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Hypoallergenic cats? There are different breeds of cats, and believe it or not, some can generate more allergies than others.

By Abu SalehPublished 2 years ago 7 min read
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hypoallergenic cat breeds
Photo by Mikhail Vasilyev on Unsplash

Hypoallergenic cats? There are different breeds of cats, and believe it or not, some can generate more allergies than others. Are you one of those people who gets their eyes itchy and sneezes like there's no tomorrow after being around a kitten? It is very annoying and can be especially sad if you are a cat lover and must watch them from afar.

Cat allergies are very common. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America , 3 out of 10 people in the United States suffer from pet allergies. Most of these allergies arise due to cats.

So what can a feline lover do? Deciding on a dog instead? Living in a giant bubble? There is a solution that seems to be increasingly debated: hypoallergenic cats.

How do cats cause allergies?

Some people think that cats can cause allergies because of their fur. This is not entirely true. Actually, it is not the fur that causes the reaction. The allergens actually come from the cat's dead skin dander. They can also come from your salivary glands or urine.

Dander is made up of tiny microscopic specks of skin shed by cats, dogs, rodents, birds, and other furry and feathered animals.

In cats, the main cause of allergies is a glycoprotein known as Fel D1. It is delivered by the sebaceous organs under the skin. To a lesser extent, it is also present in the cat's saliva.

A cat constantly sheds tiny particles of dander into the environment and, when groomed, transfers saliva onto the fur, which is then shed throughout the house, causing allergies in susceptible people.

Allergy sufferers have an overly sensitive immune system. Innocuous things like feline dander, for risky trespassers, assault them like microbes or infections. Allergy symptoms are the side effects of your body's attack on the allergen or trigger.

Cat allergy symptoms can develop within minutes or take hours to appear. They may include:

• Coughing and wheezing

• Hives or rash on the chest and face.

• Red and itchy eyes

• Redness of the skin where the cat has scratched, bitten, or licked

• Runny, itchy, and stuffy nose

• Sneezing

If you are not sure if you have a cat allergy, you can request a test. This is a skin patch test or a blood test.

Tips to avoid cat allergies

Allergies to pets are more common than we can think, in fact, between 15 and 30 percent of people who have other allergies also suffer from allergic reactions to cats and dogs and specifically allergies to cats are twice as common as dog allergies.

Although many believe that cat hair is the number one cause of allergies, in reality the main cause is the presence of the protein FelD1, which is found in urine, saliva, feces and in the sebaceous glands of felines. This protein or allergen is presented in the cat's hair in two ways: one through the fat that the skin secretes and two through the cat's saliva. As we know, the cat loves to groom itself at all times, he himself is spreading this protein throughout his hair.

Causes

An allergy to cats causes sneezing, itching and nasal congestion. In general, all allergies have a similar origin: the immune system of people responds to foreign substances in order to protect us. People with allergies to pets have a more sensitive immune system that reacts to harmless proteins in animal saliva, urine and dander, breaking the myth that the allergy is caused by cat hair . Dead skin or dandruff. It is one of the main causes of allergies and is five times smaller than dust so it floats in the air for a long time and is easier to inhale.

symptoms and remedies

Those allergic to cats suffer from very diverse symptoms, some less severe and others more.

The most common are:

• swelling • redness • itching • watery eyes • nasal congestion • itchy nose • sneezing • sore throat • cough

Other symptoms that also occur are asthma and wheezing: The typical whistle of bad breath and hives: rashes on the face or chest, itchy skin and so on. If you have any or more of these symptoms when you are with a cat, the ideal thing is that you go to the allergist to have the corresponding tests done.

Allergens accumulate on carpets, upholstery and clothing that they walk on, allergens from animals can be found several months even 12 months after they have left the home.

Once you are diagnosed with an allergy to data, surely the first recommendation you will receive will be to get rid of it, however there are those who could not accept the idea of having to separate from their feline so if you are allergic to cats and your reactions are not a threat to you,

Pay attention to the next l is tips that can help you lessen the severity of symptoms or minimize them :

1. A thorough cleaning at home and daily cat grooming can make a difference

2. Keep surfaces and floors free of cat hair as much as possible number

3. Avoid having upholstery furniture and carpets as allergens accumulate easily in these

4. Vacuum daily and use a vacuum that is equipped with a high-efficiency filter such as a hepa filter. This filter is of a finer quality and can pick up allergens and help prevent cat allergies number 4 have someone who does not suffer from allergy brush alfeline to remove as much hair as possible

5. Place an independent air purifier with a hepa filter or with an electrostatic filter as they can help eliminate up to 90% of the allergens in the air of the room where they are placed

6. Do not allow your cat to enter your room . The room of the affected person is the area that requires the most care and it is recommended to avoid using rugs and putting an air purifier in addition to keeping the door closed and cleaning the location carefully

7. Clean the litter box remember that allergens are also found in faeces and urine also use a clumping sand of the type that does not cause a lot of dust when cleaning

8. Every time the affected person touches or caresses the cat, they should not touch their face, eyes or nose and should wash their hands as soon as possible with soap and water

9. A diet rich in omega 3 and omega 6 for the cat this helps The cat has the danger attached and prevents the dispersion of the allergen through the coat thus reducing the likelihood of allergies

10. Bathe the cat every four to six weeks using a special shampoo for cats. This will help to eliminate the accumulation of dandruff, excess hair and saliva number

11. It sterilizes the cat this can help reduce the production of the allergen, especially in males

12. Consult your doctor to see if there is any treatment against allergies that can help you

What is a hypoallergenic cat?

Some feline breeds are considered hypoallergenic, which means that they produce fewer allergens than other breeds. Cats normally produce pet dander, a typical allergen. However, for people allergic to cats, the culprit may be the Fel d1 protein, present in cat saliva.

What cats are hypoallergenic?

The Balinese is one of the few breeds that produce less Fel d1 protein than other cats, which causes fewer allergic reactions in allergy sufferers. Other breeds with the same qualities are the Oriental Shorthair, the Javanese, the Devon Rex, the Japanese, the Cornish Rex, the Sphynx / Siberian Hairless Cat.

Is there a breed of cat that does not shed?

Cats that do not shed are hairless or have a short coat. Some of the most popular hairless cat breeds are the Peterbald and the Sphynx. The Bambino and Levkoy also have no hair and are good examples of hypoallergenic cat breeds.

Due to their thick, shaggy fur, people with cat allergies think twice about having Maine Coon cats. In spite of the fact that they can cause related sensitivities, there are ways of forestalling them. As with other types of animals, proper knowledge and care are the key to fighting allergies in Maine coons. They may not be hypoallergenic, but their natural charm makes them well worth keeping as a house cat.

Where can you buy hypoallergenic cats?

For both breeds (especially the Siberian) there are breeds in Spain specialized in the selection of hypoallergenic puppies: these are put in contact with the buyer who has an allergy and once insensitivity to the cat has been established, they can be bought.

In order to have hypoallergenic cats, it is important to buy pedigree cats : the mere crossing with other breeds in the pedigree can lead to the production of Fel D1 and therefore a resulting sensitivity in allergy sufferers.

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About the Creator

Abu Saleh

Content writer & Affiliate marketer. https://bestpetslover.com

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