Eva Luna – my fiance’s got a cocker spanial/basset hound dog that’s super sweet and produces tons of dander. I sneeze, sniffle etc around him a lot. I tried some Allegra to no avail. Do you personally have animal allergies and have you found relief with Claritin?
I love the dog so he stays. I don’t like being clogged and sneezing all the time.
Help!
Allerigies can be a controled a bit better by keeping the cats bathed. (but who’d put themselves through that clawfest?)
IIRC-The breeds that aggavate the allergies the least
The Rexes-,Cornish and Devon. Both have the short curly coats
Sphinx- originated in Canada, Sphinx:cat=Chahuahua:dog
American Wirehair- Hairs are wide and wirey like the Rexs but not as curly.
But we all know the best cats come from the shelter!
Bast may well have given them their physical form, but the personality of these demon beasts comes straight from Beelzebub.
I’ve had cat allergies since childhood, despite my dad having 2 of the beasts & I have noticed that exposure to certain cats will cause my allergies to that cat to lighten up. Keeping the house clean goes a loooong way toward reducing allergies & not having carpet will help immensely in that regard.
As for species let me be the 5th (6th, 7th?) to tell you to avoid Siamese like the plague. Their croaking yowl is like fingernails on a chalkboard, and the frequency of that yowl will drive you nuts in a day. An old friend of mine had a Russian Blue; she was very non-vocal and very hypo-allergenic. It’s the first time I could have a cat share my pillow and not wake up wheezing halfway through the night. Based on my experience, I’d recommend the breed for allergy sufferers. My SO is an established cat person & I’ll definitely be convincing him to make the next cat a Russian Blue. 
Come on guys! Haven’t you seen the latest Zyrtec (that’s Zur-tek ) commercial? With the guy and the girl and the cat? And the guy being allergic to the cat? And the cat getting on his newspaper, his wheelbarrow, and he’s playing with yarn and the cat, and there’s a cat picture on his Tshirt? And the girlfriend is happy, of course.
Which implies that Zyrtec (that’s Zur-tek ) helps with cat allergies.
You folks need to watch more TV 
#3
I have a seal point Siamese and if you don’t let your little kitty master sleep with you, he WILL meow and meow and MEOW. And from what I read of Rhodesian Ridgebacks…they have a very high prey drive so your little meowing kitten may just get consumed after all.
If it were not for your allergies and your dog I would certainly recommend a Siamese because even though they tell you what to do, demand affection, etc. there is no other cat like them. They are the most affectionate cats I’ve ever had. And…if you don’t mind the meowing demands, they have quite a personality. I could go on and on about the little guys. But…given your situation I have strong reservations about recommending one simply for the fact that if you have him long enough and decide you cannot ultimately keep him, it will be so difficult for him to be given up. I can’t ever imagine our Siamese being with anyone else because once he bonds to you, he is yours forever.
One point on the allergy aspect…my SO is allergic to cats and he now does fine with cats. Initially he had problems but with time his allergies were somehow reduced due to exposure. But this is only one story; it seems others have differing experiences.
Hi everyone –
I am Nate the Great’s wife, and I concur: there are no hypoallergenic cats. Even hairless Sphynx Cats carry dander, as most dander comes from saliva that cats use to groom themselves.
After quite a bit of research, I can suggest these recommendations:
-Spay or neuter your cat. Spaying and neutering of course has many, many benefits, including lessening the chances that your cat will “spray” to mark its territory. As cat urine can contain allergens, this should at least eliminate that possibility. Even after spaying, male cats tend to carry more allergen-casuing Fel d1 (the cat allergen).
-Take medicine – Claritin or Allegra, for example.
-Vacuum frequently, especially using a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filters. Remember to vacuum upholstery as well. Another great idea (which Nate happened upon) is a little robotic vacuum cleaner called the Roomba which independently thoroughly cleans your floors and carpets. A little hefty price-wise, but gets rave reviews: www.roombavac.com
-Use HEPA air filters
-Keep the cat out of the bedroom. Studies show that those who spend 8 hours in an allergen-free environment experience more success in handling their allergies. This will not make the room allergen-free, but will help a lot. A good option for keeping cats out is using a tall safety gate (like those used to keep babies from falling down stairs). Remember when picking the gate that cats are climbers and jumpers. A gate with tall vertical bars, kept away from furniture that can be jumped off of, is your best option.
-Encase pillows/bedding in allergy-proof covers. They’re available just about everywhere that you buy bedding.
-Open the (screened) windows and air out your home frequently.
-Products exist that are made specifically to reduce cat dander. An example of this is Allerpet - simply moisten a washcloth with Allerpet and smooth over cat’s coat – no water or rinsing needed. There are various pre-moistened wipes available as well.
-If your cat tolerates baths, or if you start bathing them as kittens, this may be a feasible option. Cat allergens are water soluble, and baths can greatly reduce them.
-Dust from cat litter can aggravate allergies. Generally, this problem is most present in clay litters. The new clumping litters tend to be less dusty.
-Walls collect dander. Wipe them down with a wet cloth to cut down on wall dander.
Good luck!
Wow! I havn’t seen this thread in a while. But mfbjork I think the powers that be i.e my wife won the battle. We are getting a kitten sometime this summer and yes it will be a siamese…Turtle point if she gets her way.
I am really more concerned over the dog. He’s not going to like this, I really hope he is fine.
Good luck with the Siamese, P.