Hypoallergenic cats: do they work?
Discussion
We used to have cats when I was a nipper, I loved them. I didn't love the streaming red eyes, runny nose and itchiness I got from them though. 
So, hypoallergenic cats then, any of you got one? Are they any good? I'd love a Russian Blue or Abyssinian but I'm not totally convinced they work!
So, hypoallergenic cats then, any of you got one? Are they any good? I'd love a Russian Blue or Abyssinian but I'm not totally convinced they work!
Nah, they're even lazier than normal cats.
(in all seriousness - my brother is allergic to cats, and he's always said that whilst he gets allergic reactions to all cats, after a while eventually he gets used to a particular cat and the reactions slow down and eventually stop.)
I'm sure hypoallergenic cats are better for you than normal ones, but it does seem a bit odd that you can remove the allergens from a living thing like that.
(in all seriousness - my brother is allergic to cats, and he's always said that whilst he gets allergic reactions to all cats, after a while eventually he gets used to a particular cat and the reactions slow down and eventually stop.)
I'm sure hypoallergenic cats are better for you than normal ones, but it does seem a bit odd that you can remove the allergens from a living thing like that.
gazchap said:
Nah, they're even lazier than normal cats.
(in all seriousness - my brother is allergic to cats, and he's always said that whilst he gets allergic reactions to all cats, after a while eventually he gets used to a particular cat and the reactions slow down and eventually stop.)
I'm sure hypoallergenic cats are better for you than normal ones, but it does seem a bit odd that you can remove the allergens from a living thing like that.
Has he got any breed in particular?(in all seriousness - my brother is allergic to cats, and he's always said that whilst he gets allergic reactions to all cats, after a while eventually he gets used to a particular cat and the reactions slow down and eventually stop.)
I'm sure hypoallergenic cats are better for you than normal ones, but it does seem a bit odd that you can remove the allergens from a living thing like that.
Papa Hotel said:
Has he got any breed in particular?
He hasn't got any at the moment, change in circumstances meant he had to give his up for adoption (or whatever the term is.)I'd probably stay away from any breed that sheds a lot, though. I've got two British Shorthairs, although I'm not allergic, and one of them loses hardly any hair while the other covers any surface in hair just by rubbing up against it slightly.
gazchap said:
He hasn't got any at the moment, change in circumstances meant he had to give his up for adoption (or whatever the term is.)
I'd probably stay away from any breed that sheds a lot, though. I've got two British Shorthairs, although I'm not allergic, and one of them loses hardly any hair while the other covers any surface in hair just by rubbing up against it slightly.
Yeah, the Cornish Rex is supposed to be pretty good in that respect I believe. I'd probably stay away from any breed that sheds a lot, though. I've got two British Shorthairs, although I'm not allergic, and one of them loses hardly any hair while the other covers any surface in hair just by rubbing up against it slightly.
I've four siberean cats. They're reputedly hypoallergenic. As others have said, 'hypo' doesn't mean 'non'.
I don't react to them at all, except when cat hair gets up my nose - which, as they're described as being semi long hair, is quite often...I tend to think of them as remorseless shedding machines more than anything else. They certainly produce some astonishing quantities of the stuff, some days you can see a cloud of fluff following them around.
The GF on the other hand is allergic to cats, and she manages ok with them; she still reacts to their saliva from time to time, but nothing like as badly as she does with normal cats. As a result I can believe that as claimed, the Fel 1D protein levels are lower than other breeds. Good but not perfect.
One interesting thing, the third of the four came to us after a couple of week with another couple. The previous owner had gotten him because she'd grown up with cats, and now had an allergic boyfriend, but wanted a cat.
It turned out he was fine; he'd kept his distance a bit, not had a problem, she on the other hand reacted quite badly and in the end had to return him to the breeder. Who gave us a call, and we picked him up the next day.
I <think> that some people react to the Fel 1D and others to something else; you may get along fine with one breed, you may not.
I don't react to them at all, except when cat hair gets up my nose - which, as they're described as being semi long hair, is quite often...I tend to think of them as remorseless shedding machines more than anything else. They certainly produce some astonishing quantities of the stuff, some days you can see a cloud of fluff following them around.
