Cats for the allergic

[hollycomputer]

We've been considering getting a cat to try and help with a vermin problem in the garden, but DH is allergic to cats. He's not opposed to getting one, but just doesn't want to have to take antihistamines all the time which is fair enough.

The other problem is that we are at work from 7am to 7pm every day and there's nowhere to put a cat flap so it would need to be outside most of the time and it wouldn't be allowed upstairs. If we got one we'd go to an animal rescue place and get a kitten rather than a grown cat. We'd obviously look after it and it would be a pet. Ideally, he'd prefer a dog but given how much we are out I don't think it's fair on a dog.

I suppose my questions are a) are we being unrealistic/unfair in considering a cat given the circumstances and b) are there any breeds which are less aggravating to people who are allergic?

Apologies if this seems stupid or obviously answered and please don't flame me for asking! I had cats as a teenager but the situation was different and I don't want to give a home to a rescue kitten only to find that it doesn't work out.

It's the cat dander that most people are allergic to (bits of cat spit shed with skin and hair) so if you can convince your cat to take baths that will help (!) So will hyperactive cleaning, a pet allergy spray and a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner. Male cats also tend to be more allergy-inducing than female cats.

But do be cautious - I used to be mildly allergic to cats, then worked with them (animal sanctuary) for a few years, now they give me asthma. Constant exposure to an allergen can make it worse.

Hmm. I remember trying to give my cat a bath after she rolled in something nasty. It didn't end well for either of us!

Thanks for the info though, whereisshe.

I have heard that Devon Rex & Cornish Rex cats are less likely to aggravate a cat allergy, however I have no other knowledge whatsoever of these breeds & also don't know if you'd find them in an average rescue.
There is a Devon Rex living nearby to me, it is very friendly and has a beautiful soft crimped coat, it does have a slight "ET the extraterrestrial" look to it which I think is lovely but my DH doesn't like it at all, he prefers bogstandard moggies!

So you want a hypo-allergenic kitten to live outside and kill your vermin even though you would prefer a dog?

I suppose you could re-home an adult feral, however that won't fit in with your criteria. Forcing one of the less hypo-allergenic breeds to live outside would be downright cruel, they have less hair so need to be warm. I have a Devon kitten, he would die of cold or get killed by foxes if I made him live out-doors! Kittens need to be indoors regardless of breed, anything else would be cruel.

What if your kept-outside-kitten turned out not to be a mouser?

Why don't you just give your local pest control people a call?

Don't get a kitten for this purpose it sounds like a less than ideal way of life for a new kitten. Your rescue centre is likely to have older cats who are more suited to this (perhaps semi feral who would happily live in an outbuilding so long as you also provide food water and healthcare.) Ask them for advice, or like rubbish said, call pest control instead.

Kittens need a lot of TLC and it doesn't sound like your home will provide that.

The difficulty is not all cats are natural born killers. To achieve a good hunter you would need to find a good working line and these are likely to be moggies.
Plus often really good hunters are often cats who require a lot of human attention as they kill for fun/ to make you happy. The best hunter I have ever had requires to lie on you the moment your bottom hits the chair. So not great if you are allergic.

Are you sure there's no way of putting a cat flap in? It's amazing where they can go. If the cat can't get in and out please don't get one.

I agree that in your circumstances I wouldn't get a cat unless you can fit a cat flap. Cat flaps can be fitted in double glazed doors/patio doors, in windows and in walls so I think you could do it if you really wanted to.

Also I've never understood why people care about rats/mice in the garden. It's a garden. That's where they live - how does it affect you? It doesn't mean they're going to start coming into the house.