Congrats on your new kitty. I hear you about cat allergies... I happen to take a zyrtec daily (which is much cheaper now that it's OTC) and that controls my cat allergies.
Anyway, cats are great. Unless it's one of Bethie's cats. I swear, she raises the meanest, boniest black cats and I would also swear I saw her throw one at a neighbor kid who stepped on her lawn. So, protect your furball if she happens to fly around...