Question for DU cat people, of whom I know there are many:

[Redstone]

After burying Sneets today, my sons were plotting about getting another cat.

I need some advice: Is there a breed of cat that has a minimal amount of dander (the Little Guy has allergies),and doesn't shed much? (The hair in the house drive Mrs R nuts, because she's a Neat Nut.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Redstone

[Kali]

1. I'm not sure if there is like there are dogs especially know for that.

Maybe rex? I will check in one of my books in a bit, but wanted to offer a personal experience. I tend to have allergies to house dust, pollen etc and have noticed that for some reason, there are some animals that I just REACT to. Most might cause a mild reaction, a few nothing but the rare cat or dog has really done it. What I am getting at is you may have to just spend time and see. keep the kitty groomed and as clean as possible and hopefully all will be ok.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. You could get a Sphynx cat, which has little or no fur at all.

http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/sphynx.html

But you would have to buy clothes for it because they are sensitive to cold. There's also the Devon Rex, which has short, slightly curly fur. http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/devon.html Or you could just look around for a shorthaired cat with smooth, not fluffy fur that doesn't shed much. I have one (just a tabby, no particular breed) who has smooth, short, slightly coarse fur and doesn't seem to shed at all.

[bettyellen]

28. the best rex of all, cornies:

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[Kali]

3. Here is some info.

(google "allergic to cats")

Clean your cat.
Some people wash their cats to reduce the amount of cat allergen that is released from their cat into the air, but research seems to be conflicting about its effectiveness. Allerpet, a well-known brand of liquid that reduces cat allergen in the air, can be applied to your cats' coat and is available from your local veterinarian. Alternatively, you can get a micro fiber cloth and just damp rub down the cats' coats to rid it of visible dander. The majority of cats would prefer this to the highly dreaded bath.

several articles gathered here http://allergies.about.com/od/cats/Allergic_to_Cats.htm

Cat Allergies
At the year 2000 annual meeting of the American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology in Seattle an interesting cat-hair study was presented. People with dark-colored cats were 2 to 4 times more likely to experience moderate or severe allergic symptoms than people with no cats or with light-colored cats. There was no statistical difference in these symptoms between those with light-hair cats and those with no cats! I would guess that these results are a reflection of the concentration of cat antigens in the different hair colors: dyeing your cat’s hair won't help!
--------------------------------

Allergy-free Cats For Sale At $3950 Each
If you are allergic to cats, would like to have one and have $3950 spare, this may be your lucky day.
www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=52646 - 41k - Cached - Similar pages


Why can some people allergic to cats, tolerate rex cats?


In truth, a rex cat is no different from any other cat and produces allergen like all other cats. They are not hypoallergenic by any means, as claimed by some. Then why do some people seem to have no allergic reaction to rex cats? There is no simple answer to this question at this time, and more research is required to get the answers needed. One possible hypothesis is that as rex cats have less hair to shed, they simply deposit less allergen-laced hair around the home. But, whatever the reasons some allergic people seem to tolerate them. From personal studies and observations by Margaret Lawrence in the UK, she found that around 10% of people allergic to cats tolerate rex cats. Please, before you race out and look for a rex cat, remember you should always test your allergies by visiting home or catteries that only own rex cats, and test continuously over several weeks or months. As you don't want the poor little kitten to be re-homed if you find out you are allergic to him or her. Don't let your new cat become another statistic at a shelter.

[Blue-Jay]

4. You're not going to have much luck finding a non-shedding cat.

Unless you want to pay big bucks for one of those ugly-assed bald cats. You might as well just try to find one at a shelter that has short hair. All cats shed. Vacuum well and often to help to alleviate the dander issue. If allergies and hair in the house are a big issue, I'd recommend getting a non-shedding dog instead. (poodle, bichon, maltese, schnauzer, lhasa apso, shih tzu, etc.)

There are a lot of dog breeds that don't shed, but that probably doesn't help you if you're sold on getting a new cat. If the new pet HAS to be a cat, you're just going to need to deal with the hair in all likelihood.

[Redstone]

5. Well, that's negative but damn valuable. Thank you. I'd sooner have a lizard than

one of those hairless cats.

Thanks for your opinion. It was valuable.

