For cat allergy sufferers: which is better, male or female cats? dark or light fur? long or short?

Question

Any personal experiences will help. I really, really want a cat, but am very allergic. I'm currently doing research. Are you, or have you ever been in my position? Any people with cat allergies that now successfully own a cat? What are your secrets/ tips that might help me?

Answer 1

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.

http://allergies.about.com/cs/cats/a/aa013100a.htm
http://www.allergysa.org/pet.htm#cat

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: http://www.allerca.com/

People with mild allergies to cats can benefit from Benadryl, Allegra, Singulair, Clairitin, Zyrtec other similar antihistamines. One may work better than one another 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.

Answer 2

No difference in long/short fur, color of fur, sex of cat or anything else. Even hairless breeds of cats can affect people with cat allergies. Sometimes people get lucky and find a particular cat that doesn't affect them, but it's rare.

If you know you are "very allergic"... do the cat a favor and let someone else take it home. Adopting a cat knowing you are allergic is a bad idea... the poor cat will just end up homeless again. Get a small dog or a rabbit or something else you aren't allergic to. Or talk to a doctor about the possiblity of allergy medication that might alleviate your symptoms enough to make living with a cat a possibility.

Answer 3

I am allergic to cats but I have 2 indoor and 1 outdoor cats that I love. Some tips that I have for you...after petting the cats be sure to wash your hands and lint roller your clothing before touching your face so that any dander and cat hair won't get close to your mouth or nose, have a leather sofe/loveseat because you can easily wipe the cat hair off of it, keep the cat out of your bedroom because it is really difficult to constantly wash your comforter to get the hair and dander off. I also use the allergen reducing febreeze a couple times a week all over the carpets and drapes. I don't know if it works but in my mind I think it does. :)

Also, cats do shed heavily twice a year when the seasons change so be sure to brush them outside to get rid of excess hair. I usually have to take an otc allergy pill during this time too.

Be sure to feed them a quality food because malnutrition will cause dry, flaky skin and excessive shedding.

Also, it has been shown that light furred cats produce less dander. Also, it is weird but Siamese and long haired cats such as Persians don't bother me as much as any other type of cats.

These few tips should help you pick out the right cat for your needs that you can live with.

Good luck!

Answer 4

First off, the sex means little in determining allergic reactions. BUT - the fur colour does! Darker fur typically has more dander - so the lighter the fur the better your chances. And this has held true for me. Cupid and Vixen, two of my three cats, are orange or white/buff and I had little issues when they first came into the home. However years ago when I first had WilyBeth, a dark tiger, I was VERY allergic to her - including hives!

Another key is that typically longer fur is not as allergic, unless you get it up your nose or in your eyes. I know that sounds weird, but long hair cats seem to have less allergens and dander than do short hair - plus the shedding is far less in long hair varieties.

BUT - if you really want to help yourself by helping your cat, look into finding a local vet that offers ACE Promazine. It's typically used as a sedative, but in small doses actually slows the production of dander in cats! Several vets in the NW Ohio are using it and with great results - including with my own cats!

Both Cupid and Vixen have been on it for almost 3 months now and my reactions are almost nothing to their fur. But Miracle, my 5-month old calico kitten, is not on it and I can often times feel a slight "tickle" in my nose and a tightness in my throat (asthma) when I spend too much time in face-to-fur contact with her. I also bathe all three of my kids every three weeks on a rotating schedule. Last weekend it was Cupid - this weekend will be Vixen - and the following is Miracle and then back to Cupid after that. All three fight the bath a little, but have been getting it since they were kittens and are getting easier with it over time. Bathing also helps cut down the dander and allergy reactions even though they are very clean kids.

Good luck and look into the ACE Promazine - it's a God-send to allergy sufferers!

Answer 5

it's really the cat dander, each cat gives off a different amount, so some cats wont bother you as much as others..I have cat allergies, and a number of other allergies, And i've lived with all types of cats..there is a special shampoo you can wash them with that helps with the allergies, there is also a shot you can take..

Answer 6

I am afraid the only cats that are dander free are the hairless cats. They are very good companions, however they are also very expensive. I have cat allergies and I own 3 cats. I suffer for their love and affection and can't give them up. Ofcourse, if you are selecting the cat and the cat is not selecting you, select a short haired, thin coated cat. You CAN NOT tell what you are truly going to end up with in a basic non-papered kitten so I would recommend going to a kitten adoption house where kittens are 6months or more old where you can be sure of the hair type, can play with them and see how much they seem to bother you or not. Also, buy a Dyson vacuum or install hard flooring!

Answer 7

I seem to get sore runny eyes when i am around female cats. we have always had male cats i have never had any problems but we just got a female cat and my eyes go funny whenever i am round her.

Answer 8

It does not matter on the sex, or color. Short hair is better when it comes to allergies. Long hair can hold more dandruff. They make medicine that helps your body not be allergic to things. My gf was/is allergic to cats, her body just got so used to it because shes been around them since she was little that she does not have a prob unless that cat hair gets in her face. Just dong let your cat sleep near your pillow at night, and wash your hands after you play/pet it, and you should be fine.

Answer 9

long hair is nice but requires upkeep and u have to grow that out for a long time

Answer 10

I prefer hair which is shoulder length or longer, And since that men who like females are more often then not straight, they like long hair because that looks more feminine, as most guys have short hair.