I’m allergic to cats and taking a daily Zyrtec takes care of it.
I refuse to lock up my system by attempting to get the necessary cites for the following, but it can be substantiated online:
Possible causes of “allergy to cats” include allergies or sensitivities to feline spittle, feline skin oils, feline dander, or other coat-related phenomena. Apparently dander followed by spittle are the two most common cat-related allergens.
For those allergic to feline spittle, there is almost nothing which can be done. A cat which will docilely allow itself to be bathed rather than grooming itself will sometimes be a possible pet, but even that remains likely to trigger allergic reactions.
For those allergic to dander and willing to cope with a mandatorily “inside” cat, testing for senstivity to skin oils is appropriate. If they do not trigger a reaction, the Sphynx is a possible pet. This breed, commonly but incorrectly termed ‘hairless,’ has a very fine down-like pelt that produces no dander. However, it protects its quasi-exposed skin by secreting an abnormally large amount of skin oil (hence the secondary test) and is subject to chills and sunburn since its pelt provides almost no protection from them.
A common claim is that the four distinct breeds of curly-furred Rex cats are hypoallergenic. This is not the case, but does contain an element of truth. The Devon Rex’s coat includes no guard hairs, and three of the breeds produce relatively little dander, with the Devon producing the least. For those with a mild sensitivity to cat dander, a Rex is a good potential pet – Devon Rexes, as noted, being the best bet, Cornish and German Rexes good possibilities, and the Selkirk Rex the most likely of the four to trigger allergic reaction, though still far short of a Persian or other longhair. (Each of the four breeds of Rex owes its similar curly coat to a different distinct mutation, and the four forms of Rex do not interbreed true – that is, each breeds true, and they can interbreed, but the offspring of a cross between two different forms of Rex, such as Cornish X Devon, will not be Rex because it will be heterozygous for each of the genes that made its parents both a form of Rex.)
So if a Rex produce less dander and Siberians produce less of the irritant in their saliva, what would happen if you cross bred them? I mean besides giving the purists heart attacks.
I find that 1 drop of Acepromazine (from the vet) in 1 gallon of cat drinking water changed my indoor-only, brushed and bathed mutt cats from hive triggering allergy festivals into benign companions. I do get itchy eyes if Barbara the cat gets in the bedroom and head-bonks my face while I sleep.
How does this work? It’s a veterinary tranquilizer. How does it exert the effect you’re describing?