Redstone

[Blue-Jay]

6. Oh, I didn't mean that to be negative at all.

It's just that (in my experience) if you want a cat, you need to be ready to deal with the hair. If that's a big problem, then maybe a different kind of animal is a better bet for you and your family.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

17. Ragdoll cats don't shed and they're long-haired.

I have two of them. I also have two regular cats. Now they shed like crazy.

Here are the two Ragdolls...

[LisaL]

22. How cute are they. Where did you get them?

I want one.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

24. Breeders. Cuddles we bought as a kitten and Peaches was a retired breeding cat.

I'm sure you could find breeders online close to you.

[Susang]

31. Ragdolls shed

Just not as much. Rex cats shed less than Ragdolls, but all cats that have fur (unlike the Sphynx) will shed to some extent.

People have been known to spend $4,000 on genetically engineered Allerca Ragdoll kittens http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn9313&feedId=online-news_rss20, but even that's no guarantee. And seriously, spending $4,000 on a kitten when learning how to bathe and keep it's fur properly combed works just as well, if not better.

[Generic Brad]

7. We've had best luck with short haired tabbies

There seems to be less fur shed and there are definitely fewer hairballs to clean up.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. True. Like I mentioned before, my short-haired tabby

doesn't seem to shed at all.

And while it's true that the hairless ones are sort of, well, homely, I understand they are extremely friendly and cuddly. Maybe trying to make up for their looks, or else just trying to stay warm...

[Rosco T.]

9. Britsh Shorthair...

I prefer the Blue, but they come in many colors/patterns Their furr is like a bear, big purring teddybears.

[bullwinkle428]

10. My ex and I had a pair of British Shorthairs - they were absolutely

wonderful cats...amazing personalities, intelligent, sweet, friendly, etc., but they did shed a fair amount. The leather couches seemed to repel the fur, but it was amazing how much loose fur got picked up by the vacuum cleaner and broom on a weekly basis.

[electron_blue]

11. I always heard Siamese had little/no dander. check it out.

[Kali]

12. Siamese are not the best with kids.

Although I'm sure my saying that will bring out the exceptions. ;-)

[begin_within]

23. If they are handled a lot, and handled lovingly, starting when they are tiny kittens,

then they will grow up to be cats who love attention and are well-adapted to it, including attention from kids. just my opinion

[mainegreen]

33. Totally not true. I grew up with nothing but siamese!

We had over my youth twelve Siamese. Every single one was a loving cuddle bug. The rule is though you need to buy them as a pair and same sex.

[some guy]

13. damn. I have defective tabbies

:eyes:

:P

My kitties are little fur factories, but several others have posted theirs hardly shed at all...

Sorry about your kitty, Redstone. :hug:

Alas, I have no good ideas on breeds of cats which don't shed or aggravate allergies.

[Robeson]

14. For the allergies, I know people - including my wife - who have had...

...great success/relief with a homeopathic treatment from the brand "bioAllers". It's in a dropper form, and it's called "Animal Hair and Dander Relief". My wife used to get scheduled shots from her doctor for her allergies, and allergies with cat dander. She's been taking this for about 2 years, and hasn't had a shot since, and feels great. You may want to check it out.

Here's a link http://www.drugstore.com/qxp33801_333181_sespider/bioallers/animal_hair_and_dander_allergy_relief_liquid.htm

[bullwinkle428]

15. Now that I think of it, I recall that Siberian cats are often described

as "hypo-allergenic", although there is no scientific evidence to back that up, just anecdotal. They are one of the more attractive breeds out there, and supposedly very friendly and personable.

http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/siberian.html

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

16. Ragdolls or Siberians.

We have two Ragdoll cats. They're considered pretty much hypo-allergic. Even though they're a long-haired cat, they don't shed and they're really big (bigger than Maine Coons) and pretty. Very docile and doglike.

Anyway, here are pictures of my Ragdolls...

This is Cuddles, a small chubby male at 18lbs...


As you can see, he certainly likes to cuddle.

And this is Peaches, she was rescued from an abusive "breeder"

[Redstone]

18. Hey, thanks! Our new neighbors have two Ragdolls; we'll have the little guy

go over there and stick his face into them. In fact, I thnk he's already done it and didn't come home with a runny nose.

