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.
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.
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.
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.Originally Posted by AbbysMom
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
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?
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.
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
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.Originally Posted by Cat Person
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.
This is the only thing I can find that does not seem like complete _ _ _ _ (fill in the blankOriginally Posted by NorthernGlow
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 agree with you about Northern Glow knowing a lot about this breed of catOriginally Posted by aprilyim
I love how you say you don't know much about the breed but you are probably 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!
