OK, before I get started on this, I want to point out that in no way am I about to criticize cats or cat people. They seem like cute, fun loving pets that must be enjoyable to be around. So now that we got that...

...I'm not a fan of cats, simply because I'm allergic to them. Ever since I was a kid cats and I have not worked well together. I've walked into many houses for the first time and been immediately hit by the realization that a cat or many cats reside in this house. Even when homeowners diligently clean up their hair and dander, or even when I take medication for my allergies, I'm still affected by terrible reactions. My eyes get dry and itchy, my nose gets clogged, and worst of all my breathing gets difficult (I've also suffered from asthma in the past, and the allergies I have associated with cats can trigger asthmatic reactions).

I have a vivid memory of my childhood, where my sister and I stayed over the house of my father's cousin. They were very nice and welcoming people, and I always enjoyed my time there, but they owned many cats, and sometimes didn't clean up their hair as much as they could. So I slept over their house, in a bed littered with cat hair, and when morning came I could barely breathe. We had a nice day planned of going to someone's pool and relaxing on what must have been a nice summer afternoon, but those plans were ruined by my ailments. I never forgot that day, but I still wasn't prepared for the difficult times that lay ahead related to my cat allergies.

So fast forward in time, I'm 17, and I've met a very nice young lady. We've hit it off famously, she thinks I'm funny, she enjoys my company, everything is going fantastic. I then proceed to enter her house for the first time, and WHOOSH...I'm hit with the that unshakable, unbreakable, unmistakable feline feeling. I was supposed to stay over their house and have dinner with her family, but after an hour my eyes were so inflamed and my body was so uncomfortable that I had to leave. I was so embarrassed. I tried coming back again after taking my prescribed allergy medication, but it was no use. This girl and I could never date, simply because I couldn't stand the sensation of spending time in her house, all because of what pets her family chose to keep.

I'm now 27, and my cat allergies have gotten a little better, I'm a little more resistant to them, but there are times when I still feel awful effects. I have friends who own cats, and when I know I'll be entering their house, I'll have to prepare myself for battle, even going as far as taking my allergy medication that day of AND the day before, just to be safe (it's not something I need to take everyday, just for when I feel I need it). I'll even bring my inhaler with me to help my breathing. My friends will even go to different lengths to help me with it, painstakingly cleaning their home before my arrival, assuring me that no furnishing or fitting I'll come into contact with hasn't been sterilized or sanitized. I love my friends for this, but I can't help but feel like it's a burden for them.

So every time I meet a new girl, I secretly hope that she's not a "cat lady". I'm not trying to stereotype women as being inclined to liking cats more, but I've found that to be the case time and time again. Sure plenty of women love dogs and other pets, I don't want to oversimplify the idea here, but the general acceptance in life is: men love dogs, women love cats. It really makes me sad, because I love people who love animals. I have a great love for dogs, and I even like when people have more exotic pets like reptiles or insects. What really scares me is that as I age, and if I continue to look for relationships into my 30's, I may be more likely to encounter women with cats, as another commonly thought of stereotype is "older single women cling to their cats (as well as to their wine)". So here's hoping that the future love of my life is also allergic to cats, because if I fall for a woman who can't live without her four-legged sneeze machine, than I may be forced to give her an ultimatum...one that I may not like the answer to.