Hypo-Allergenic Cats - really better for cat allergy sufferers?

[12InchPianist]

I was wondering if anyone allergic to cats can share their experiences of living with Hypo-Allergenic Cats?

DH and I have been looking into the possibility of getting a Siberian cat, as apparently they produce less Fel D 1 than other cats and therefore are less likely to cause allergic reactions as a result.

My husband is mildly allergic to cats (after spending hours with them he experiences sneezing, itchy eyes etc.). He has noticed that his symptoms are worse with some cats than others - he barely reacted with my brother's half-Burmese cat when we were cat-sitting.

We've decided to get DH tested for the Fel D 1 allergy, to see if selecting a hypo-allergenic cat would be a possibility for us. We also plan to do home visitations to the breeder's houses to see how he fares.

So any other fellow allergy survivors out there who are comfortably living with hypo-allergenic/Siberian cats?

Any advice?

Bump?

I'm sure people are probably fed up of me posting this, but my DH is massively allergic, I've never seen anyone have such a reaction. However, my Savannahs don't affect him at all. They have a very different kind of fur and don't seem to moult very much. May be worth a try?

Interesting! I hadn't seen Savannah cats on any of the hypo-allergenic cat lists - such a beautiful cat breed!

It is their dander (skin), not their fur, that causes allergies. There are no breeds of cat proven to prevent this. Any breeders claiming their cats are "hypoallergenic" are literally just trying to sell you a cat.

Your best bet is to hoover the house and soft furnishings every day, wash the cats' bedding regularly, groom them outside, and stop them from sleeping on any beds used by your husband. Wiping a damp cloth over the cat after grooming may also help.

This link has a section on allergies:
www.catchat.org/index.php/rehome-pet-cat

I have years of experience working with cat charities and rescues. One of the main reasons why people rehome their cats is because they or a family member are allergic to them.

It depends what exactly you're allergic to. I'm allergic to cat and dog saliva. So I'm only affected by cats if they lick me, which isn't often so I can live ok with non-licky cats. Dogs on the other hand, pant which affects my asthma. So it makes no difference how hypoallergenic a dog is, I will react to it. I tried to explain to a friend once and her response was "but it's hypoallergenic, you can't have a reaction." it really does depend on the specific allergy.

My cat is a Devon Rex and my ex who is allergic, didn’t react to him. He may also have been a hypochondriac though 🙈

Friends who have been allergic also don’t seem to react.

However I think the main difference is he just doesn’t drop hair. It’s the dander most people are allergic to.

He is a live wire, love him