptoms very well. I hope your stepson feels better.