Best Hypoallergenic Cats for People with Allergies

Several Factors Affect Cats’ Allergen Production:

What factors play into how hypoallergenic a cat is? Photography by Tiplyashina Evgeniya / Shutterstock.

• Males produce more allergenic secretions than females
• Intact males produce more than neutered males
• Dark cats tend to produce more than light-colored ones (no one knows why)
• Kittens produce fewer allergens than adults

Hypoallergenic Cats Perfect for Allergy Sufferers

List of 7 Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds

Siberian cats might not look like hypoallergenic cats, but they actually are! Photography by uzhursky / Shutterstock.

• Balinese: Often referred to as the “long-haired Siamese,” the Balinese looks like an unlikely candidate for a hypoallergenic cat. But it is one of the few breeds that produces less of the Fel D1 protein than other cats, thus causing fewer allergic reactions in allergy sufferers.
• Oriental Shorthair: They’re hypoallergenic cats, but it’s still a good practice to groom your cats frequently(brushing as well as wiping her down) to keep dander to a minimum.
• Javanese: Like the Balinese, the Javanese sports a medium-long single coat that doesn’t mat. Because of the lack of undercoat, they have less fur which translates into fewer allergens.

• Devon Rex: Of the two, the Devon has both shorter fur and less fur. Your Devon Rex will need to have her paw pads and ears cleaned of oil build-up frequently, but doesn’t need frequent full baths like the Sphynx or Cornish Rex.
• Cornish Rex: The Cornish Rex requires more upkeep than the Devon because they require frequent baths to mitigate the oil buildup on their skin.

• Sphynx: The hairless Sphynx is the cat most often associated with being hypoallergenic. Being hairless does not mean they’re maintenance-free, however. Your Sphynx will need frequent baths to remove the gummy buildup of oils on her skin, and her large ears will also require frequent cleanings.
• Siberian: Like the Balinese, the Siberian sports a moderately long coat, but still is hypoallergenic due to the lower-than-average enzyme levels in their saliva. Some claim that 75 percent of cat allergy sufferers have no reaction to the Siberian.

What to Know After You’ve Brought Your Hypoallergenic Cat Home

1. Reduce Allergens By Giving Your Cat Frequent Baths and Brushing. If you’re allergic, the process is best left to a groomer or family member. Research has proven that washing your cat 2 -3 times a week can remove up to 84 percent of existing allergens and reduce the future production of allergens. Some claim that using cool, distilled water in the bath may also reduce allergen levels. Frequent brushing will reduce the amount of hair and dander loose in your home.
2. Wash Toys and Cat Bedding. Washing cat toys and bedding also reduces the number of allergens floating around your home. Do so at least once a week.
3. Be Careful When Touching Your Cat. After touching your cat, wash your face and hands. Never touch your eyes or face before you’ve done so.

This Cat Guided A Lost Man Down A Mountain In Switzerland

The only trail to his hostel was closed for off season.

But a cat showed up to lead him – “she started guiding me along some path.”

Leaving for the Holidays? Tips on Holidays and Cat Care

Holidays and cat care: Have a cat sitter come to your home

1. When possible, arrange for your cats to be cared for at home. The perfect solution is enlisting a cat sitter or a friend who loves your cats to stay in your home while you travel. Because that is not always feasible, schedule the trusted someone to visit the cats twice a day at the same times every day. Twice a day is much better than once a day. The sitter can feed and interact with them and observe changes in habits that might indicate there is a medical problem. In addition to feeding and maintaining the litter box, the sitter should spend quality time with the cats — engaging them in activities they enjoy.
2. Be prepared! Before leaving on your trip, write out detailed instructions for the cat sitter. In addition to feeding and litter-box maintenance details, include each cat’s treat and toy preferences. List their favorite activities along with any specific behavior concerns. Note how your sitter can contact you and your veterinarian while you are traveling. Just in case something unforeseen happens, hide an extra key outside your home or give one to a trusted neighbor.

1. Leave a small part of you with the cats. Before leaving on your trip, place small towels and other articles of clothing that have your scent on them in sealable plastic bags. If you are traveling for three days, place three scented items in three bags and tightly seal them. Ask the cat sitter to place one scented item every day on the cat’s favorite hangout place. Your smell will help your kitty feel she is not abandoned.
2. Phone your cats. Cats know their favorite people’s voices. If you have an old-fashioned landline phone with a recorder, call the kitties and talk to them. Recordings of your voice will also work.
3. Make it fun. Provide your cats plenty of fun things to do in your absence. Tall cat trees placed next to secured windows provide hours of entertainment. Toys such as ball and tract toys and puzzle boxes double as hiding places for cat treats. Ping pong balls and soft toys are also a must. Make sure that the toys you leave your cats are safe — there are no pieces to dismember or ingest, and none that might accidentally wrap around them. Some inspired cats enjoy watching television and videos. There are commercially available videos created exclusively for felines. They feature birds, rodents, fish, and other critters. Do not leave the television tuned to stations that specialize in programs about animals. Often they show animals who are hurt and in distress. Their cries can cause little cat viewers to become stressed and anxious.
4. Ease your mind with daily reports. Brief texts or phone calls with the cat sitter will help assure you that your little ones are adjusting well to your absence.

Holidays and cat care: Boarding

1. Choose the boarding facilities with care. Some are great — others, not so much. Use your eyes, ears and nose when checking out pet hotels. Good facilities are clean, smell fresh and are quiet. You should not hear loud noises and barking in the cat-boarding areas. Remember that cat senses are more sensitive than those of people. Loud noises and strong smells can stress them.
2. Your cats need spacious quarters. Condos should be large enough to include shelves the cats can climb up to, places to hide, and room for toys and a bed. The placement of the feeding stations is important — the condos need to be big enough so that they are not placed next to the litter boxes.
3. Check out the dog quarters. Good pet boarding facilities that also accommodate dogs house the dog guests in separate areas so that the barking does not stress the cats.
4. Meet the staff. There should be enough employees available that they interact with the individual feline guests a number of times during the day. Someone should also be on the premises at night to monitor the cats. Additionally, there should be a veterinarian on call, just in case there is an emergency.
5. Cat hotels can double as a home away from home. House bonded buddies together for company and security. Pack a suitcase for your cats, filling it with their favorite toys, beds, treats, and food. Do not forget the articles of clothing that have your smell on them. Staff members can place one scented article in the condo every day you are away.