@Roberta,
There's a true story on a true story.
I figure what allergies I rose to in life were that I met few animals in my childhood. Not that I blame my mother, as she didn't want a cat attacking me in my buggy.
So - I've read at some length how my mother was wrong. But she was being protective.
As I grew up, I learned to like cats on my own. But, natch, I'm quite allergic.