The main allergen that causes problems for sensitive people is the protein Fel d 1: it is found in the fur, saliva, urine and skin of cats.
No matter how much someone loves and wants a cat, it often happens that his body simply cannot deal with the allergens that these animals create. It is known that among dogs there are hypoallergenic breeds and they are an excellent choice for people who suffer from allergies. Based on that, we would easily conclude that this is also the case with cats. Is that right?
Are there such cats and what breeds do they belong to so that future owners can make a choice and safely enjoy their irresistible beauty?
What is a cat allergy?
You must have read or heard that cat fur is the main cause of allergies, which is not entirely true.
Research has shown that the main allergen produced by cats is actually the protein Fel d 1 found in their fur, saliva, urine and skin.
In addition, the sex of the cat and the length of its hair have nothing to do with the amount of protein produced.
Are there hypoallergenic cats?
There are no cats that do not produce even the slightest dose of the above allergen, but there are breeds that spread smaller "doses" of the allergen: they have proven to be a great choice for allergic owners.
Cat breeds recommended for allergic owners
1. The Russian Blue cat deserves the first place on this list precisely because, according to many experts, but not yet officially, it is the breed that produces the least amount of Fel d1 protein, which makes it suitable for people with more severe allergies.
2. The Sphynx logically belongs to the "hypoallergenic" cats, because it has no fur, so accordingly it has no shedding hair that would cause an allergy.
3. The Siberian cat, despite the three-layered, long and shaggy fur that covers its entire body, is very pleasing to people allergic to cats.
4. The Oriental Shorthair cat has a short coat that rarely sheds and is easy to maintain.
5. The Siamese cat is a very active, playful and intelligent cat with an amazing appearance, whose coat contains a small amount of the controversial allergic protein Fel d 1.
6. The Bengal cat is very playful and lively, has short, extremely soft fur and is not prone to licking too often, so it spreads fewer allergens around the house.