The GF on the other hand is allergic to cats, and she manages ok with them; she still reacts to their saliva from time to time, but nothing like as badly as she does with normal cats. As a result I can believe that as claimed, the Fel 1D protein levels are lower than other breeds. Good but not perfect.
One interesting thing, the third of the four came to us after a couple of week with another couple. The previous owner had gotten him because she'd grown up with cats, and now had an allergic boyfriend, but wanted a cat.
It turned out he was fine; he'd kept his distance a bit, not had a problem, she on the other hand reacted quite badly and in the end had to return him to the breeder. Who gave us a call, and we picked him up the next day.
I <think> that some people react to the Fel 1D and others to something else; you may get along fine with one breed, you may not.
Apparently it's a protein in their saliva which some cats have (and certain breeds are supposed to have less of) which people are allergic to.
I'm allergic to some cats - but not all - and the breed, coat length, etc makes absolutely no difference. A friend paid £600
for two Siberians and is still mildly allergic to them.
I just went to Cats Protection and found one that didn't make me sneeze.
I'm allergic to some cats - but not all - and the breed, coat length, etc makes absolutely no difference. A friend paid £600
for two Siberians and is still mildly allergic to them.I just went to Cats Protection and found one that didn't make me sneeze.
When we started looking, we knew Mrs. 66 was allergic to cats. We went to a Siberian breeder, spent about an hour in the house. Mrs. 66 was fine. 66 major was sneezing within 15 minutes.
Possibly this was because the breeder also kept one or two non-Sibs - dunno.
A few years later we (I) decided to have another go. We went to a Maine Coon breeder. No reaction from Mrs 66; 66 major had a very minor tickle in her throat. Then in the car on the way back I clocked that 66 minor had a very swollen eyeball - contact allergy rather than respiratory.
Undeterred, and because the kids were very keen, we pressed on with the Maine Coon idea. 66 minor promised to wash her hands after playing with the cat, etc. A couple of months later we picked up our kitten. Even I could tell that it had a very strong cat smell (and I usually can't smell cats at all and am not allergic) from having been in the cattery. For two weeks everyone bar me was sniffling a bit, and scratches would come up quickly as white welts.
But after about two weeks, the allergy symptoms started to recede (as did the smell of the cattery). Within a month both kids were able to bury their faces in the kitten's fur with absolutely no adverse effect. No respiratory allergies either.
We've had lots of people round since we've had our MC who are or claim to be allergic to cats. Without exception they have had no or a very moderated reaction. So overall, we'd say our MC was a hypo-allergenic success.
It is all about the protein in the saliva though, and I would bank that your chances of success rest more with finding a breeder whose bloodlines produce lower levels of the protein that with assuming that all MCs/Siberians/whatever will be equally hypo-allergenic.
Possibly this was because the breeder also kept one or two non-Sibs - dunno.
A few years later we (I) decided to have another go. We went to a Maine Coon breeder. No reaction from Mrs 66; 66 major had a very minor tickle in her throat. Then in the car on the way back I clocked that 66 minor had a very swollen eyeball - contact allergy rather than respiratory.
Undeterred, and because the kids were very keen, we pressed on with the Maine Coon idea. 66 minor promised to wash her hands after playing with the cat, etc. A couple of months later we picked up our kitten. Even I could tell that it had a very strong cat smell (and I usually can't smell cats at all and am not allergic) from having been in the cattery. For two weeks everyone bar me was sniffling a bit, and scratches would come up quickly as white welts.
But after about two weeks, the allergy symptoms started to recede (as did the smell of the cattery). Within a month both kids were able to bury their faces in the kitten's fur with absolutely no adverse effect. No respiratory allergies either.
We've had lots of people round since we've had our MC who are or claim to be allergic to cats. Without exception they have had no or a very moderated reaction. So overall, we'd say our MC was a hypo-allergenic success.
It is all about the protein in the saliva though, and I would bank that your chances of success rest more with finding a breeder whose bloodlines produce lower levels of the protein that with assuming that all MCs/Siberians/whatever will be equally hypo-allergenic.
Greg66 said:
When we started looking, we knew Mrs. 66 was allergic to cats. We went to a Siberian breeder, spent about an hour in the house. Mrs. 66 was fine. 66 major was sneezing within 15 minutes.
Possibly this was because the breeder also kept one or two non-Sibs - dunno.
