Is there anything to help live with cats when you have an allergy?

How substantial is your allergy? Because if you are getting hives and having difficulty breathing - then getting a cat of any breed is just a no-no. I have a mild allergy to cat saliva/dander, but for me it's just sniffling and itchy eyes - it's never got any worse and I can cope with \[one\] cat in the house, provided there's a lot of vacuuming and it's never allowed in the bedroom. Some breeds are supposed to be low allergy eg the hairless Sphinx cat but they still have saliva/dander so not much benefit there. I think you need to talk to a vet and ask what animals seem to be the best for allergy-prone people; could be that there is one but be aware that all animals shed dander and you might be allergic to any. from hamsters to gerbils. How about a rabbit, if kept in a hutch outside? I wish I could say 'go for it' but there is no point in you wheezing and scratching with misery all day, to make your son happy - because he wouldn't be happy if he saw you in discomfort... ...it's also not a good idea for your health to put yourself on anti-histamines all day every day either, just to manage an unnecessary allergy.