Cure Cat Allergies With A Hypoallergenic Cat?
Ten to fifteen percent of people in the United States are allergic to dogs or cats, with cats being the most common allergy by far. Unfortunately, many of these people love cats, or have children or life partners who do, so they sniffle and sneeze their way through the days, wishing someone would invent a hypoallergenic cat.
When people speak of being allergic to cats, they often believe they are allergic to cat fur. In fact, the allergy is caused by a protein secreted by the cat’s skin and salivary glands. When the cat licks itself, the saliva/protein mixture dries into a powder like substance that coats the cat’s living space.
Over the years, desperate pet lovers have researched many breeds and types of feline to find a hypoallergenic cat. So which is the best breed for those who find themselves quite allergic?
Well, in general, studies have shown that female cats produce fewer allergens than do male cats, and that light-colored cats produce fewer allergens than do dark-colored cats. While this finding has been scientifically studied,it doesn’t make much practical difference to the allergy sufferer.
What About Short Haired Cats?
Since the problem is with the cat’s skin, and not with it’s fur, getting a short-haired cat doesn’t help curtail allergies.
What About Hairless Cats?
Some people are so frustrated by their allergies, they decide to get hairless cats, thinking they can’t possibly be allergic to a pet without hair. Sphinx cats cost between $900 and $1200, which makes it doubly disappointing when they trigger allergy symptoms. Hairless or not, Sphinxes produce enough allergens on their skin to cause a reaction in many allergic cat lovers.
What About Siberian Cats?
Some people whose allergies are usually triggered by cats find that they can own Siberian cats with no reaction. This has led some to call the Siberian a hypoallergenic cat. Scientists speculate that the Siberian secretes less of the protein that causes allergies in humans. Cost: around $500.
What About Rex Cats?
Devon Rex and Cornish Rex cats both have both been billed as hypoallergenic cats by some fans. They have very light coats of fur. Because they still secrete the protein that causes allergies, however, most cat allergy sufferers will continue to experience allergy symptoms around them. Cost: between $500 and $700.
Umm, What About the ALLERCA Hypoallergenic Cat?
The what?
In 2004, a company named ALLECRA claimed to have bred a genuine hypoallergenic cat–one that would not produce allergens. ALLECRA claims that their specialty cats are sweet, friendly, free of genetic defects, and long-lived (although of course it’s too soon to tell about the latter claim). Scientific studies so far have shown that in ALLECRA cats the amount of protein that causes allergies is so small as to be undetectable. Cost: $3,950.
My thought is that it’s a lot cheaper to buy a box of tissues!
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