Cats for Allergy Sufferers
Dear Simba,
My daughter wants a kitten (and so do I). My mother-in-law is afraid the kitten may bring on an asthma attack!
Is there a domestic cat that does not shed that much and still
has a lot of hair? We do not want a bald or extremely short-hair
cat. Is there something to keep the shedding to a minimum? Also,
is the hair actually the problem with allergies or is it the
saliva? Do we have any hope in the world of getting a cat &
making all happy? - Thank you, Deanna & Melissa
Dear Deanna & Melissa,
Getting a kitten can be wonderfully rich and rewarding experience
for both of you. I hope that you find one that you can both
grow and bond with. The answer to your questions is yes.
People can be allergic to the hair.
However, rather than fur, what triggers allergic reactions is proteins in the cat's saliva, urine and dander (dried flakes of skin).
Most allergic folks react negatively to a protein called Fel d1 (produced by the sebaceous glands) or Fel d4 (produced by saliva).
A reasonable approach would be to get a medium to short-hair cat or a low Fel d1 producing cat like a Siberian, which is often
sought out by allergy sufferers.
The other cause of allergic reactions is cat dander. Dander is like dandruff in people and is the result of dried flakes of skin. There are certain breeds that are light shedders (and short hairs) include the Siberian, Cornish Rex and Devon Rex that are low dander producers.
As to medications, while they sound promising, please discuss any treatment plans with your family doctor, since only he/she knows what will work. As you decide on a cat breed it would be good for you to spend some pre-adoption time your chosen
cat's breeder / original home to get a sense of how your
allergies will act up. Good luck! Simba
