Cats for People with Allergies

Research shows cats are considered to be one of the most allergic creatures kept as pets. In fact, around 2 - 15% of the worlds population is allergic to cats, still 1/3 of these keep cats as pets in their home. The most common cause of allergic reactions to cats is an allergenic glycoprotein called Fel D1 ("Felis domesticus") which is present in the cat's dandruff and saliva. This protein is secreted by both the salivary and hair root (sebaceous) glands. When cats lick themselves, this allergen deposits on their fur and skin and later sticks itself on to the dust particles. When these allergens are inhaled into the nose or lungs, they trigger hay fever like symptoms (itchy eyes, runny nose, watering eyes, skin rash, etc.), asthma attacks in asthma patients and cat scratch fever. Although, one can not subside these natural causes of allergic reactions to cats, one can surely minimize the possibilities of having these reactions by keeping a cat that produces fewer allergens.

Cat Breeds for Allergy Sufferers

Hypoallergenic or low allergen are commonly used terms for those cats that typically produce less allergens than the regular ones. Though no cat breed is completely hypoallergenic, following are some breeds of cats for people with allergies.

Balinese: Also known as long haired Siamese, the Balinese is a hypoallergenic cat that produces less of the Fel D1 protein than other cats, hence causing fewer allergic reactions in allergy sufferers. The cat has a fine wedge shaped head, huge ears and big, blue eyes. It has a long and silky coat with a beautiful plumed tail.

Oriental Shorthair: Oriental short hair is another hypoallergenic cat, having a sturdy and sleek appearance.The cat has large ears, a wedged shaped head and a lanky body, and usually comes in different colors and patterns.

Javanese: Like the Balinese, the Javanese cat also has a medium-long single coat that doesn't mat. It has a refined slender body, deep blue eyes and large ears with a fine, silky medium length coat and a plumed tail. Due to lack of undercoat, the Javanese cat has less fur which renders fewer allergens.

Devon Rex: Devon rex is a cat belonging to Rex breed, which shed very less fur. Having a slight wedge shaped head and large ears, this cat has a curly coat that comes in different colors and patterns. It is medium-sized, having slender but a muscular body.

Cornish Rex: Unlike Devon rex, Cornish rex requires more maintenance and has a soft coat that lacks guard hair. This hypoallergenic cat has a small egg shaped head and relatively large ears. It has a long, slender and muscular body with long thin legs.

Sphynx: Sphynx is another hypoallergenic cat, which is hairless but still requires maintenance i.e. frequent baths to remove the gummy buildup of oils on the skin. It has a pixie face, huge eyes without eyebrows or whiskers, potbelly and wrinkled skin which is nearly void of hair.

Siberian: Similar to Balinese, this cat has a moderately long coat, but is still hypoallergenic due to the presence of lower-than-average enzyme levels in its saliva. The cat has a thick, rich medium long coat that comes in different colors. Considered to be one of the largest cat breeds, Siberian cat has a stocky and sturdy body with large, round and expressive eyes.

These were the seven breeds of cats for allergy sufferers, that produce fewer allergens than others. However, this list on cats for people with allergies should not be the only consideration while choosing which breed of cat to be adopted. Therefore, reckon on all characteristics of the cat to figure out which is the best fit for your house.