Which types of cats, if any, are hypoallergenic? Would a mixed-breed cat be less hypoallegenic than a full breed?
There really isn’t any such thing, if the person is allergic to the dander or components of the saliva (I have heard that people have allergies to both these things). There is a hairless breed of cat, but it is hella ugly and a maintenance nightmare- you have to slather it with sunscreen or dress it in a maximum-coverage outfit when you take it outside to avoid sunburn.
My mom is drastically allergic to cats but is significantly less affected by Siamese cats who are solely indoor kitties. Anecdote != data, but it would stand to reason that a short, sleek haired cat would be less of a problem than a large dustmop cat.
Might not be true:
Supposedly there’s a particular genetic mutation in a small percentage of cats that turns off the protein that most cat allergy people are allergic to.
I’d love to get a cat that to which I wouldn’t be allergic - but I’m not about to spend several thousand dollars on it.
Apparently Siberianand Russian Blues are hypoallergenic?
Some people have had luck with Devon and Cornish Rexes. I think Devons are gorgeous cats (not crazy about the Cornish Rexes) but they are very odd-looking and everyone I know thinks they’re hideous.
Trying to get a hypo-allergenic cat is a bit of a crap shoot. I’ve had a couple friends tell me they react less to long-haired cats and you read some of the other suggestions above. There are definitely some contradictions.
Your best bet, if you really want cats, is to manage the dander. Here’s some good information about how to live with cat allergies. Also, talk to an allergist about some possible medical controls.
The cat that EJs Girl references is the Sphynx.
There are several different varieties of Rex cats. Some make good pets for those people allergic to cat dander – but as common an allergen is a component in the body oil, and all the Rexes produce as much if not more of this as ‘normal’ cats. So the advice Kayeby quotes is, I think, excellent.