My pet loving friends, maybe you can give me some advice. [View all]

[Paper Roses]

Late last spring, I adopted a shelter kitty. She is wonderful, no bad habits, nothing to make me upset with her.
She, until 2 weeks ago, has had the run of the house.

Two weeks ago, because of the cold weather, I closed up most of the rooms and now live in the bedroom, kitchen and den. It has been like this for years. I have a old house, difficult to heat. I have had kitties before, never this kind of a problem. Both my other kitties were short haired. This beastie has semi-long hair. In years past, in the winter, we closed the downstairs. My new kitty follows me everywhere , talks to me a mile a minute and seems to want to be wherever I am. She calls me to go to bed in the evening too. Well, here is the problem.

I seem to have an allergy to my kitty. As I type this, she is walking all over the desk. She is now sitting on my printer. She is on my lap as I relax on the couch in then evening. I think I am allergic to her.
I have developed what seems like a cold but I know it is not. Itchy, puffy eyes, itchy and runny nose.

I took a Benedryl this am and it helps with the symptoms but put me to sleep on the couch.
I have just bough, on-line, an new vacuum cleaner with a hepa filter. I hope this will work.
I have a Dyson that I do not use because it is too heavy for me to lug up and down. It works great but I hesitate to use it because of a prior injury. The one I ordered is far lighter.

Do you all have any helpful hints that might help with this situation.?
I have checked on-line and am told that I must wash everything the kitty has come in contact with and keep her isolated. I feel like a scrooge.
Don't mind the washing but the isolation makes me feel cruel.

If you think of anything that may help, I'd love to hear from you.
Thanks,
PR