Cats to avoid if you have allergies
High-shedding cat breeds tend to be worse for people with allergies because the allergens get trapped in their coats and spread wherever they lose their fur. Some of these high-shedders include the Persian, Maine coon, Norwegian forest cat, Himalayan, Manx, and Cymric.
Siberian
Siberians are a popular hypoallergenic breed. Despite having thick, long hair, they produce less allergen-causing proteins than many other cats. Along with being a good cat for allergies, Siberians are friendly, affectionate, and make great family pets—if you can keep up with their regular grooming needs.
Several breeds of cat have far fewer allergy inducing dander and skin than other breeds. Cats that are safer for owners include Cornish Rexes, LaPerm, Oriental Shorthairs, and Devon Rex. These breeds are safer to own than other breeds when you are allergic to dander, because their fur has fewer layers.
Build up resistance. There is no cure for allergy to cats (yet!), but immunotherapy may help increase your tolerance. Immunotherapy involves getting allergy shots once or twice weekly for up to six months, then monthly boosters for three to five years.
Outgrowing allergies to animals is possible but not probable. Also, even those allergies can go away; they can come back again later in life. Keeping pets will not help to acclimate to allergies either. For some people, allergy symptoms can be worse in some seasons, especially in the heat when animals shed more.
It's important to continue exposure to the cat over a period of several months or even years to help your body build up a tolerance to the allergens. Over time, you should notice a reduction in symptoms and an increased ability to tolerate the cat.
Some people are lucky enough that they eventually develop an immunity to cat allergies. While this is certainly possible, allergic reactions may also worsen with more exposure. It's also possible that someone who has never suffered an allergy to cats before can develop one.
Female cats produce a lower level of allergens than males, and neutered males produce a lower level of allergens than unneutered males.
No cat breed is 100% allergen-free. Siberian cats and Balinese cats produce less of the allergen-causing protein Fel d 1, and are a good choice for people with cat allergies.
Balinese
Despite their long coats, these Balinese are not frequent shedders and require minimal cat grooming. Balinese cats are said to have less of the Fel d 1 protein, making them great for people with allergies.
Are Ragdoll cats good for allergies? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Some breeders advertise their Ragdolls as hypoallergenic, but all cats can cause an allergic reaction. Even though Ragdolls shed less, they still produce the Fel d 1 protein, which causes allergies in people.
A recent study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that researchers at HypoPet have made a vaccine that could help people who are allergic to cats. The vaccine, which is called HypoCat, is not for people but for cats. It goes after a certain protein, or allergen called Fel d 1, which cats make.
Part of the reason may be that some of these allergens are super tough to neutralize or purge. The main cat allergen, a protein called “Fel d 1” that's found in feline saliva, urine, and gland secretions, can linger for six months after a cat vacates the premises.
Dogs and cats may be your best friends, but, if you have allergies, they could be your worst enemy, especially in the winter. As the weather gets colder and dogs and cats spend more time inside, the level of animal dander rises in the home. There are two major concerns: It's cold, and the house is closed up.
Your doctor can do a skin or blood test to see if you're allergic. However, allergy tests aren't always correct; the doctor may also want you to try living without a cat for a few months to see how it affects your allergy symptoms.
If pet dander is so easily spread, how do you get rid of it? You can get rid of pet dander by grooming the pet to reduce the amount of dander produced, vacuuming frequently, using a HEPA air filter, Austin Air makes an air purifier just for pets, use anti-allergen sprays, and limiting where the pet goes.
Some of the best antihistamines for cat allergies include Curist Allergy Relief (levocetirizine), fexofenadine (brand Allegra), and cetirizine (brand Zyrtec).
Some will naturally develop a tolerance over time. However, most people won't develop an immunity on their own. Allergy treatments such as immunotherapy can retrain their immune system to tolerate cat dander.
Allergens from cats and dogs are found in skin cells the animals shed (dander), as well as in their saliva, urine and sweat and on their fur. Dander is a particular problem because it is very small and can remain airborne for long periods of time with the slightest bit of air circulation.
The types and amount of cat allergen produced can vary significantly between individual cats, and people may react more severely to one particular cat over another. Such differences in allergen production are not related to the length of hair or breed of cat.
Nasal sprays, antihistamines and bronchodilators can help relieve symptoms. Consider allergy shots ( immunotherapy ).