7 Best Cat Breeds Ideal for an Allergic Person

Extreme love for cats and incessant cat allergies, this is a bad combination. But fortunately, there’s a way around it. You don’t have to settle with just looking at adorable cat photos online and ogling at cute kittens at your neighborhood pet shop. You can actually take home a beautiful feline to your home. You just have to know what particular breed to choose as your pet and consider yourself informed before getting a cat to avoid those pesky allergic reactions. These are the ideal cat breeds recommended for people with cat allergies.

1. Balinese

   

   Also known as the “longhaired Siamese” this cat produces lesser Fel D1 protein compared to other cat breeds, which is good news for people with cat allergies. Don’t let the fuzzy exterior fool you and lead you to think that the Balinese is a cat you should avoid. Fel D1 is actually not triggered solely by cat hairs. It is also produced in the cat’s saliva and skin oils. So even if the Balinese have abundant fur, these would be okay to have as pets.
2. Siberian

   

   The Siberian is hypoallergenic even if they have a semi-long coat which means they are safe for people who are allergic to cats. They are also one of the few cat breeds that produce fewer Fed D1 proteins. It is said that 75% of allergic people have experienced no reactions to the Siberian cat and this may be largely due to the fact that they produce lesser enzyme levels in their saliva.
3. Devon Rex

   

   This breed of cat has a short coat and thus only experiences minimal shedding. Some even have no top coat. They will need regular cleaning of paw pads and ears though to get rid of oil.
4. Cornish Rex

   

   Like the Devon Rex, this breed of cat also has a short coat that is extremely soft and silk, and it too only experiences minimal shedding. Compared to the other though, the Cornish Rex has longer and more fur. It also requires more maintenance as it will need frequent baths to get rid of the oil buildup in the skin.
5. Sphynx

   

   As the Sphynx is a hairless cat, this makes it hypoallergenic. The absence of fur is a big advantage for allergic people as there isn’t anything that would trap the allergens from the saliva when these cats groom themselves.
6. Javanese

   

   The Javanese only have one layer of fur, a top coat, instead of three. This makes them shed less which in turn makes them hypoallergenic.
7. Bengal

   

   Bengal cats don’t shed as much and they have fine pelts that require less maintenance compared to other cats. This means Bengals don’t have to groom themselves that much and as a result, their fur contains lesser saliva that may cause allergies and the dander in their fur doesn’t spread as much compared to other breeds.

If you have cat allergies, you can choose from these seven cat breeds to have lesser or totally zero reactions to having cats in your home. Just remember though that you need having any of these cats as your pets don’t mean you are 100% allergy-free. These cats would still need to have frequent baths and brushing and you would need to regularly wash their toys and cat bedding to eliminate the allergens that come with taking care of a cat. Once you take care of these, you’ve got yourself covered. The only thing left to worry about is the occasional cat bites and scratches. No big deal.