I am allergic to cat and dog fur but as a family we would really like a pet dog or cat.?

Question

Are there any cats or dogsout there with no fur or that don't malt?

Answer 1

labradoodles have been bred for exactly this reason and would probably be ideal. do a search to see what they're like. I think they look good and with the intelligence of a labrador they should be clever and easily trained.
Many celebrities own them as they were quite a fashionable pet a couple of years ago.
Owners and breeders are trying to get them recognised by Kennel Club.

Answer 2

The person who said it isn't the fur but an enzyme in the saliva is right. Length of fur doesn't matter either. Different animals have differing amounts of the enzyme so just trying to be around different animals that you're contemplating adopting may give you an indication of how you'll respond to that particular animal.
But odds are if you're allergic to animals that you're allergic to other things too, and medication may help. There are so many allergy treatments around that are non-drowsy and beneficial.
And you will also become less sensitive to animals the more you're around them. When I was little, I couldn't even be in a house where a cat had ever been without sneezing and wheezing and breaking out in hives. Now, thanks to
Allegra-D and Nasalcrom, I live with a house full, and have NO symptoms.

Answer 3

As far as cats go, you will need to get a short hair or hairless cat. Short hair cats you can find at your local animal shelter. Hairless cats will cost you close to 700 dollars if not more.
I suggest the short hair and train them to stay off the couches and bed. If you have rug.. invest in a great vacuum.

As far as dogs, i have read that Miniature Schnauzers are the best with people with allergies. Short hair dogs do shed a lot. I had a rat terrier and a Schnauzer. The rat would shed like crazy but the Schnauzer barely shed a hair.

Mainly people are not allergic to the hair but the dander that the animal gives off. I am allergic to both cats and dogs, but i love them. I have two cats (had two dogs :( ...)
I do great because i do clean often and i don't let them on top of place where i would lay down.

If you go with a cat a great way to train them from doing things you don't want them to is to have a spray bottle filled with water around. When they do something that you want to curb... spray them with the water once and tell them NO in a stern voice. That works.

For dogs a coke can with 3-4 penny's in it will work. When they do something bad you shake the can and tell them no.

These help in behavior.

Answer 4

I have found some luck with minature Itailian Grey Hounds.

A List of Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds…

Afghan Hound, American Hairless Terrier, Basenji, Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Border Terrier, Chinese Crested Dog, German Shorthaired Pointer, Greyhound, Italian Greyhound, Irish Water Spaniel, King Blue Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Mexican Hairless, Peruvian Ina, Poodles (all), Portuguese Water Dog, Schnauzers (all), Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, Wheaten Terrier, Whippet

Answer 5

If you are not extremely allergic then one of the shorter hair dogs could prove to be ok .
However if you are prone to serious bouts of illness after contact with animals then the family should think more about your health than having a pet. It would also be very unfair on an animal to have it for a few weeks/months then have to get rid of it due to your allergy . So you all need to think really hard about the decision and what is best for you and the animal

Answer 6

Hi Leah...what people have failed to mention is that the allergens pets produce is caused by the dander from the saliva when they groom themselves. This especially is why more people are allergic to cats since they are fastidious groomers. Even the hairless Sphynx cat produces the allergen. Cats who are born with Fel D1 glycoprotein produce this allergen. The allergies become more apparent once the kittens become adult cats. People with mild allergies can get by taking a regimen of antihistamines, but severe allergy sufferers will not see any benefits. See the details in my answer: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsnLfmN1Hnqs1QtDPQWIzMnty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20061127185743AA3wVNT

Dogs on the other hand need us to bathe them which helps keep allergens at bay and there are some breeds which produce less dander: http://allergies.about.com/od/animalandpetallergy/tp/hypoaller_dog.htm

Answer 7

I am allergic to cat hair and have found that there are some dogs whose fur I'm allergic to because it is very much like cat hair, but there are other dogs that I'm fine around.

I'm fine around Spaniels and retrievers and labradors, that type of dog, but put me in the same room as a jack russel and I have problems.

If you are like me then you should be fine around certain dogs.

Answer 8

yes there are several cats or dogs that are considered "hypor-allergenic"
however you can also talk to your doctor about getting allergy shots or medication...
years ago (1978) my sister wanted a "regular" dog.. she got shots every 2 weeks simply so she could have one as her allergies were bad - I know allergy medication has improved a lot since then...

the "hypo - allergenic" pets tend to be more expensive.. and require special care...

spayed female short hair cats of lighter colors for some reason are less allergenic and you can get these all the time from your local SPCA or shelter...

some breeds of dogs shed more than others.. stay away from Labs (high shedders)

with both - feeding GOOD quality food will make a HUGE difference... all the foods in grocery or Wal Mart are crap and will make the pet shed more (too much filler like corn and by-products) you should get a permium food from pet supply store (not all foods they sell are good - perhaps make another question about food - AND indicate what country you live in)

when looking for a pet ALWAYS check the SPCA or animal shelters first - NEVER NEVER buy from a pet store (they will lie to you to get a sale... and sell lower quality animals - after all they are in the business for profit.. not for love of pets)

Answer 9

My wife adopted two kittens and I was extremely sensitive to them. My eyes would turn red and my sinuses closed up. I went to an Allergist who tested me and sure enough I was allergic to cat dander. He treated me by injecting me every two weeks with stronger and stronger levels of the a special formula that is causes the reaction. After about eight treatments I was no longer sensitive to the cats.

That was about six years ago and the cats and I get on just fine, now. So, you see there are treatments that may possibly cure your sensitivity.

.

Answer 10

the sphynx cat exists, but they are quite fragile.So if it's a family cat,keep in mind that he wants to be indoors in cold weather.
But just so that you know, I am very allergic to cats....but I have 2!...it's just a discipline that you have to instaure: no cat in bedrooms, have a blanket on the couch where the cat can sleep, and that you can wash regularly. Also, have other members of the family brush the cat on a regular basis, and do it outdoors if you can.
And last but not least, ALWAYS wash your hands after touching the cat...thta's it...and don't forget that such a lovely animal is good for your moral!!! ;-)