Burmese Cat Allergies

People who are allergic to cats might welcome the appearance of hypoallergenic cats in the market. While the incidence of allergies among Burmese pet owners tend to be rarer, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat. An allergic person who wants to bring a Burmese cat home should do proper research before the purchase.

  1. Features

    • The first Burmese cat came to America as a pet of a U.S. doctor, who cross-bred the cat with its lookalike, the Siamese. After several generations, the breed was born. According to the American Cat Fanciers Association, the Burmese cat comes in the colors sable, champagne, blue and platinum. A Burmese cat has big bones, a wide chest and a short body. Its muscular form is covered by a single coat of tight, short fur. Curious and social, Burmese cats need plenty of attention from their human companions.

    Almost Hypoallergenic Breed

    • Some allergy sufferers report fewer reactions to Burmese cats than other cats. Originally, it was attributed to the cat's short hair, but later research revealed that a cat's saliva and dander (dead skin), rather than its hair, triggers allergies. When a cat licks its fur, saliva sticks to its coat and comes into contact with humans. The lower occurrence of allergic reactions to Burmese cats could be due to the cats producing less of the allergenic protein in saliva. Another theory proposes that the short hair on a Burmese cat harbors less saliva and therefore less allergen. However, these theories have no scientific proof, and some organizations such as the American Cat Fanciers Association maintain that hypoallergenic cats do not exist.

    Other Almost Hypoallergenic Breeds

    • Some other cats might produce less allergen and cause fewer allergic reactions, including the Siberian, Siamese, Cornish Rex, Devon Rex and Sphynx. However, different people might react to different amounts of allergen. Likewise, different cats might produce different amounts of allergen. As a result, allergy sufferers might find that they get allergic reactions due to exposure to a supposedly hypoallergenic cat.

    Effects

    • An allergic person who reacts to a Burmese cat could display symptoms similar to those of hay fever. If the allergic person also has asthma, he might experience more asthma attacks than usual. Other allergic reactions include red eyes, itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing.

    Buying Burmese

    • The only way to be sure that you are or are not allergic to a specific cat is to spend time with it. If you're visiting a pet store or breeder, try to visit the cat in an isolated spot that's not already contaminated by dander from other animals.