Best cat if i have allergies ? Hypoallergenic

Many breeders simply state that some of their cats are less allergenic to promote their cat or breed... plain and simple. Its nonsense not proven by any scientific study.

Personally, while a big fan of cats, I do not recommend intentionally subjecting yourself to known allergens and permanently having to deal with the repercussions of short and long term side-effects of persistent allergen medication, especially since they may interact negatively with other medications you may need to take at some point in the future.

I'd personally still get a pet, but a different species like one of various dog breeds, a parakeet (some breeds are really smart), ferret (although they do have an odor), rabbit, etc. They need loving homes too, and is a healthier match.

If you have a tested allergy to Fel-d 1, then it doesn't matter what breed

Actually, subjecting yourself to known allergens (provided the reaction isn't life threatening) is the best way to build up immunity.

I'm allergic to pretty much anything with fur, but I can comfortable live with my pets because I've been exposed to them for so long.
I get around someone else's cat and I'll have a slightly worse reaction, but still tolerable.

True, but so is consuming small amounts of poisons or drinking dirty water or expired food, none of which is healthy, and I have never witnessed someone with a strong allergic reaction to anything actually get over it. So simply put, I love peanut butter and jelly sammiches, they are my favorite, but I'd recommend grilled cheese as a nice alternative to someone with a peanut allergy.

My fear is the spread of the rumor that some cats are less allergenic, as what I think ends up happening is the person either forms a bond at the compromise of their own health or the cat ends up getting dumped as the runny eyes, lung irritation, and pill popping side-effects becomes too much over time.

I'm allergic to cats. I live with 8 of them in an RV. Here's a recent thread where I posted what I (used to) do. (I've built up immunities too, so don't take all the precautions I used to anymore). Terrible Cat Allergy

I wish you the very best of luck! If you have little to no reaction that would be wonderful but don't beat yourself up if you can't handle being around them.
Remember if you're miserable and sickly around the cat, the cat won't be that happy either.

I am extremely allergic to cats and had considered getting a Siberian before and did a LOT of research. Not all Siberians are created equal and some come from lines that do not have a lower incidence of the fel-d1, like the Neva Masquerade Siberians. The tabbies have a lower level, females have a lower level than males. Before proceeding, please do your research on the breeders. Kittens have a lower level of fel-d1, so just spending time with the kittens is not an accurate gauge. You need to spend time with the parents as well. I did a "fur test". The breeder will send fur from the parents to you and you tuck it into your pillowcase. I was still allergic, but not as allergic as I am to my current cat. The bottom lien for me is that it wouldn't have been wise for me to add a bit more allergen to my house at this time. I don't think I would be able to handle my current cat, plus a Siberian. I may be able to handle two Siberians though. As long as I have my current cat, I will be a one cat household and she will be an only cat.

This article explains some different ways to deal with cat allergies.

http://www.thecatsite.com/Health/223...t-Allergy.html

Some lines of Siberian cats.

Correct for the most part. I believe the PURE tabby lines have the least amount of FelD1 protein. The reason for this is I am guessing is that the other colors that have been added to the breed caused some lines/colors to have more/normal amounts of FelD1 protein in there saliva.

What exactly do you mean by 'PURE tabby lines'? Lines without solid color cats? Specific pattern only, which one? Which colors would you rule out?
Siberian is a natural breed, nothing has been 'added' to them, they have developed on their own in the first place and even today they still take novices to the breed.

I can give an advice to the OP, if the breeder tries to sell their Siberians by claiming they are hypoallergenic, run to the opposite direction.

The way this was explained to me is the color point genes and other non-natural colors ( I need to find my notes about what that means) where crossed into the breed. As you pointed out it was a naturally occurring breed. From the veterinarians and breeders locally I spoke with said only brown and brown tabby where the "natural colors" hence I am assuming are the ones that lack some or all of the FeDL 1 protein.

If this is vastly incorect I am sorry but that is what I was told. Also to my understanding that made sense.

To the OP meeting the kitten you want sounds like a VERY wise idea. I had no idea silver had more FeDL 1 protein.

I have a mild cat allergy and it took a few weeks of living with my Annie before I became adjusted and now I have no issues whatsoever. I also visited the shelter that she was at frequently and would hold her and rub my hands on my face to see if there was a reaction (some cats would cause a reaction immediately and others less, Annie provided only an extremely mild reaction).

