# Hypoallergenic cats **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 18, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209 "2007-10-18T19:18:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/1 "2007-10-18T19:18:12Z")
We all know that the hypoallergenic genetically mutated cat was a fraud. But are there any cat breeds that are OK for people with cat allergies? We were able to find a dog we could handle (Bichon Frise aka The Bitchy Frizzy) but we would like a cat. I had heard that Siamese were OK. Any pussy experts? (sorry, couldn’t resist) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/2 "2007-10-18T19:23:36Z")
My understanding is that most people who are allergic to cats are actually allergic to cat spit; when the cat grooms itself it gets spit all over itself and then it sheds. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/3 "2007-10-18T19:35:38Z")
Friends who were allergic but wanted a cat discussed with their doc. Rule 1: cat is never, ever, ever allowed in the bedroom. Ever. That keeps the bedroom fairly clear of hair and dander, so you can sleep. Rule 2: get a short-haired cat. Rule 3: brush cat daily and wipe with damp cloth; bathe weekly. This reduces shed hair and dander to a minimum. They started this routine as a kitten. After the first few baths, it was no problem. I can’t remember if they had to actually use shampoo or if it was just a water bath. I don’t know if you want to put in that much effort, but it worked pretty well for someone with fairly bad allergies who really, really wanted a cat. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/4 "2007-10-18T19:58:47Z")
You know, speaking of hypoallergenic cats, given that they were proven to be bunk, why is Allerca still selling them on their website? As a matter of fact, they’re raising the prices of their allegedly hypoallergenic cats to $7,900 as of 01/01/08. I would have thought they’d have been shut down by now. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/5 "2007-10-18T20:17:08Z")
My sister has a [Siberian](http://www.siberiancatscanada.com/) She is very allergic to cats and will break out in a rash from just touching one. The Siberian doesn’t bother her at all. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/6 "2007-10-18T22:39:48Z")
Luckily I’m not allergic to cats so I’m no expert but how about one of the hairless breeds such as the Sphynx? They look funny but sound like nice kitties and you’d have less problems with cat dander. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/7 "2007-10-18T23:14:48Z")
Some Bengals have a pelt as opposed to fur. Bengals are also part wildcat. If you are allergic only to cats, and not all animal fur, then there is a very real chance you might not be very allergic to a Bengal. ---
**Author:** ![Obsidian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/8 "2007-10-18T23:50:07Z")
I have a type of cat called a Turkish Van. They have no undercoat and seem to bother people with allergies less. This may be less about their makeup and more about the cat-bathing mentioned above. Many vans like water and will swim & play in water. Mine like to lay in the sink and have the faucet turned on over them, jump in the tub/showers, esp. in the summer, play in sprinklers/rain. One washes himself in the water dish. (They’ll also climb in the toilet bowl if someone leaves the lid up.) Their saliva gets washed off far more regularly than your average cat. You could probably rinse them daily if you want to (I’ll have shower company any time I leave the door open). They hate being soaped, but warm clean water is fine. They just need to be able to feel the bottom (though I know some vans swim in deep water). When it’s hot we leave 6 or so inches of water in the bathtub for them to play in and keep cool. They had a kiddie pool back when we had a more secure yard. They’re unusual cats. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/9 "2007-10-19T16:37:41Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] We all know that the hypoallergenic genetically mutated cat was a fraud. [/QUOTE] First I’ve heard of that. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/10 "2007-10-19T17:33:54Z")
Allergic friends of mine have Egyptian Maus. The Egyptian Mau is (IIRC) a fairly new breed of cats, at least in the US, they are a more spotted cat (as opposed to tabby stripes or calico splotches) and they are highly intelligent. This particular pair are also trained to tolerate being bathed in a sink regularly, which also helps with the allergens. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/11 "2007-10-19T17:57:12Z")
I’ve heard there was skepticism about Allerca claims, but not proof against them. What proof are we talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/12 "2007-10-19T18:08:34Z")
[QUOTE=Terminus Est] First I’ve heard of that. Cite? [/QUOTE] Check out the [wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allerca), especially reference point 4 linking to the San Diego Union-Tribune article. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/13 "2007-10-19T18:29:40Z")
That the company has questionable business practices doesn’t mean that hypoallergenic cats themselves are bunk. ---
**Author:** ![Obsidian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/14 "2007-10-19T19:21:57Z")
I think it’s more the lack of a single shred of evidence that they exist, coupled with the owner’s fraudulent past that includes previous unsubstantiated scientific claims (google some of his other companies if you want to see what I mean). Why do you believe that they _do_ exist? Has anyone even seen one of these cats? I can’t prove Big Foot doesn’t exist, even though people claim it does. Are we required to believe them just because someone says so? This guy is a con artist. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/15 "2007-10-19T19:57:55Z")
I have no opinion on whether Allerca has or has not developed any hypoallergenic cats. That hypoallergenic cats themselves exist (whether or not Allerca has them) is perfectly within the realm of possibility, given what is known about the _Fel d 1_ gene. Again, I don’t care about the company and whether or not they have the cats they say they have. Hypoallergenic cats are perfectly plausible. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/16 "2007-10-19T20:16:25Z")
Well, there are _shreds_ of evidence, but I definitely wouldn’t shell out $4,000 (or more) for something without a lot more proof than there is. Maybe if they’ve raised the prices recently, that means they’re trying to maximize revenues before being shut down. You’ve got to admit though, if the guy is just a con artist, selling genetically-modified allergy-free cats is at least really original! ---
**Author:** ![Obsidian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/17 "2007-10-19T20:16:57Z")
Just because something is theoreticly plausible doesn’t make actually claiming you’ve created one (when you haven’t) any less of a fraud. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2007, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/18 "2007-10-20T05:23:33Z")
I’ll concede that there’s plenty of evidence that indicates that Allerca doesn’t have the cats they say they have. Yes, they are con artists. Yes, you shouldn’t buy any cats from them. I have no dog (heh) in this company. I’m just saying that hypoallergenic cats (not necessarily created by the company) probably exist, due to the known natural variation in the gene that causes the allergic reaction in humans. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2007, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/19 "2007-10-20T05:44:08Z")
I’ve heard the same thing about [Siberian cats](http://www.siberiancats.com/allergy.htm). Unfortunately, I haven’t seriously looked into it to see if the claims made by the breeders are substantiated. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2007, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209/20 "2007-10-20T05:50:21Z")
From [wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_%28cat%29): > [@](#): > > Siberians may be 90% hypoallergenic. No conclusive information is currently available. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, extensive anecdotal evidence can be found from breeders and pet owners supporting such claims. Siberian fur is textured, medium-long and usually tabby patterned. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypoallergenic-cats/423209.md?page=2)