Help! Advice, please, on cat breed suitable for high rise apartment with 'allergic' DH...

[BritabroadinAsia]

We are looking to get two kittens or cats, (ideally from cat rescue) who will thrive as indoor cats in an urban high rise apartment alongside 2 upper primary school-age DCs and DH who claims to be allergic... though in UK we had an (outdoor) long-haired puss for years who didn't seem to present too many problems!

Any advice, please? Are we crazy to even think of going down this route? DD1 v much misses our re-homed cat, and would love to have a pet here, and I miss having an animal at home. We do have a small furry nocturnal pet, but it isn't quite the same...

So, any particular breed we should look out for? Ideally, cats who will enjoy living indoors and be reasonably affectionate/playful, although I suspect that hypoallergenic (if that is even possible) is a step too far? I have heard that you can buy some kind of spray/wash from the vet to reduce the dander shed from cats' skin - does this sound right?

Hoping for some words of wisdom!

Are you sure DH wants cats too?

My DH says he is allergic to them, but the truth is he doesn't like them.

I'd get an adult cat who likes being indoors, if you get two kittens who want to go out and are miserable being in you will feel very guilty plus cats are quite capable of inappropriate toilet habits if they aren't happy.

It's never fun cleaning wee up or poos.

You can get petal cleanse wipes to reduce allergens but it depends how bad his allergy is.

Good point, Fiscal. I think DH has a few mild sneeze-type reactions, but given that we were cat owners for 9 years previously, it's not going to kill him IMO... We have talked and talked about having a cat or dog for months, and he actually loves animals but I think he doesn't consider it right to keep a cat exclusively indoors.

Fluffy, would you just get 1 cat? I was thinking 2 as they would play together - do you think that kittens who don't know differently would actually be miserable only being indoors? I know a few cat owners in our block who have indoor cats (from kittens) who all seem to be happy (owners and cats!).

I'm having a bit of a wobble as having owned cats for quite a bit of my life, I haven't ever kept them in. I understand some breeds are better suited to life indoors, but am canvassing views.... Good to know about the wipes - thanks!

You can't tell how they will be as adults, our cat wasn't interested in outdoors until he was 5 months, then he was desperate to go out. I've watched bengals on youtube making the same "I'm miserable and I want to go out" sound ours made pre-neutering and the owners in the background saying "people think you're sad but you always make that sound don't you?" And I think poor things frustrated that's why he's doing that call.

He protest wees looking you in the eye as he does it.

A miserable cat will make you feel very guilty.

I've also owned a cat who never went out, didn't like spiders and ran away from mice. Totally different personality who just had no interest in going out.

DH & my dad are quite allergic - but both are fine with orientals & siamese

They have a different sort of fur/hair & we have had an indoor version of this (often breeders ask you to keep them inside) but they are loud and attention seeking

I found siamese cats set off my allergy the worst! we always had them growing up and my Dad still has one now, 10 mins of sitting with her on my lap and my eyes are itching and streaming and blocked nose [lovely as she is]. I found that seal points were worse though, the blue point we had was fluffier and wasn't so bad. The seals fur was shorter and had a sort of grainy texture which does not agree with me.

They are very vocal and attention seeking, they are very doglike IMO.

It's impossible to tell what sort of temperement [sp] a cat will have until you have one though, rescue is a good idea though as they would have a better idea on that front with an adult cat/cats.

We've had cats that would run if the doorbell rang and had no interest in the world outside, but others who just needed to go outside.

Do you have space and the will to deal with litter trays? or to be prepared for 'dirty protests' from a cat unhappy/stressed with indoor life?

I also think your husband needs to be on side.

I'm sorry your DD is missing your old cat :(

If your DH doesn't want a cat - then really, getting a 'house' cat is going to be a nightmare.

• No matter what litter you use or what anyone says, litter trays smell. It's barely tolerable when you have a house you can air properly and everyone is on board.

• He will have to be equally responsible for making sure the cat doesn't 'escape' when the door is opened.

• The cat will be permanently underfoot - never outside playing/exploring/lying in the sun.

Also - how long do you plan on living there? Will this be another cat you have to rehome and the kids have to say good-bye to?

If you still go ahead with it, I would only consider rehoming an adult cat who doesn't like going outside, I would never condemn a kitten to being a house cat - I just don't think it's fair. Yes, it might be all a kitten 'knows' but that doesn't mean it would be happy.

I actually think that it would be 'less cruel' to get a dog who could be taken out for lots of walks (depending on if you work or not).

Devon Rex ! I have 2 currently sitting in my knee . They are less allergenic then moggies as they don't have tbe undercoat in the fur, also they need to be indoor cats as frankly they have no common sense or would be likely to be stolen due to looking like strange aliens . Personality wise they are like dogs , mine play fetch and wag tails when I come home . They live with a toddler and are spectacularly unphased by him and are a pair of cuddle monsters .

Get ragdolls, they're supposed to be the happiest indoor cats

Cornish or Devon Rex and contact the breed societies to see if they have any in need of rehoming.

They are gorgeous and quite naughty

I would not have a cat and keep it permanently inside and, disagree with friends who do. However, if you are determined... There are no guarantees that any cat is completely allergen-free but Balinese, Oriental Shorthair, Devon or Cornish Rex, Sphinx (hairless) or Siberian may be less problematic.

Sphinx have to stay inside really and have heated beds because they do feel the cold...

everyone thinks its the fur or dander that people are allergic too what you are allergic to is an enzyme in some cats saliva because they lick themselves clean and you then stroke the cat and put your hands near your eyes etc thats why you react,

so cat fur coat type isnt going to make much difference, i have a brother and sister who i have had for seven years i dont react to the boy cat at all or the other cats, one half siamese one long haired, but the sister who is short haired moggie my eyes itch if she sits on my lap for too long nothing major in the scheme of things but mildly annoying

The thing about the less/no fur is that it isn't contaminating your house with their saliva.

I'm allergic to cats and have 2 semi longhairs. First 3 weeks I thought they were going to have to go, I could breathe properly the constant drip of mucos down the back of my throat and wheezing etc. Fine now as long as I don't let them nuzzle me and I don't stroke them then touch my face.

Their fur all over my bed is an issue at times though - I keep well away from their fur covered blankets!

Tonkinese, a mix between Burmese and Siamese are non allergy as they have silky fur, no underfur and are usually sold on the basis that they are house cats.

Also, they're beautiful, playful, affectionate, reasonably vocal, and they are bright. They can be trained to walk on a lead, and fetch a ball. They're very like dogs, but are very much cats!

If you're home all day working from home for eg, you could get by with one, but if you're out a lot I would recommend getting two.

You'd have to give them the rabies jab, and then they could travel with you as they'd have a pet passport.
They live for about 20 years, so they're not just for Christmas, iykwim.