Kilroy, if you love George and want him to continue to be a part of your life, please don’t give up! Find an allergy specialist who understands that you want to pursue best possible treatment, not just get rid of George.
There are desensitizing shots, allergy medications, and so forth. George can get used to being bathed every other week; I’m sure he’d prefer it to being placed in a shelter. Sara, the lady who just adopted Pumpkin, Mimi, and Zelda is planning to bathe them every other week (since she has asthma). As a bonus, not only are allergens on the cat’s fur reduced dramatically, but shedding on furniture or carpeting is virtually eliminated by going this route.
Last, but not least, be aware that allergies are often cumulative. If you’re also allergic to dust & pollen, then chances are good you’re not just reacting to George. Reducing or eliminating sources or surfaces containing other allergens will help reduce the allergen ‘load’ for your entire body. (Upholstered surfaces, curtains, and carpeting all hold allergens like crazy.)
There are a total of 4 different proteins found in cat saliva that have been found to produce allergic reactions in people. You may be allergic to one, two, three, or all four proteins.
Other thoughts on reducing allergens:
http://cats.about.com/od/allergiesandcats/a/allergictocat.htm
Good luck!
(P.S. For what it’s worth, I’m sufficiently allergic to my own cats that I have to wash my hands after petting them. However, I have hardwood floors, miniblinds instead of curtains, and only a couple pieces of upholstered furniture. Area rugs are laundered annually, bedding washed such that dust mites are minimized, and I use hepa filters on my vacuum cleaner.)