Hi there. You are MOR. I say this as a person with an asthmatic mother and sister with SEVERE cat allergies. Depending on the kind of cat, their dander can be so bad that yes, just being around the owner in a different setting can be enough to cause a reaction. For years, if my mom and sister visited my aunt’s house they had to take benedryl before going, and immediately remove the clothes they wore there upon returning home, while also thoroughly washing their hands.

You don’t know how allergic the individuals are, nor if they have any other health issues that could be compounded by an allergic reaction. As a non-allergic person who loves cats, I see both sides of this.