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If people with cat allergies simply can't go without a furry companion, breeds like the Siberian Cat might just be their saving grace.
Some individuals experience allergic reactions to cats – but what do cat lovers do who, despite being allergic, don’t want to give up living with a feline friend? Are there hypoallergenic cat breeds? Learn about which cats might be suitable for allergy sufferers.
Does it exist or doesn’t it? There are several misconceptions about cat allergies that we need to examine.
Myth 1: There are cats that don’t trigger allergies.
It’s believed that some cats do not cause allergic reactions in allergy sufferers. However, this is not entirely correct: According to new scientific findings, all cats studied, regardless of their breed, produce the most common cat allergen: the enzyme “Fel d 1”.
Conclusion: There is no anti-allergenic cat breed.
Myth 2: Cat hair is the trigger for cat allergies.
The belief that cat hair is responsible for cat allergies in humans is also untrue. Allergy sufferers react to allergens that cats emit through their skin, saliva, or urine.
By grooming themselves and running their tongue through their fur, these clean creatures spread allergens in their fur.
Conclusion: So, there’s no such thing as a cat hair allergy.
Myth 3: Hairless cats do not trigger allergies.
Since a cat allergy in humans is not against the hair but against the allergens, this claim is also false.
In this context, the length of the fur is a minor factor. Allergy sufferers can react just as strongly or weakly to short-haired cats as to long-haired cat breeds. However, it is true that cats with particularly lush fur can spread allergens more quickly throughout the home via their hair.
Conclusion: Even hairless cats like the Sphynx release allergens that can be transferred to humans.
The Siberian cat strongly resembles the natural form of the wild cat. With his stocky build, thick coat and thick undercoat, he is still considered hypoallergenic.
Which Cat Breed is the Least Allergenic?
Various studies have compared the amount of allergens in different cat breeds that can trigger a cat allergy in humans. The results showed that the production of the Fel d 1 protein varies between cat breeds, as well as between individual cats.
Certain breeds appear to produce fewer allergens and are more suitable for allergy sufferers. Even the level of testosterone is said to influence the allergy potential.
Which Cats are Suitable for Allergy Sufferers?
Potentially, any cat can trigger an allergic reaction in allergy sufferers, even those deemed hypoallergenic. Nevertheless, there are cat breeds that release less Fel d 1 compared to others.
These include the Cornish Rex and the Devon Rex. In our gallery, you’ll find more cats that could be potential roommates for those with allergies.
Which Cats are the Worst for Allergies?
Research by toxicologist Prof. Dr. rer. pharm. Buters at the Helmholtz Center Munich showed that certain cats produce more allergens than others.
Unneutered cats showed to have more allergens than neutered cats. Male cats are also thought to have a higher allergy potential than female cats.
The Balinese has a beautiful pointed pattern and a medium-long coat. However, this cat breed appears to be more suitable for allergy sufferers as it is said to emit fewer allergens.
Conclusion: Can Allergy Sufferers Own a Cat?
For allergy sufferers with very mild symptoms, it is quite possible to keep a cat by adhering to hygienic standards such as regular hand washing and vacuuming. It’s important to thoroughly research and choose a suitable animal with as low an allergen release as possible.
Give it a Practical Test
You can ask if you can test contact with cats on-site at a shelter – of course, with appropriate precautions such as having an inhaler spray in your pocket. If you don’t react after several visits, the feline could be right for you.
When Owning a Cat is Not Advisable
If you have a severe cat allergy, you should, for health reasons, refrain from adopting a cat – because even so-called hypoallergenic cats, which are usually well-suited for allergy sufferers, can still trigger allergic reactions.
If the desire for a cat is still strong, you could alternatively talk to your doctor about hyposensitisation. We wish you the best of luck with this.
If it works out and you fulfil the dream of owning a cat, you’ll find all the information you need for living with your new pal in the Cat Magazine from zooplus. And the zooplus Shop has everything essential for kitting out your new cat.
Here are some purchase proposals curated by the zooplus editorial team
The products featured have been carefully selected by our editorial staff and are available at the zooplus online pet shop. The selection does not constitute advertising for the mentioned brands.
Franziska G., Veterinarian
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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