I am lucky enough not to be allergic to cats, but some of my friends are: take my best friend, for example. She’s allergic but adopted her adorable fuzzbutt Thor, and she can’t imagine him not being part of her daily life. While her allergy is mild enough (thanks to allergy shots) that it was viable for her to rescue Thor – just your regular American Shorthair – from a local shelter, it’s often a better option for someone with allergies to look for a hypoallergenic cat. But is there truly such a creature?
What does hypoallergenic mean?
The first problem when you’re talking about hypoallergenic cats is that many people assume that means “you can’t be allergic to this kitty!” If only that were true. What hypoallergenic actually means is “less allergenic” – so the idea is that, should you be allergic, you’re less likely to have an allergic reaction to the cat in question. The truth is there’s no such thing as a non-allergenic cat.
There’s some good news, though! Depending on how exactly you’re allergic to cats, you may have options in getting your kitty snuggles in while also avoiding all the sneezing, itching, runny eyes, and the rest of your immune system freaking out. Are you allergic to pet dander? There are cats out there that are low dander! Are you allergic to Fel d 1? There still may be some cat breeds that can work for you!
What is Fel d 1?
Glad you asked! Let’s just head into the microbiology classroom. Fel d 1 is a protein produced by cats – mostly in their saliva and sebaceous glands – and it’s what an unlucky 10% of the human population is allergic to in cats.
When Miss Kitty gives herself one of her many daily baths, that protein ends up on every surface she touches and airborne in microscopic bits of skin or the countless number of cat hairs floating around your home. Once you breathe that in, the rest is a symphony of sneezes. This is the hardest cat allergy to work around, but you can try.
Before you try to become a cat owner as a person with a cat allergy, however, stop and reflect on your decision first! You need to focus on your health and talk with your doctor about whether your allergy is mild enough that it’s okay to get a cat. And you should consider your future kitty, too – if you aren’t able to keep her due to allergies, what is your plan to re-home her?
What are the hypoallergenic cat breeds?
Ready to stock up on allergy meds and adopt a kitty? Let’s look at some of the best cat breeds for you!
SPHYNX – These hairless (or mostly hairless) cats may look like alien suede kitties, but they’re friendly, attention-seeking missiles of feline joy! They also have lower pet dander without all that fur, giving Fel d 1 fewer chances to hitch a ride.
CORNISH REX, DEVON REX, or LAPERM – The two Rex cat breeds each sport short, curly coats that shed less than typically expected of most cats. The LaPerm also has a curly coat – it’s just longer, but still doesn’t shed as much as other cat breeds.
RUSSIAN BLUE – Russian Blues produce less of the Fel d 1 protein than most other cat breeds, making them a great choice for allergy sufferers.
SIBERIAN – I know, I know! With their long coats, they seem like a strange choice for a hypoallergenic cat – but, just like the Russian Blue, they produce less Fel d 1 than most!
BALINESE – Same as the Siberian above, except they look like long-haired Siamese! Both have typical coats with typical dander concerns, but less Fel d 1 protein overall.
There are several other breeds that fit the bill, from the Bengal (they groom less, so less Fel d 1) to the Oriental Shorthair (they don’t shed much), so you can most assuredly find a beautiful, well-tempered cat out there in spite of your (hopefully mild) cat or dander allergy.
There may be no such thing as a non-allergenic cat, but you can still be a cat person even with a mild cat allergy! Simply find your kitty companion in one of the above breeds (we recommend trying adoption or rescue groups), and take steps to minimize pet dander in your home. You can do this using strategies like getting one or more air purifiers for your home, regularly dusting and vacuuming, and keeping your cat’s coat brushed.
What about you? If you are allergic to cats but have one at home, what breed do you have and how do you minimize allergens? Drop into the comments and let us know!
Is there a book on hypoallergenic breeds of cats and info on behaviours?
Ginger, if you look up “Hypoallergenic Cats Buyer’s Guide” there seems to be a book by Tim Anderson that might fit what you are looking for!