A few years later we (I) decided to have another go. We went to a Maine Coon breeder. No reaction from Mrs 66; 66 major had a very minor tickle in her throat. Then in the car on the way back I clocked that 66 minor had a very swollen eyeball - contact allergy rather than respiratory.
Undeterred, and because the kids were very keen, we pressed on with the Maine Coon idea. 66 minor promised to wash her hands after playing with the cat, etc. A couple of months later we picked up our kitten. Even I could tell that it had a very strong cat smell (and I usually can't smell cats at all and am not allergic) from having been in the cattery. For two weeks everyone bar me was sniffling a bit, and scratches would come up quickly as white welts.
But after about two weeks, the allergy symptoms started to recede (as did the smell of the cattery). Within a month both kids were able to bury their faces in the kitten's fur with absolutely no adverse effect. No respiratory allergies either.
We've had lots of people round since we've had our MC who are or claim to be allergic to cats. Without exception they have had no or a very moderated reaction. So overall, we'd say our MC was a hypo-allergenic success.
It is all about the protein in the saliva though, and I would bank that your chances of success rest more with finding a breeder whose bloodlines produce lower levels of the protein that with assuming that all MCs/Siberians/whatever will be equally hypo-allergenic.
Possibly this was because the breeder also kept one or two non-Sibs - dunno.
A few years later we (I) decided to have another go. We went to a Maine Coon breeder. No reaction from Mrs 66; 66 major had a very minor tickle in her throat. Then in the car on the way back I clocked that 66 minor had a very swollen eyeball - contact allergy rather than respiratory.
Undeterred, and because the kids were very keen, we pressed on with the Maine Coon idea. 66 minor promised to wash her hands after playing with the cat, etc. A couple of months later we picked up our kitten. Even I could tell that it had a very strong cat smell (and I usually can't smell cats at all and am not allergic) from having been in the cattery. For two weeks everyone bar me was sniffling a bit, and scratches would come up quickly as white welts.
But after about two weeks, the allergy symptoms started to recede (as did the smell of the cattery). Within a month both kids were able to bury their faces in the kitten's fur with absolutely no adverse effect. No respiratory allergies either.
We've had lots of people round since we've had our MC who are or claim to be allergic to cats. Without exception they have had no or a very moderated reaction. So overall, we'd say our MC was a hypo-allergenic success.
It is all about the protein in the saliva though, and I would bank that your chances of success rest more with finding a breeder whose bloodlines produce lower levels of the protein that with assuming that all MCs/Siberians/whatever will be equally hypo-allergenic.
cheers, not a breed I'd considered. Mobile Chicane said:
Apparently it's a protein in their saliva which some cats have (and certain breeds are supposed to have less of) which people are allergic to.
I'm allergic to some cats - but not all - and the breed, coat length, etc makes absolutely no difference. A friend paid £600 for two Siberians and is still mildly allergic to them.
I just went to Cats Protection and found one that didn't make me sneeze.
I would have thought fur rather than saliva.I'm allergic to some cats - but not all - and the breed, coat length, etc makes absolutely no difference. A friend paid £600
for two Siberians and is still mildly allergic to them.I just went to Cats Protection and found one that didn't make me sneeze.
I think your subconscious is wanting you to take the CPL cat
Sphynx, peterbald and all those other abominations are pretty hypoallergenic but you have to be a bond villain to have one really. GokTweed said:
I would have thought fur rather than saliva.
I think your subconscious is wanting you to take the CPL cat Sphynx, peterbald and all those other abominations are pretty hypoallergenic but you have to be a bond villain to have one really.
I've also heard it's the saliva, the fact they lick themselves all over transfers it to the fur, hence the assumption it's that.I think your subconscious is wanting you to take the CPL cat
Sphynx, peterbald and all those other abominations are pretty hypoallergenic but you have to be a bond villain to have one really. Steve Evil said:
GokTweed said:
I would have thought fur rather than saliva.
I think your subconscious is wanting you to take the CPL cat Sphynx, peterbald and all those other abominations are pretty hypoallergenic but you have to be a bond villain to have one really.
I've also heard it's the saliva, the fact they lick themselves all over transfers it to the fur, hence the assumption it's that.I think your subconscious is wanting you to take the CPL cat
Sphynx, peterbald and all those other abominations are pretty hypoallergenic but you have to be a bond villain to have one really. Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff