DR. WALLACE: I want to get a cat, but my parents say that my brother is allergic to cats so that means we can't ever have a cat. I asked my brother the other day about this, and he said he didn't know why he might be allergic to them. But he did say that if I could find one that he was not allergic to, he would be fine with me having a pet cat.

I really want a pet cat, so how can I find a cat that might not cause allergies for my brother? — Cat Girl, via email

CAT GIRL: Our friends at PetMD.com have some great information about the types of cats, down to the specific breeds, that are the least likely to cause allergies.

They even compiled a list of 11 breeds that are the least likely to trigger allergies in most people and this list includes Siberian cats, Siamese cats, Oriental Shorthair cats and even a cat called the Sphynx!

But please take heed to do your own research and seek to find the most hypoallergenic cat for your brother and your family.

This website has some great resources and would be an excellent starting point for you to learn more about the possibility of finding a cat that could work for your family. I suggest you start with the excellent article written by veterinarian technician Nicole LaForest!

I MISSED OUT AND DON'T WANT HIM TO

DR. WALLACE: I'm a single mother who never went to college, and I regret the missed opportunity to study fields I had interest in back then. These days I work at a decent job, but I can tell you that it's nowhere near the dream jobs I wish I had tried to acquire years ago.

My son is now a junior in high school and he does not seem motivated to go to college at all. He has some good interests and talents that I feel he could refine and expand via even a moderate college degree starting at a community college and advancing to a local state college. But he seems to simply want to go to work at a menial job with his friends after he graduates from high school.

He also points out to me that I never went to college, and he feels I'm doing well enough. I've taken time to explain to him how much I feel I've missed out on, but he just doesn't get it. How can I best help him prepare for his future? I really don't want to see him spending his first five years out of high school working at random jobs with little opportunity for advancement. — His Only Parent, via email

HIS ONLY PARENT: You've done well to encourage him and point out ideas for him, but you won't be able to push him against his will once he's a high school graduate and wants to enter the workplace.

One other idea you may wish to present to him is to review all local vocational or "trade" schools in your nearby area. There are some really good career paths available to those who are willing to put in the time and have the aptitude to learn a specific skill. A simple search online can provide him with a vast list of possibilities.

If he has interest in one or more of them, perhaps he might recruit a friend or two of his to join him and he would have a better chance of sticking with a program attending classes alongside some friends.

And as for a general college degree, there is also time for that in his life at some point as well. He has another year of high school, so his next moves are still sure to develop and evolve between now and then. Seek to be helpful and encouraging to him, but do so without pressure or any guilt directed at him if he elects his own path at first despite your suggestions.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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