Is there a breed of house cat that won't irritate my allergies?

Answer 1

Human allergies to cats are caused by a protein in cat saliva. The cat licks its fur, gets the fur all good and spitty, and then it dries. When the hair dries, the residue from the saliva flakes off. That residue contains a protein that some humans are allergic to.

The only way to have a non-allergenic cat is to get a hairless cat since hairless cats don't have to groom themselves like furry ones do.

Answer 2

Try a Siamese. Many people are ok with them that have cat allergies. Also Bengals have Pelts instead of fur. The Cornish Rex and Devon Rex do not shed hair either and are reconended for people with allergies.


Stay away from Persian, Himalayan and the Sphynx. Though the Sphynx is a hairless cat, most people are alergic to the skin cells or dander on cats, not the fur. Besides, do you really want a cat that will leave grease spots (skin oil) on your couch???

Purebred cats are a wonder to own. I currently have 2 Siamese and a Bengal. Don't listen to what people say about the Siamese, they are not mean cats at all. Mine are sweet and friendly even to stangers. Visit a breeder and spend some time with the cats first. I seriously recomend a Rex for allergies. I don;t know how Selkirk Rexs are with alergies. They are a newer breed and look like a cat in sheep's wool. While beatiful, I can't be around the long haired cats due to eye alergies. I hope you meet the perfect cat, as they make life much more plesant than life without a cat!

Answer 3

kitties make people allergic because they have a certain protien ( FEL D-1) in their saliva that affects people. The reason why the hairless breeds seem less allergenic is because there is less hair to fly around the house covered in saliva. While they are an option, they are butt-ugly. You could get this newly genetically engineered kitty, but lets face it, that is going to cost an absolute fortune. I have researched this, and have come across a breed of cat, the Siberian cat, that hardly produces the FEL D-1 protien. They have beautiful coats, and come in a huge variety of coat patterns and colours. Have a look at this website, www.siberiancats.com - I see that there kitties cost between $700 - $750 - which sounds pricey, but given the benefits, it's much better than the genetically bred version at $4 000!

Answer 4

Ok, first, the 'naked' cats are not hypoallergenic. Allergies generally stem from dander and saliva, not fur. Furless cats still groom themselves.

In response to the question, no. However, there are steps that you can take to be less allergic to your cat. Take claritin every night. Feed your cat high quality food. Have him groomed (not necessarily bathed) regularly. Keep him off of furniture and keep your bedroom a 'cat free' zone. There are also suppliments that you can try that may reduce allergens. And, living with the cat can help build up your immunity.

I'm allergic, but because I've had my cat for so long, I'm only allergic to him in extenuating circumstances. He doesn't climb into my bed, I sweep and vacuum regularly, I take allergy medicine, and I don't pet him and then touch my face. After handling him, I wash my hands well, and if I've been holding him up or taking him to the vet, I will change my shirt ASAP. He is 100% indoors, because I love him, and we rarely have any problems.

And remember, look to the humane societies and no-kill shelters before getting a cat or kitten. At least they will take the cat back if it ends up being too much for you. Keep your cat indoors, have him/her fixed, and NEVER declaw. Good luck to you! : )

Answer 5

There is a breed of cat that has very, very short hair and is supposed to be ideal for people with allergies but they are very, very expensive. I cannot remember the name, but, boy are they ugly.

Personally, I would suggest you forget about having a cat. You will never get rid of the dander that causes the problems. Find something you are not allergic to, like a short-haired dog.

Answer 6

Gp to www.cfainc.org - some breeds that are less likely to cause problems with allergies are the Burmese, Bombay & Sphynx. We had several cat-allergic clients at the vet that owned & could tolerate Burmese cats when I worked there (the Bombay is a different color of the same breed, basically).

Answer 7

I tested Allergic to cats too. But, I used to have a male Siamese cat, and the fur did not bother me. My friend had a female Siamese that I was Very allergic to. We mated the pair. The female had 4 kittens. I was allergic to 3 of the kittens. I kept the one that I wasn't allergic to.
It may just depend on the cat. If you really want a cat, just keep trying. The cat I have now, I've had for 20 years.

Answer 8

It's not the cat per se, it's the dander that collects in their fur. There is a breed of cat that has no hair/fur, but they sure are ugly. Birds are even worse than cats for dander.

Answer 9

FYI - I also have cat allergies so I occasionally get into conversations with others about cats. My insurance agent says she has cat allergies but never lets her cat go outdoors (never? never!) and has no allergic reaction to her cat.

Answer 10

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/10/27/biotechnology.cats/index.html = URL for full article

excerpt: (CNN) -- A California biotechnology company has started taking orders for a hypoallergenic cat for pet lovers prone to allergies.

The genetically engineered feline, which is expected to be available from 2007, is the first in a planned series of lifestyle pets, Los Angeles-based Allerca said in a press release.

Allerca hopes to attract customers among the millions of people worldwide who suffer from cat allergies.