My mother owns two Siberians, and whenever I visit her my allergies go nuts, so I don't really buy into their being hypoallergenic. And despite what I've read about Siberians shedding less, her male sheds like crazy, year round, and I'm sure that doesn't help with any issues.

I'm mildly allergic to cats. My cats don't bother me too much as I am immune to them. I sleep with a humidifier on and always keep my bedding clean. They sleep with me, but it doesn't bother my sinuses.

Now I work at a shelter and I can't tolerate long-haired cats, I get super stuffy even if I take an allergy pill befoe-hand I can't be around them for a long period of time. I have found out short-haired cats they don't trigger the allergies as much and I have 3 short-haired cats and my allergies are just fine with them.

The colorpoint gene naturally occurs in the breed. It was bred out (well, they tried, but it's recessive so impossible, that's why they accepted Neva Masquerade) at one point, but some studies showed that there really were natural colorpoint cats living in the Neva area, thus it was not hybridization. Also diluted colors are natural to the breed. Do your sources determine whether only solid/tabby blacks are the pure ones, or does it include bicolors?

Please note my sources are only three veterinarians and one breeder so this information is not scientific . It says tabby pattern/brown/black are the natural ones. It says any other color/pattern was "added" to the breed.

Like I said I have NO idea if this is correct or not. I have never owned this breed of cat. Tonight I can see if I can find any scientific articles about the above issue.

You seem to know a lot more about the breed so maybe you can advise ? I am sure you can advise better then me now , so go right ahead .

I don't know much about the breed, but they are very popular here (probably because we're located next to Russia) so I've seen lots of them and discussed with many owners and breeders. The breed club also has advised breeders not to sell kittens to allergic people who have chosen the breed only because they think Siberians are hypoallergenic, because this has never been scientifically proofed and there has been many situations where the new owner has had to give the cat back/away because they are allergic after all.

(The colorpoint debate ended up dividing the Siberian club into 2 different clubs.. The other welcomes Neva Masquerades too, the other club doesn't want anything to do with it.)

I love how you say you don't know much about the breed but you are probably one of the the best informed on the forums on the matter.

I love your posts around the forums. Please post pictures of your cats soon! (Especially Kuura, I love Kuura!!! )

PS: To the OP elmonster- Sorry for hijacking your thread to make my comment!

This is the only thing I can find that does not seem like complete _ _ _ _ (fill in the blank ): http://www.siberian-cat-breeder.com/...genic_cat.html . Let me know what you think.

I agree with you about Northern Glow knowing a lot about this breed of cat . If you ask me they need to give themselves more credit .

Glad you liked the link . Please let me know what happens when you actually interact with the cat you intend to purchase.

Thanks. But I really only know the basics about the breed which probably any other person who interacts in the purebred 'world' would have picked up.

Well, to me this would be one of those catteries I'd stay away from. They are advertising their cats as hypoallergenic, but there really isn't any actual scientific proof about it (no link to a study in there either). Their prices seem quite high too, very high if they are in US, and they are explaining their prices by badmouthing other breeders.. Also the hair sample thing is a bit odd, because it's not the hair which makes allergics to react, specially not to the dead hair. They are also claiming that all of their kittens are potential show winners, which you just can't say. This really looks like they're after some $$$$. But this is just my honest opinion and I'm used to small home catteries where the cats are not seen as stock, but as family members instead..

And I'm very bothered by them saying that Maine Coons have triangular shaped head!! That would be a major fault, they have 'square' shaped head, Norwegian Forestcats are the ones with triangular heads.


My ex- boyfriend's ex-girlfiriend's parents (lol, I know) had a brown mackerel tabby Siberian. My ex is very allergic to cats and couldn't visit them because he would get flu like symptoms, eye and skin irritation.
We were a bit worried when we met each other again after being 6 years apart (we used to date before that) and decided to try again, because I had gotten 2 cats. When he first came to visit me, surprisingly he didn't have any issues with the cats. He moved in with me and I got a third cat (now deceased), then a fourth, and fifth... The only cat in my house he has any reactions to is Kuura, and only from Kuura's paw pads against his chest. That leaves a slight reddish area, but other than that he has no problems. The cats can lick him, sleep next to him and stuff like that.
He still gets allergic reactions from his friends cats, but not as bad as before. He can even visit cat shows with me. Brits definitely aren't hypoallergenic, so I have no ideas how this happened.

I loved how they bragged about spending $35 per bag (oops, sorry, "per BAG!") on "quality" Royal Canin dry kitten chow which is full of corn, soy, and wheat gluten.