If you’re one of the 30% of people worldwide who suffer from allergies, then you might be one of the unlucky ones who suffer around cats – common symptoms include wheezing, sneezing, runny nose and red, itchy eyes. Whilst pet hair and dander (dried flakes of skin) is a common allergen you may surprised to discover that for those allergic to cats, it’s usually a protein (FelD1) found in the cat’s saliva and secreted skin that is the problem. When a cat washes themselves, the saliva dries on their fur and becomes airborne, causing an allergic reaction once the allergens reach your nose and sinuses.
You may have heard that there are certain breeds of cat considered purrfect for allergy sufferers, but unfortunately that’s not exactly true. Although certain breeds do seem to be hypoallergenic, meaning they have less of the troublesome allergens in their saliva and skin secretions, no cat will ever be completely non-allergenic.
Cat loving allergy sufferers will probably have to accept some minor level of discomfort (or control their symptoms with anti-histamine medications and nasal sprays) if they want to share their lives with cats.
The Best Cat Breeds for Allergy Sufferers
- Sphynx – The alien-like Sphynx is often thought to be hypoallergenic because of its lack of hair, which means the dander has nothing to cling to. Their suitability for people with allergies could also be due to regular bathing which keeps the Sphynx’s skin in top condition and any allergens under control.
- Cornish Rex or Devon Rex – Both Rex breeds have distinctive curly coats and shed very little. Devon Rex’s are slightly more suitable, being shorter haired, but there isn’t a huge difference in allergen production between the two breeds.
- Oriental Shorthair – Oriental Shorthairs are another breed that produce less dander in their saliva and skin secretions than many other breeds.
- Balinese or Javanese – Despite being long-haired, these Siamese cousins also produce less of the allergen that causes problems. The Javanese cat has a fine coat, with no undercoat which reduces the overall volume of hair and minimises allergens in the air.
- Russian Blue – The Russian Blue has a dense double coat, which traps allergens close to it’s own skin, so there are less airborne allergens floating around for allergy sufferers to breathe in and react to.
- Siberian– Siberian cats are known to have less FelD1 in their saliva too, but perhaps it’s also their triple layered coat designed to help them survive harsh Russian winters which also results in minimal shedding of allergens.
Ways to Reduce Allergens in Your Home
Whilst the above cat breeds are considered good choices for allergy sufferers, there is no cat breed that is 100% hypoallergenic. So, you’ll need to do a few additional things in your home to reduce the allergens and minimise allergic reactions.
- Bathe your cat as often as possible (or wipe them down with a damp cloth), and make sure you groom regularly to remove allergens from the fur. Note: If you are highly allergic, leave the cat grooming activities to someone else.
- Wash your cat’s bedding and toys regularly.
- Look for an air purifier to use in your home that has filters to filter out the allergens.
- Make sure allergy sufferers are sensible when it comes to contact with cats – washing their hands after touching cats, and not rubbing their face in the cat’s belly, despite how inviting it looks.
- Dust and vacuum your home regularly. Ensure your vacuum has a HEPA filter, designed to trap allergens in the air and on carpets.
- Restrict the cats to certain areas of the house. Keep all bedrooms cat-free zones.
Coping with cat allergies is an ongoing commitment, but it’s worth it for the joy that they bring into our lives.
Are you or someone in your family allergic to cats? How do you manage the situation?
I have friends who want a cat but one of them has dander allergies. I am sharing this with her. Thanks for putting it together.
The doctor has told Mom Paula that she is probably allergic to us, but he knows we’re here to stay.
Great post! Thank you for reminding people that cats are not 100% hypoallergenic!
Such great info, thank you! Our furangel Smokie was a Russian blue we adopted (she was abandoned). A beautiful cat and our allergies were never bothered!
One of my son’s friends is allergic to cats, so when we know he’s coming over, I try to vacuum thoroughly and dust. Our cat isn’t friendly to strangers, so the interaction is minimal. I also make sure I have a full box of tissues.
My kids are allergic to cats and we had to rehome our cats few years ago. I didn’t know sphynk was hypo
I have terrible allergies and had to take years of immunotherapy. I can’t have multiple dogs either unless there’s enough sq footage. Besides the shots, we used Allerpet and cleaned…a lot! Thanks for the post =)
Such GREAT advice as I had no idea there were so many breeds ok for allergy sufferers. I have people ask me Qs about what types of breeds are ok for my kids with an allergy so this is a great post!
I am so lucky that I’ve never suffered from allergies. My husband is allergic to everything; including cats and dogs. Thankfully, we didn’t find out about cats until after we’d had four! It was his call to keep the Rooster (our foster cat), so I don’t feel guilty. This is fascinating information about the different breeds and how they rate, allergy wise. Our vet told us black haired cats are the least hypo-allergenic (At that time we still had Charlie, our black, female tuxedo cat).
So thankful I’m NOT allergic, nor are any of my family members. I know people who are, though, and still manage. My sister has two Siberians; they are gorgeous! I believe she got them for the reasons you stated (a step-child is allergic).
That is very interesting to learn about cat spittle. ☺ I know many who take allergy shots too.
When I found out my son was allergic to cats (and we had one) I washed everything I could including the walls. The cat started getting more frequent baths, which thankfully he tolerated, and a weekly wipe down with a product called allerpet.
Very helpful information – one of our neighbors has a Sphinx cat and she is gorgeous and silky to the touch! 🙂
Helpful information to know for people who need to try to minimize allergic reactions to cats.
This is so good to know! I suffer from cat allergies but I love cats and have had them most of my life.
Mom decided a while back that, after all these years of dealing with congestion, she may be allergic to cats! She says it doesn’t matter though. She will just continue to deal with it. She didn’t know about the saliva and skin secretion. That was interesting and she said maybe she’ll start wiping us down with a wet cloth. Thanks a lot!
There are a lot of people who are allergic to cat dander. That has to be a horrible allergy to have! It is great that there are so many options for people with allergies these days. Air purifiers and better cleaning methods have helped a ton.
I was just talking to someone at work about this issue… trying to convince him to get a cat for his daughter but his wife is allergic. (Supposedly I was too as a kid but lived and breathed cat anyway and now am allergic to nothing…)
Great info! We have an air purifier and it works well with pet allergens!
I’ve never actually seen any of the breeds you mentioned in person before. I would love to! Great tips for those who suffer from allergies. Thankfully my husband nor I suffer from allergies, but even if we did, we would suffer through! I could never be without kitties 🙂
Terrific post Of course even as a non allergy suffere I want a Sphynx, A Cornish Rex, A Russian Blue….
I’ve heard wonderful things about those breeds producing less allergens and also those are great tips! My husband is allergic to our cats but we keep things clean, the cats get baths and we have an air purifier. We don’t let the cats sleep in our bedroom, which helps too! Great post!
Such helpful information, and great tips! Luckily for me, I’ve largely outgrown the severe cat allergies I had as a child. 🙂
I didn’t realize that all those show baths I have to take help make me less allergic to humans who have that problem! Maybe getting washed isn’t so annoying after all.
Great post! I wish more people knew this information before they adopt. Too many cats are turned over to shelters because of allergies. Sharing.
The Sphynx has a very velvety kind of coat. I wouldn’t mind having one of those. 🙂 Russian Blues are really gorgeous, and I didn’t know they were considered one of the breeds to be good for allergy sufferers like me. Thanks for the info!