by Jamie Rider

Created on: February 08, 2009   Last Updated: April 23, 2009

Maybe you love cats but your spouse or child is allergic. Perhaps you yourself love animals but over the years have developed an intolerance for cats. Sufferers know the cat allergy symptoms: itchy eyes, rash, runny nose, in some extreme instances asthma symptoms. This can be heartbreaking for animal lovers, but hypoallergenic cats can offer the solution for a family where the focus must be on the hypoallergenic nature of a particular cat.

The first step is to research some of the most common breeds that are considered hypoallergenic, and find a reputable breeder or a private owner that will allow you to either borrow or spend time in a house with the type of cat that you think might work. Hypoallergenic means less allergenic, not non-allergenic. All cats has the proteins that trigger allergies, but some of the cats below: Russian Blue, Siberian, and Rex cats all have lower levels of the allergen Fel d 1.

Traits of Hypoallergenic Cats

Cat allergies are a reaction to cat glycoprotein, a substance largely concentrated in a cat's saliva and skin. The cat glycoprotein causes a histamine reaction, where the person's immune system reacts to a foreign protein in the same manner it would an invading pathogen. The specific allergen, Fel d 1, clings to the hairs of a cat when they self-groom using saliva and from the skin in the form of dander. Females tend to have less Fel d 1, so it is highly recommended that people with significant allergies pick female hypoallergenic cats.

Hypoallergenic cats such as the Russian Blue cats, Siberian cats, Devon Rex cats and Cornish Rex cats all have proven to be less likely to produce an allergic reaction in humans. Each has different traits that qualify them as hypoallergenic cats.

Russian Blue Cats

Short haired and with a somewhat oily coat, Russian Blue Cats are one of the short-haired hypoallergenic cat varieties. Due to the shorter hair and oily skin, many allergy suffers find that Russian Blues harbor less of the Fel d 1 in a "transmittable" form, hence they are able to tolerate the hypoallergenic cats with no or minimal allergy symptoms.

Siberian Cats

Siberian Cats are a medium-coated breed of hypoallergenic cats that has a thick, tight undercoat and an oily outer coat. There are two separate theories yet to be tested: that the Siberian Cats have lower concentrations of Fel d 1 in skin and saliva, or their particular coat type keeps their skin dander-free. Reduced excretion of Fel d 1, whether metabolic or mechanical in nature, makes the Siberian Cats hypoallergenic cats. Male Siberian Cats have been clinically tested at less than 3% the Fel d 1 of an average domestic shorthair cat, and female Siberian Cats at 0.3% of the Fel d 1 of an average domestic shorthair cat.

Devon Rex Cats and Cornish Rex Cats

Devon Rex cats and Cornish Rex cats are two closely related hypoallergenic cats. Both the Devon Rex Cats and Cornish Rex Cats have short, wavy coats and shed either in lower volume or less frequently than other breeds. While the cat hair itself does not cause allergies, because it can carry dander and saliva less shedding makes for more hypoallergenic cats.

Remember: hypoallergenic cats are not necessarily 100% non-allergic. Visit with one hypoallergenic cat in a controlled environment to determine if that is the right hypoallergenic cat for you. Whether you pick a Russian Blue cat, a Siberian cat, a Devon Rex cat or a Cornish Rex cat, they can be a wonderful feline companion. These are cats that due to their special coats and breeding are hypoallergenic cats, meaning "low allergy". The hypoallergenic cats are ones that make it possible for the cat lover with allergies to enjoy the company of their cat.

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