Karen, I have an orange cat named Simon who is my BABY! He always slept with me and rubbed all over my face, etc.
My doctors were okay with me keeping him but said NO litter box. I had my husband clean the litter box after I had gone to bed so I would not be around the dust of cleaning it. I did not let Simon in my bedroom or to sleep with me for the first 100 days or so. After I touched him I washed my hands or tried to. I also tried to not let him rub all over my face.
The doctors basically told me to have NO contact with the cat at all. He could stay in the house but keep him away from me at all times. I couldn't do that. He is my baby. So I did the above and I survived okay
Laura