Domestic cats bring coziness, love, and anti-stress into the home that works more effectively than meditation. But once a runny nose, tears, and endless sneezing appear, the idyll collapses. Cat allergy — what to do? How to find a compromise? After all, you really want to get a pet.
The good news is that hypoallergenic cats solve the problem. We can thank nature and breeders for this. But the question of what actually causes allergies turns out to be much more complicated. And the myth about safe hairless cats is time to retire. Let’s take a closer look at whether cats without allergens exist and which cat breeds are suitable for allergy sufferers. And most importantly, let’s figure out how to live with a cat while having allergies without discomfort. And yes, it’s a task with an asterisk, but one that can be solved.
What Actually Causes Allergies?
Let’s start with a spoiler — not fur, that’s a myth. The culprit of allergies is the Fel d1 protein, which:
- is found in the cat’s saliva, skin, and sebaceous glands;
- gets onto the fur when the cat washes/grooms itself, and believe me, it does this more often than one might assume;
- circulates around the house together with dust.
Therefore, even hairless cat breeds will not become a magical shield, although they significantly simplify the situation. And overall, do cats without allergens exist? No, absolutely hypoallergenic cats do not exist in nature. But there are cats for allergy sufferers that produce less Fel d1 or spread it less. And this already makes life quite comfortable.
Top Cat Breeds for Allergy Sufferers
Now let’s move on to the interesting part — the breeds that are recommended for allergy sufferers:
- Siberian cat. An unexpected participant in the ranking. A fluffy ball in the list of hypoallergenic cats? Yes, some individuals of the breed show reduced levels of Fel d1. This is confirmed by studies from Indoor Biotechnologies — an international biotechnology company in the field of diagnostics and research of asthma and allergies. Siberian cats are suitable for people with mild or moderate allergies who still want a fluffy pet.
- Balinese breed. An incredibly beautiful long-haired breed. The Balinese cat is hypoallergenic, produces less Fel d1, and its fur is thin and does not spread the allergen as actively. An excellent option for a beautiful cat without an allergic apocalypse.
- Devon Rex and Cornish Rex. Extravagant cats that broke the system. The Devon Rex has short and wavy fur, less shedding, and therefore less spreading of allergens. An additional indirect advantage — almost no fur remains on furniture. Your sofa will definitely be grateful. The Cornish Rex is a relative of the Devon, but even cleaner in terms of fur. The breed has only one layer of fur, without an undercoat. And even fewer chances for allergens to move through the air. Suitable for people with sensitive allergies.
- The Bengal cat for allergy sufferers is also a good option. It looks like a mini leopard, but in reality is an absolutely domestic resident. Allergy sufferers choose Bengals for two reasons — short fur and less shedding. Thanks to this, the allergen spreads less around the house.
- Oriental cat. Distinguished by short fur and minimal shedding. With it, there will be fewer allergens in the environment. But there is one nuance. Orientals are very sociable. Be prepared for the cat to participate in all household matters, including video calls via Google Meet.
- Overall, these are the safest cat breeds for children and allergy sufferers. But what about sphynxes? A very common question — is a sphynx hypoallergenic or not? Here the situation is as follows — there is no fur, but the allergen is still there. Fel d1 is still released through the skin and saliva, but without fur it moves through the air with more difficulty.
How to Reduce Cat Allergy Symptoms?
Having figured out which cats do not cause allergies — or at least significantly minimize the risks — let’s move on to practice. Since even hypoallergenic cats do not provide a 100% guarantee, in order to reduce the impact of the animal and allergy symptoms, it is worth following these recommendations:
- Cleanliness in the house is the main ally in the fight against allergies. The Fel d1 allergen settles on furniture, accumulates in textiles, and lives in dust for weeks. Therefore, regular cleaning becomes the key to health. Main recommendations — a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, wet cleaning 2–3 times a week, and a minimum amount of carpets.
- Limiting “cat zones.” It sounds sad, but it works. For example, do not allow the cat into the bedroom, especially onto the pillow, where the allergen likes to linger.
- Bathing the cat. Of course, this should be done according to the veterinarian’s recommendations and without fanaticism. But such an approach reduces the level of allergens on the animal’s skin and fur.
And one more important point that owners often forget about. Even if a hypoallergenic breed cat lives in the house, the reaction can intensify because of smells and contamination. This concerns litter boxes and pet beds, territory marking by non-neutered animals, as well as accidental force majeure situations in childhood and even adulthood. Proper cleaning is important here. Traditional household chemicals from supermarket shelves:
- contain aggressive surfactants;
- increase irritation of the respiratory tract;
- and, as a result, worsen allergies.
And here comes the paradox. You clean, but it gets worse. In this case, biological enzyme-based products come to the rescue. For example, the product for caring for litter boxes, toilets, and pet carriers Step2Clean Cat&Dogs Tray Cleaner. Among its advantages:
- breaking down organic matter at the molecular level;
- eliminating the actual cause of odor instead of simply masking it with fragrances;
- absence of aggressive chemical traces on surfaces and in the air.
Thanks to this, cleaning products are completely safe for allergy sufferers and suitable for homes where children and animals live. And if we put together the formula for a comfortable life for an allergy sufferer with a cat, we can make the following checklist:
- choosing the appropriate breed;
- controlling cleanliness in the house;
- using safe cleaning and odor-eliminating products that work at the source of the problem.
Overall, get the right cat and breathe calmly, while cleaning products from Step2Clean will help with that.