Alice White
Cats are the most popular pets. But what to do if you have an allergic reaction to the velvet-pawed creature? Keeping cats and allergies do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Man and cat are made for each other. But carefree cuddling and playing can come to an abrupt end when the two-legged friend’s nose drips and his eyes itch or water. A cat allergy can suddenly affect cat owners and they are encouraged to reconsider living with their four-legged friend. If you suffer from a cat allergy and still don’t want to do without a house tiger by your side, the following tips can help you find an anti-allergy cat.
A Hairy Business
Are you allergic to cat hair? Actually, this is only partly true. The problem is not the hair of the four-legged friend, but a tiny protein building block, Fel d1, named after Felis domesticus, the Latin name for our house cats.
The sticky protein is distributed on the fur when you clean it, sticks to the hair, and is carried around the whole apartment. There seems to be no escape for allergy sufferers. But there is hope.
Cats With Allergies – Dream or Reality?
Unfortunately, it is not that simple, because there are no potential allergy cats who can be selected according to breed. In the following, we will name some breeds that are better suited for allergy sufferers, but in principle, any cat can expel the allergen, even a four-legged friend without fur.
Opinions about cats for allergy sufferers vary widely. So far, there is a lack of well-founded studies which identify hypoallergenic cat breeds. Cats are individuals and therefore fundamentally different. It cannot be generalized whether a certain cat breed is suitable for allergy sufferers or not.
It has been noticed that the gender of the cat is believed to play a role. Female cats are less likely to cause allergies. If a male is neutered, the production of protein also decreases. Cat breeds with short fur or little hair can be beneficial for allergy sufferers, as the allergen is less intensively distributed in the room.
Cat Breeds With Low Allergy Potential
If you are looking for an anti-allergy cat, you will probably not know where to start. No breed of cat has been shown to be hypoallergenic.
Abyssinian
Abyssinians are proud and elegant animals. The English introduced the animals to Europe from Ethiopia in the 19th century and also gave them their name. The cats are highly intelligent, obedient, and docile. They make very good family cats and are gentle with children.
The short fur lies close to the body. The fur colors wild, red or red-brown are widespread.
Burmese cat
It is guaranteed not to be boring with the Burmese cat. The agile four-legged friends were held by Buddhist monks as early as the 15th century. They come from Burma, today’s Myanmar. The first animal came to the USA in the 1930s and was crossed with a Siamese male. Burmese cats don’t like to be alone. Since the purchase of a second cat is not really an option for allergy sufferers, you should bring plenty of time for the animal.
The fur is dense and short and has a silky sheen. Burmese cats are common in walnut brown or blue. In the case of the blue color variety, the fur shimmers silver-gray and appears a little darker on the tail and back.
Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex is native to Cornwall. It was discovered in 1950 by pure chance. A tomcat named Kalibunker found in a barn is the progenitor of all Cornish Rex found today.
The fur of the cats is their pride and joy, but the cats are considered allergy-friendly. The soft and silky fur is curled throughout, but so short that the long, slender body and the thin tail are clearly visible. The intelligent and playful animals come in all colors and drawings.
Singapura cat
Very few people know about these cats for allergy sufferers. It is one of the smallest breeds of cats. In their native Malaysia, the animals enjoy a great reputation. In the 1970s, four animals were brought to America and successfully mated there. Singapura was able to establish itself quickly in the USA. In Europe, animals are still considered rare today.
Singapura is friendly and playful and enjoys the company of its people. The animals are very suitable as indoor cats. The coat is short and silky and lies close to the body. The Singapura occurs only in the coat color Seal-Sepia. In places, the fur has a tabby pattern.
Sphynx cat
The Sphynx is sure to be a loving cat. The unusual appearance of the naked cats, which got their name from the Egyptian Sphynx, attracts everyone’s attention.
However, the Sphynx is not completely naked. The body is covered with a fine down. The Sphynx is considered the ideal family cat, is intelligent, curious, and gentle-natured.
Find Cats with Allergies
It will not be an easy task to find the right animal. However, you shouldn’t be discouraged. You have the best chance of success with a cat or a neutered male. However, nobody can give a guarantee. Tests on domestic cats have shown that the variation in the release of the allergen between two animals can be as much as 100 times.
The best way to find a suitable animal is to test for any allergic symptoms while being with the cat. Allergy sufferers shouldn’t literally buy a pig in a poke. It is important to spend some time with the animal beforehand.
Responsible breeders will understand this. If the breeders do not release the animals, they should allow you to schedule visits to test for allergy symptoms.
Cat allergy sufferers know their way around. They know how long it takes for symptoms to show up and what form they take. The risk is always there, and the same applies to the possibility that you will not develop any symptoms and have thus found the right cat.
Allergy Meets Cat
If you have a strong cat allergy, you should think about not keeping cats so that allergic asthma does not develop. If the symptoms are only mild and occur after the cat has been bought, a few tips can make it easier to coexist with the cat.
- Frequent hand washing
- Reduce hours of play and cuddling
- Let a family member clean the litter box
- Ventilate the apartment regularly (draft)
- Do without carpets in the apartment
- The bedroom is taboo for the cat
- Brush your cat daily
- Use vacuum cleaners with special filters
If you have mild allergies, you can try taking black seed oil. The home remedy has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects.
