aimez asked:
I am allergic to cats but I love them and I ownt to have one but it can’t trigger my allergies. Cn you name some breeds ?
I am allergic to cats but I love them and I ownt to have one but it can’t trigger my allergies. Cn you name some breeds ?
July 13th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
All cats will trigger your allergies. It is not the fur, but the dander and saliva that causes people to have allergies. All cats have that.
Your best bet is to read more on allergies and what you can do to lessen them. Looking in to medications, methods of reducing the allergens, etc, may help
July 13th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Hi there…I would like to share some supportive information we give to people who suffer from cat allergies as many are unaware that “all” cats regardless of breed or if long, short or no hair breed of cats can cause allergies. Any vet can confirm this fact.
Older books on cats and cat care usually blame the allergy on cat fur e.g. breathing in small particles of the fur itself. Some blame it specifically on the cat’s guard hairs (the long hairs within the cat’s coat) and may recommend keeping a breed which lacks these guard hairs e.g. Devon/Cornish Rex or the hairless Sphynx. Referring to these breeds as hypoallergenic or allergen-free is incorrect as It is not the hair which causes the allergic reaction.
The real culprit appears to be a glycoprotein, Fel d1 which is secreted by the sebaceous glands and is the major cat allergen. This allergen is found in the fur, pelt, saliva, serum, urine, mucous, salivary glands, and hair roots of the cat. The main sources of the allergen, however, are the skin and saliva.
When a cat grooms/washes itself, saliva is deposited on its fur (or skin in the case of hairless cats). The saliva dries into dust (dander or dandruff) which is released airborne when a cat scratches or moves and when humans stroke or brush a cat. Fel d1.
All cats groom themselves, even those which lack guard hairs or which lack hair altogether (e.g. Sphynx). The dust forms on all types of cat hair or directly on the cat’s skin if it lacks fur. Hairless Sphynx cats produce dandruff directly on their skin and though they produce less of it than furred cats, they can still produce enough to trigger an allergic reaction. An allergy occurs when the body over-reacts to a substance (allergen) and produces excessive amounts of histamine. Excessive histamine production leads to the irritating symptoms associated with cat-allergy - itchy eyes, sneezing, skin rash etc.
Although Fel d1 is the protein most often associated with allergies, humans are very variable and there will be some people who develop allergies to other feline proteins. Some people are unaffected by Siamese cats, but allergic to other cats and some people have reported whose cat alergy is only triggered by male cats (even if the cats are neutered).
Anyhow, please consider reading the following website literature to learn more about the Fel d1 protein and how it affects allergies in humans.
Here’s a video (located on the webpage on the right side) by a veterinarian about the allergen Fel d1 and how it affects cat allergy sufferers. It’s an organization who is is selectively breeding cats without the Fel d1 protein to make available for sale for those who who suffer allergies but would like to own a cat:
People with mild allergies to cats can benefit from Benadryl, Allegra, Singulair, Clairitin, Zyrtec other similar antihistamines. One may work better if you are willing to experiment to see which works best. If the allergy is more severe neither a cat born without the Fel D1 protein or the anti-histamines has been successful.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Try a sphinx. They are a hairless breed of cat. They aren’t completely hypoallergenic, but close.
Hope this helps.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:10 am
the REX breeds or the Sphynx…
you should talk to your doctor about allergy shots - my sister wanted a dog and got this - it was years ago I know technology has improved since
typically light colored females are less allergenic than others…
July 20th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Not possible. Take allergy shots.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I agree with the first answer, there is no allergy-free cat. You’ll need to find a way to control your allergies if you want to have one.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:21 am
A Russian Blue, they have minimal hair loss and a really great for people with allergies, my friend is allergic to cats, but has NEVER had any reaction to my cats
July 25th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
the specialty pet store near me sells a product you can spray on your cat once a week that neutralizes the allergens in the dander and on the fur. I have not tried it b/c I am not allergic, but it may be worth a shot. good luck.
July 25th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Sorry, pretty much any regular cat breed can trigger your allergies.
There is a genetically modified cat to be hypoallergenic produced by Allerca.
July 26th, 2008 at 3:57 am
If you do a bit of research you’ll find that female cats produce less allergens than male cats. Neutered males produce less than intact males.
Additionally, lighter-furred cats shed less than darker furred cats (about 6 times less).
Siamese are known for shedding less and producing less allergens.
My recommendation would be to go with a female lynx point Siamese…female, light fur, Siamese breed.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:17 am
get a furrless or a very short haired cat.maybe a tomcat or a tabby.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
all cats trigger allergies as they all have dander. It’s not the cat that you are allergic to. It’s the dander. sorry.