Q: We have several cats, and we provide foster care for kittens from a rescue organization. I am pregnant with my first child, and we don’t want our child to grow up allergic to cats. While our child is young, should we stop fostering and limit access to our family cats? A: Quite the opposite. For years, physicians have recognized that allergies are rare in children who grow up on farms. More recent studies have shown that pets inside the home protect children from allergies, and the protection increases with the number of pets. One study followed nearly 1,300 children from age 6 months through 8 to 9 years. Researchers noted the number of cats and dogs in the home and tracked the children’s allergy symptoms, including asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, a cause of sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. Nearly half the children without pets developed allergies. Significantly …