Did you know that cat hair isn’t the cause of allergic reactions? Most people are actually allergic to the saliva cats produce and allergens created in sebaceous skin glands—both are transferred to a cat’s hair during grooming. So, when a cat sheds his or her fur around your home, the allergens spread too.
It’s both. There’s a common belief that some breeds of cats—especially hairless breeds—are hypoallergenic. People might believe because hairless cats don’t have hair, they don’t cause allergy problems. But this is not the case.
Hypoallergenic technically means ‘less allergenic’, not allergy-free. There are no truly allergen-free cats. There are, however, a few breeds of cats that some believe to be hypoallergenic cats—meaning they could be less allergenic.
By choosing hypoallergenic cats, you will likely breathe easier and have less risk of sneezing and watery eyes, yet enjoy the pleasures of pet ownership. In order to avoid or lower allergic reactions to cats, your cat should be groomed regularly. It’s also a good idea to vacuum your home often, wash her toys once a week, and consider installing an air filter.
Popular cat breeds that are believed to be the most hypoallergenic cat breeds include the Balinese-Javanese, Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Siberian, and Sphynx. Whether the cat has short hair, or long hair, see what breed may make a good companion with our breed selector tool. Whatever cat you decide to add to your family, he or she deserves the best. Discover which cat food meets their nutritional needs.