Suitable cat for mild asthmatic?

[Corriewatcher]

We sadly lost our lovely (very fluffy) cat to cancer last month, and there's a big hole in our family and house. We'd desperately like to get a kitten (or even 2). However, DS (aged 8) has developed mild asthma in recent months. I've heard that both Siberian cats and Norwegian Forest cats are meant to be hypo-allergenic, and wondered if anyone had any experience/advice.

To give a bit more background, DS's asthma is very mild or I wouldn't even be considering a cat. The doctor has said there's no danger of an asthma attack, and he doesn't need an inhaler at school etc. DS has lived all his life with our long-haired cat, and there doesn't seem to have been any reaction from contact with the cat. When he was younger, he was tested for allergies, and it came out negative for cat dander. I'm just trying to err on the side of caution.

Our previous cats were just moggies for the cat rescue centre, so I have no experience of these new breeds. Grateful for any experiences.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Cat dander is not the most common trigger, cat saliva is. Because of this no cats are truly hypoallergenic. Certain cats with certain saliva are less allergenic to some people than others. Cat allergies are one that can escalate and what is a mild allergy initially becomes a much more serious one.
Was he allergy tested for another immune condition as the asthma has only just developed as the triggers maybe different.
I adore my cats, but having had a friend from vet school develop such a severe escalating cat allergy that he had to stop being a practicing vet I feel it is really important that you know what can happen.

[Corriewatcher]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't know that about the saliva.

[3mum]

You might want to look at a Devon Rex (very different from the Siberian's). We got one because my youngest is allergic to cats and Rex's have very short hair. I wipe ours over with either a damp cloth or an anti allergy wipe every morning to remove the saliva and dander and that seems to do the trick. He also doesn't seem to moult.

They are a weird looking breed, you either love them or hate them, but he is very bright and full of character in quite a Siamese type way and very interactive.

[crazydrunkevilhamster]

My Ds is severely Asthmatic & I have 2 long haired & 1 short , he has never had any problems because of them

[kingbeat23]

Burmese cats. A bit like dogs, can retrieve! Love people, great with kids. Talk alot though!

[StuntNun]

My DH and I are both allergic to cats but have a Siberian Forest Cat that we have no reaction to at all, we can even let her sleep on the bed! When we got her as a kitten I would have had a mild reaction to her but as time went on it lessened to the point where I can now rub my face in her fur with no reaction. I have also found my allergy to other cats has lessened a bit. I think it is a combination of the Sib being less allergenic than other cats plus an acclimatisation due to the cat antigens in my environment. I'm delighted as we were prepared to have to keep her out of the bedroom and wipe her down with anti-allergy wipes but this hasn't been necessary.

[wintertimeisfun]

i have asthma and have always been really allergic to cats but i rescued one nearly 1 1/2 years ago and am really good with her. if i touch her and then my eyes my eyes will itch a bit until i wash them out with optrex. i did some homework after getting her re allergies and cats and it said (on more than one site) that a really good cat for allergic people is a long haired female and by complete chance that cat i rescued was along haired female :) although this obviously wouldn't be a set rule across for the board, just passing on what happened to me. it has worked out brilliantly. i had always always wanted a cat but thought i was too allergic to ever have one. it was meant to be !!