Canadian Hairless

Is there any kind of cat that's nonallergenic other than a hairless cat?

i want one real bad but my roommate is allergic

Public Comments

1. I had a tabby growing up, and it was great for me despite being allergic.
2. Hi Asker! There are many different non-allergic cats to choose from. There are the tabby cat, the American short hair and the British short hair. And how allergic is he? If it is a really bad allergy, than it is most likely that you are unlikely to own one but if it's a normal one than consult your doctor. Hope I've helped and hope you get it great condition!
3. no
4. There is no such thing as a nonallergenic cat. The protein that people are allergic to is produce in a cat's saliva and on their skin secreted hrough the sebaceous glands. Hairless cats may be less allergy-inducing because they do not leave allergen-covered fur around the house but they still produce that protein and can still trigger an allergic reaction if preventative measures aren't taken. Other cats that are reputed to be hypoallergenic (that is, causing less of a reaction for people who are allergic to cats) include the Cornish Rex, Devon Rex and Turkish Angora. Honestly if you really want a cat and your roommate is willing to work with you, I would just go pick one out from the shelter and have your roommate go on allergy meds. You'll also need to vacuum regularly - at least a few times a week - and make sure that your cat doesn't go on your roommate's bed or that the bed is covered. Your roommate will also need to get into the habit of washing his/her hands after handling the cat.
5. There are breeds that shed less then normal, but there are no non-allergic cats (not even the Sphynx - people still can react to them). If your roommate is highly allergice, no cat would work. The less shedding breeds that might work are: Cornish/Devon/Selkirk Rex Bengal Ocicat Burmese Siamese (close laying coat) Oriental SH Russian Blue Siberian (longhair)
6. People aren't allergic to fur. They are allergic to dander and saliva. Since all cats have dander and saliva, no cat is hypoallergenic - even the hairless variety. If you want a cat - find a new roommate that isn't allergic.
7. No. Contrary to popular belief, it's not the HAIR which causes the allergic reaction. It is an enzyme in ALL CATS saliva. The hair gets the blame simply because they lick their hair all the time. But you simply cannot get away from the saliva. HOWEVER... there are somethings you can do to help limit an allergic reaction.... 1. Get a SHORT haired cat... the shorter the hair the less hair to have to deal with. 2. BRUSH the cat often to get rid of the excess hair. 3. VACUUM your carpets/floors/sofas/furniture wherever the cat "lives." 4. WASH the cat's bed (or other things they frequent... pillows, blankets, etc) regularly to get rid of the enzymes that can build up. 5. BATHE your cat often. Okay, not an EASY thing! But you can purchase bath-wipes specially made for cats. Rub the cat to "bathe" him/her to get rid of the enzymes they lick onto their coats. If you CAN get your cat USED TO an actual bath (or take to a groomer regularly for a bath) then that would be great! Every 2 weeks, with the bath wipes in between would be great. 6. DO NOT ALLOW your cat to SLEEP in the bedroom of the allergy sufferer. 7. Purchase and TAKE allergy meds DAILY. There are 24-hr antihistamines which are perfectly SAFE to take every day. Wal-Mart has their own brand which is a whole lot cheaper than the brand name. These will help cope with whatever symptoms are being suffered with. So, there you have it! Most of these steps are not difficult to do and will make allergic life with your cat tolerable! Me... kittyslave23... I know my place.
8. Don't know about non-allergenic BUT there are genetically manipulated hypoallergenic cats. Costs $7,000. You would need to start saving or wait until the price comes down. There's also a waiting list. http://www.allerca.com/html/hypoallergenic.html
9. You're mistaken that hairless cats are hypoallergenic. People aren't allergic to cat hair - they're allergic to the dander - dried skin. So a hairless cat can actually cause MORE reaction than one with fur since you're always touching the skin. There are NO hypoallergenic cats. The Siberian is SUPPOSEDLY less allergenic than other breeds but this has really yet to be proven. Has your roommate tried allergy medicines or allergy shots? I've actually recently started to become allergic to cats but if I take my Allegra D regularly I'm fine - even at cat shows with 200 or more cats.