What Cats Are Best for Allergy Sufferers?

Having a cat allergy can be frustrating for a pet lover. Although there are breeds of cat that are less likely to provoke cat allergies, no breed is truly allergy-free. According to cat care website Cats of Australia, cat allergies are caused by a particular protein, FEL D-1. This is found in a cat's hair, saliva and sebaceous (skin) glands. Cats with less of the protein, less hair or those that don't shed as much as other breeds might reduce allergy symptoms in some people, but won't always eradicate them completely. Cats of Australia also claims that having your cat neutered or spayed also reduces the number of allergens it produces

  1. Sphynx Cat

    • The Sphynx cat is the most famous breed of hairless cat. As it has very little or no fur, owners are at less risk of having a reaction to the allergy-causing protein. However, because they have no fur, Sphynx cats do require more care than other longer-haired breeds. Their ears require regular cleaning and you will also need to bathe them every week in order to prevent oily residue building up on their skin. These cats still produce the FEL D-1 protein, but females produce less than males.

    Siberian Cat

    • A Siberian cat is an unlikely choice for an allergy-reducing pet as it has a long coat. However, this breed's saliva contains lower levels of the FEL D-1 protein and therefore produces less allergic reactions in sufferers. Cat information site Catster reports that approximately 75 percent of people who normally suffer cat allergies have no reaction to this breed. However, as its hair and sebaceous glands still contain FEL D-1, some allergy sufferers might still experience symptoms.

    Rex Cats

    • There are two different kinds of Rex cats: the Devon Rex and the Cornish Rex. Both these breeds have a lower number of hairs in their coat than other breeds of cat. Therefore, their coat contains less of the protein that produces allergy symptoms. In addition to this, they only shed a few, fine hairs at a time so are less likely to leave allergens around the home.

    Oriental Shorthair

    • Oriental Shorthair cats are similar to the Siamese breed. They do have hair, but shed less than other breeds. However, owners with allergies should still groom this cat regularly, ensuring they both brush it and wipe its fur down to remove any dander produced by the cat's sebaceous glands.