Edited for privacy.
What does the pediatrician say? Any chance the cat could become an outdoor kitty?
Edited for privacy.
Babies tend to sneeze in order to clear their very small nasal passages. The cat hair might add to the problem if there is a ton of shedding, but it isn’t that likely that she is allergic or that the cat is the main problem. I would worry if there was a rash or swelling, but sneezing isn’t abnormal in newborns.
I have two cats and am very concerned about my baby girl on the way being allergic. I decided to ask a pediatrician and he told me that, 1) in utero our babies are exposed to what we are exposed to on a daily basis and typically will build an immunity to whatever it is (cat hair, in this case), and 2) an allergy would be difficult to determine for at least a month because babies are very prone to sneezing and coughing at birth, and some just do it for longer!
He also recommended that we keep the house clean, carpets vacuumed and her bedding and clothes pet-free, which was always the plan.
I don’t know if this helps, maybe you have heard it all before. I would hate to have to get rid of one of my beloved pets! But I agree, baby comes first-- I would just make sure to check with a doctor and be really sure that the cat is the issue.
It’s my understanding that newborns aren’t typically allergic to environmental allergens because they need to be exposed to it out of utero in order to develop an allergy.
Newborns sneeze a ton, as their bodies are trying to protect their fragile immune systems. So any dust, pet hair, etc whatsoever will make them sneeze.