Ah yes, hypoallergenic cats. The myths, the legends. Well, you may not know but there’s technically no such thing as a true hypoallergenic cat. All cats produce certain amounts of allergens in their fur coats, or through their saliva or sometimes even through their urine.
That said, there are some breeds that will produce lower levels of the proteins that cause our sniffles and result in inflamed allergies. The secret is to finding the one that bugs you the least because allergen levels will vary even among the same breeds.
Depending on the breed or their family, some cats might be a better match, but you’ll still need to meet the cat and give it a test drive to be sure.
Without further ado, here is a list of some of the most common cat breeds that are preferred by people with allergies:
Balinese are known for having long, silky coats. Balinese cats produce fewer allergens mainly because they don’t shed as often. I like this. I also like the lack of hair on my couch. Much appreciated Balinese!
I know what you’re thinking. How can this super thick coated kitty all puffy and pretty not give me allergies? Well that’s why they are one of the most popular cats! These cats are known to produce lower levels of the protein that is commonly found in cat saliva and skin secretions, yummy!
Yes, as you can see these cats aren’t actually blue, they are grey. But if you’re lucky you’ll find one with blue eyes that go well with their bluey grey coats. These cats are very classy and elegant with very short and dense fur coats. Their hair produces less allergens and they are frequent groomers. Those two things combined will result in a reduction of allergen levels. And I was just teasing about the blue eyes, green eyes are just as beautiful!
Skinny looking, but limber! Their fur is very unique because it’s actually very curly! They shed far less than other breeds and hardly produce any allergens because of it. Another reason to love curly hair. *bats eyelashes at you.
The Dexon Rex breeds are very similar to a Cornish Rex and Devon Rex cats have short, curly coats as well that shed very little. They have cute little legs as well, just saying.
They may appear naked but there’s still some hair there. The Sphynx cat has very fine, short fur that produces way less allergens. The trade off is you’ll need to bathe them more often to remove the oils from their skin. If you can get past the lack of visible fur, these are a great option if you are allergic. If you can’t get past the lack of fur, perhaps you can ask a cat that entered the furball challenge to donate a jacket?
These sleek cats have short coats that shed less than all the longer-haired breeds so you won’t find ever much hair floating around your carpets and the air. Also, that's probably a good thing because they can hear a sneeze a mile away. Because they have big ears. Obviously.
These are quite rare but their semi-long fur coats are beautiful! They also don’t produce as many allergens as other cats. They are an offshoot of the Balinese breed, out-crossed to Siamese, Colorpoint Shorthair, and Balinese cats. Too much info, but you get the idea, they are made to be hypoallergenic!
I don’t care what people say but Bengals should officially be called a hypoallergenic cat. People with cat allergies swear by these, we think it’s mainly due to them having pelt-like coats and the fact that they are very low shedding. They still require a daily brushing but definitely worth exploring! And wow, their coats are amazing aren't they? I'd love to get me a bailey brush on one of those....*rubs hands together.
These cats are adorable. They are known for having thick curly coats. I love them. I was stunned to find out that they aren't commonly known, about as stunned as that one up there getting her picture taken. :)
It’s worth mentioning that no matter what cat you have you can still have them produce less allergens. Let’s just say for example that your partner is allergic to cats and he’s almost ready to give you an ultimatum. Instead of getting rid of him (your partner, that is), you can grab a bailey brush and take part in some regular grooming, cleaning, vacuuming. Those things will go a long way in reducing allergic reactions.
Oh yah! And change the litter box right away and you might find you can have the best of both words, a cat and a partner that’s allergic! Otherwise, there's nothing wrong with having just a cat!
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