Is there a good cat for people with allergies?

Answer 1

Hairless cats might be okay, but remember that a lot of people with pet allergies are allergic animal dander .. that's skin flakes.

Try a Russian Blue.

"The Russian Blue is also a hypoallergenic breed meaning that even people with cat allergies can own a Russian Blue without any ill effects. " http://www.xcalibur-bouviers.com/index.htm

Answer 2

I am severely allergic to cats, and much to the chagrin of my allergy doctor, I got a cat anyway. I've been taking Allegra and using the nasal spray Nasonex every day; the combination of the two seem to work since I am not experiencing any of the usual symptoms ~ if I am anywhere close to a cat I start sneezing like crazy, my nose runs, and my eyes and throat get all itchy.

If over-the-counter stuff doesn't work, I would recommend seeing an allergy doctor. He or she may be able to prescribe something that may work for you. Be prepared though; if you're allergic, the doctor will tell you NOT to get a cat.

I have to keep my apartment super clean so as to not trigger my allergies, but I think it's a small sacrifice to pay. Having a cat is totally worth it :-)

By the way, getting a hairless cat may not be the answer ~ people who are allergic to cats are usually allergic to their dander AND saliva.

Answer 3

They now have a cat that has been breed for people with allergies. Its called Allerca. They are being breed in California. The only problem is that they cost 4,000 US, they are micro chipped and come with a one yr guarantee. From the picture , the cat look similar to the Tabby Breed. I found the article in January's(2007) Chatelaine Mag.

Answer 4

ok this is where ppl go wrong.......
you are not allergic to the cat hair going and getting a hairless cat will not do anything. its something in their saliva, when they lick their furr it turns into dander.
There isnt a a whole lot that can be done on the cats part.

both me and my father are allergic to cats we live with one. part of dealing with an allergy is building an immunity to it.

if you bath your cat frequently, it will cut back on the dander that is caused by their saliva.

YOu can look into allergy shots, also just when you are handling a cat, keep them away from your face, and wash your hands when you are done handling them. also if you do get a cat keep your bedroom cat free. this will keep the dander from getting on all your clothing and bedding.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 5

A common mistake that people make is that its the hair they're allergic too, when in fact, its actually their saliva. The best thing to do is use allergy pills. Or don't have a cat.

Answer 6

The Maine Coon is recommended for people suffering with allergies because they have heavy, waterproof coats and they shed less 'dander'. However, a lot of people that suffer from cat allergies aren't allergic to the dander, but rather the chemicals in the cat's SALIVA that is ever present on their coats as they groom themselves. Washing your hands after touching the cat goes a long way to helping with this problem.

If it is dander that's the problem, and it's not TOO severe, a Maine Coon may be a great cat for you. Plus, they are one of my FAVORITE cats. They are very large and very beautiful.

http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GFRC_enUS205US205&q=maine+coon

Otherwise, you could consider a Sphynx cat that is totally hairless. I really don't know much about them, as far as temperment and such goes.

http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GFRC_enUS205US205&q=sphynx+cat

Hope you figure something out. I can't imagine life without cats!

Cave

EDIT: Did a little searching and found this site about Siberian cats. Looks like you can even order a FUR SAMPLE:
http://www.siberian-cat-breeder.com/cats_for_people_with_allergies.html

Here are a couple of other articles. One discusses everything about cat allergies and also talks about the REX cat, which some people claim to have fewer reactions to:
http://www.siberian-cat-breeder.com/cats_for_people_with_allergies.html

This one details 10 steps to reducing cat allergies:
http://cats.about.com/od/allergiesandcats/a/allergictocat.htm

Answer 7

A lot of people who think they are allergic to cats are actually allergic to where the cat has roamed.Not the cat itself. So if you keep the cat indoors and brush it daily you might not have any problems with any cat.If you do, there are some really good allergy meds out there that your doc can prescribe.

Answer 8

I've heard, anecdotally, that people who generally have cat allergies seem to have fewer problems with Bengal cats. It's not true of all people, but it may help you. To look for a breeder near you to maybe "test" them out, try http://www.tibcs.com/

Answer 9

Hi William...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://cats.about.com/cs/allergiesandcats/ht/allergiestocats.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 your 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 10

i found out it,s not the hair that make people allergic to cats it,s the seliva in there mouth so not really but they say it,s good to by a short hair cat, it will lower the chance of getting a reaction then a long hair short hair is list likely to leave hair a round the house, but there is going to be some but not much.