logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2023
13m 35s

Allergies Are Weird. So Are Cats

NPR
About this episode
Katie Wu is a bona fide cat person. She has two of them: twin boys named Calvin and Hobbes. Every night, they curl up in bed with her, bonking their little noses together, rubbing their fur and whiskers everywhere, and leaving behind inevitable cat residue. It's certifiably cute ... and a little bit gross.

It's also the worst nightmare for the cat-allergic. Which, just shy of a decade ago, Katie was. In a stroke of luck, Katie's debilitating cat allergy disappeared. The reasons for her immune overhaul remain a mystery.

Allergies can wax and wane over time, but it seems to be less common to have the night-and-day shift that Katie experienced. In this episode, Katie walks host Aaron Scott through the dynamic world of allergies and what it reveals about our immune systems. And of course, Katie's cats make cameo appearances. (encore)

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Yesterday
Inside Colombia's big quake – and why more could be coming
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Columbia was devastating. Host Regina Barber talks to earthquake geologist Rodrigo Alejandro Leon Loya about the tectonic plates that caused the quake and what it was like 150 miles from the epicenter. Interested in more science in the new ... Show More
12m 12s
Aug 13
How to see the year's best meteor shower tonight
Right now the best shooting star show of the year is happening: the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. People have been viewing this annual event pretty much as long as we’ve been recording history. But what are we really looking at when we gaze up to see these faint streaks of l ... Show More
12m 28s
Aug 12
Can you spot AI-written stories? Listen and find out
Can you tell the difference between a human-written short story and an AI-generated one? Most people can’t. In a series of experiments led by a team at Villanova University, researchers found two things: First, most people said they preferred human written stories, but couldn’t t ... Show More
12m 16s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2023
I Asked My Girlfriend To Giveaway Her Cat Due To My Allergies r/Relationships
<p>Relationship Reddit Stories, OP asked his girlfriend to move in with him and she brought her cat. However, unknown to OP he's allergic to cats and overtime he allergies begin to show...</p><br><p>🧇🧇Want to become a member?🧇🧇 Sign up here:</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube ... Show More
20m 2s
Sep 2013
Katie and the Cat Swap: Part 1
Katie swaps identities with her cat Solomon - and soon realises that she has done a silly and dangerous thing. 
Oct 2013
Katie and the Cat Swap: Part 2
Katie is stuck inside the form of her cat, Solomon. She goes to school and is shocked by all the trouble Solomon is causing inside her identity. She also overhears a plot to besmirch her best friend Isis. 
Nov 2018
What is an allergy?
An introduction to the world of allergies and other related diseases often misdiagnosed as allergies with Professors Mimi Tang and Katie Allen from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. For more episodes download the free LiSTNR appSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf ... Show More
9m 42s
Jul 2024
Catnip, cat naps, and the history of house cats
Curious about cats? Us too! Join Molly and co-host Lynx as they sniff out the answers to some of your most pressing cat questions. They’ll head to a chaotic cat café to learn the history of house cats, they'll hear a song all about cat breeds, and chat with cat expert Mikel Delga ... Show More
33m 47s
Apr 2020
Talking About Our Cats for an Hour Straight - SimplyPodLogical #11
On this episode of SimplyPodLogical, Cristine and Ben talk about their cats Menchie and Zyler, the adoption process, cats vs. dogs, allergies, how to discipline your cats, weird cat behaviour, and how to convince your parents to let you adopt a cat. 
1h 4m
Jul 2021
I Hate The Cat
Katherine's Telling Everybody Everything about the little-known post partum symptom of hating the cat. She was rude to a receptionist this week and got some advice from a lactation consultant. Plus, your letters. <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. S ... Show More
50m 49s
Nov 2022
Domestic Cats
If you are a regular listener of our show, you know that we LOVE cats – we even have three! In this episode, we learn all about domestic cats – how smart they are, how much they sleep, how well they communicate, some strange jobs they've had, and of course, how cute they are! Tha ... Show More
27m 45s
May 2023
Newbie | My Cat
<p>There are cats to love (white, fluffy kittens) and cats to hate (those gold ones waving their strange little arm at the till in the Chinese restaurant). However, love them or hate them, you probably wouldn&#39;t mind a little one to keep you company (they make patient language ... Show More
12m 10s