TO wonder if you really can and get hypoallergenic/ low allergy cats?

[Cloud9Until6am]

Or is it just a con? I want a pet around the house. DH doesn't want a dog and I'm allergic to cats (itchy eyes, sneezing, skin reaction etc).

If we got a 'non allergenic' cat breed (I.e. Bengal) would I really Not be allergic???

I asked about this on here recently and was advised to look into getting a longer haired cat. DH has been allergic to all the short haired cats he’s met, but we’ve now had our rescue, medium haired moggy for a few months and they get on like a house on fire!

I think it is really hit and miss. I was moderately allergic to our cat - sneezing and one two asthma attacks. After she died I had a pair of rescue Devon Rex cats, hoping it would help with allergies. I was horribly allergic to them and had to drive to the GP where I was give Salbutemol by nebuliser I was wheezing so much. I had to return the cats to the shelter which I felt really bad about. I’ve not had a cat since. I do cat sit for my friend and I’m fine with her cat but my other friend has a tabby and if I so much as stroke him I come out in big itchy hives. The only patter I can see is that my first cat was black, my friends who I cat sits is also black and the cat across the road is black and I’m fine with her too. It’s just weird because I’d assumed that a cat allergy would mean to all cats, but it doesn’t seem to always be the case,

Both DH and I allergic to cats but had no problems at all with our Siberian and had many allergic visitors who were also fine with her. She also seems to have ‘cured’ us of our allergy as we don’t have issues with any cats now.

I heard that the lighter and longer the hair the better. We got two rag dolls and nobody who has visited or who lives here has reacted

Actually my cousin had two short haired cats - really soft and silky - and they nearly did for me! Within a couple of hours my eyes had swelled and my neck was on fire ... so maybe there is something to the short hair being worse than long hair theory. Our current stray is clearly a bog standard moggy, although when I took him to the vet for the once over she reckond he had Bengal in him. My allergy is still apparent with him, but I can handle it. If it gets too bad I take an antihistamine.

No such thing as a non allergenic cat. You may be more or less allergic to certain breeds. As a PP said it isn't just about fur but about saliva too.

My son has always been really allergic to cats. But his girlfriend has a devon rex. He’s not allergic at all to it. They have all three been living in the same bedroom! I am truely amazed.

I don't think there's a guarantee. You would need to try out the cat for a few hours at breeder or rescue and see what happens.
My very cat allergic friend doesn't react to current cat ( black, long haired moggie, looks like a Siberian, double coated) but previous cat ( long haired, black and white moggie) had him wheezing with puffy eyes in minutes, as do another friend's Siamese cats.
I haven't tested current boy in other allergy sufferers, so only a sample of one. Don't know if he's genuinely hypoallergenic, or it's just this particular person.

The other problem is the different lengths of time it can take for reactions to show themselves. This can range from instantly to 6 weeks or whatever. Visits to breeders or time spent with others' cats can't really take account of this. It's very difficult to have to give a cat or kitten back after a few weeks when the mutual bonding process is well underway - for the cat or kitten, for you, and especially for any DCs.

The only idea I had was for the OP to offer to be a foster home for the specialist breed rescue organisations, (of the breeds you are interested in), as a trial run. It may be that you can end up keeping one that suits you.