Redstone

[lildreamer316]

19. Barring that, a regular shorthair

would probably do the trick.
For example: I have a mother cat and I kept one of her babies (male). She makes me sneeze, he dosen't. Weird, huh? I think he takes after his dad, though, 'cause his hair is short, coarse, and thick; whereas hers is short but silky and thin.
Sorry, know that dosen't help much, but hopefully maybe a touch test will do the trick.

[LisaL]

21. I love Ragdolls. Maybe my next cat will be a Ragdoll.

[begin_within]

25. Ragdolls are famous for loving to be picked up and carried around, even by kids

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

26. Yeah, they're definitely called Ragdolls for a reason.

Total lump cats, but they're still playful.

[liberalitch]

20. Short haired cats will always be a better bet than long hair...

Ay cat that is regularly brushed will put out less dander.

My vet said keeping a cat indoors reduces their natural tendency to shed and regrow hair and produce dander.... not eliminate but reduce.

[bettyellen]

27. mine don't shed a hair nor dander...

but if they did, she'd clean it up!

[LisaL]

29. Well, it's clear what you should not get. Persians. I got two

and they are masses of hair and shed like crazy.

[Tony_Illinois]

30. Whatever you decide . . .

Please do not "buy" a cat--consider adopting from a shelter or the ASPCA if you can. There are so many that need loving homes.

[Susang]

32. Get a shelter kitten and learn how to give it a bath

Dander (and the substance in the cat's saliva) is the major culprit in allergies, not the hair itself. Bathing your cat is the most effective way to deal with the problem. If you start the baths when they are kittens, it's not that tough.

Otherwise, no matter what kind of cat you get, as long as that cat grooms itself, the allergies will continue, shedding or not.

[pink-o]

34. I got my Bombay from a no-kill shelter....

...she's not pure, but she's got all the personality traits as well as the lush black fur (they're short-haired, but very thick)

Anyway, she sheds about as much as any other cat, but my friend who's very allergic is able to tolerate her. I've found if I brush her once a day, she does less grooming and that's less allergens in the air. (It's the airborne saliva that people are allergic to, so long or short haired doesn't matter--whenever they lick themselves they throw around those particles that make us sneeze.)

So my point is, probably one cat is as hypo-allergenic as another if they're not licking all the time. So either a sphinx or one you're willing to groom a lot is the way to go.

[Redstone]

35. I can't thank you all enough for your advice. And, of course, we'll get a shelter cat.

The shelters tend not to have any puppies these days, but kittens are plentiful.

We have a line on a nice-looking female calico, 5 months old, from a shelter. The boys will be visiting her on Monday.

Redstone

[uppityperson]

36. about cats and allergies

my allergist told me to keep 1 cat in my life always as this would give the same effect as having allergy shots. If I was catless for long, I would then react much more severely being around a cat, or else I would need allergy shots. Something about having 1 cat exposes you to about the same quantity of allergens as shots do. However, try to keep 1 fairly catfree room, like bedroom.

Also, there is a way to de-allergize cats by washing them every month to decrease the dried saliva on their fur which is what we are mostly allergic to. Some cats do fine being washed if start early enough, others you need a 5 gal bucket with a cathead sized hole in the lid. Read something about having the cat sit in distilled water for 20 minutes every month doing the trick also, but that seems even less probable.

Sorry to hear about Sneets, and hope the search for a new cat goes well.

[Redstone]

37. Mrs R can wash ANY animal without a struggle. She even washes the chicken

and doesn't get a fight out of her:



So I'm sure that routine washing of a cat won't be a problem. Thanks for your advice.

Redstone

[Kali]

38. Ok I have now seen everything.

I have long known about both bathing cats and keeping pet chickens. But I have never experienced the washing of a pet chicken. My life is complete. Thankyou. :toast: :rofl:

[Redstone]

39. Hey, you can't have a dirty chicken! I mean, can you?

Redstone

[Kali]

40. I suppose not, although mine prefer bathing IN dirt!

[Redstone]

42. Yes, they do like the dust bath, but now and again you have to get them looking

really pretty, like if you have guests coming for a party.

I say "them," though it's only practical if you only have the one.

Redstone

[Left Is Write]

41. I don't know, but my cat is a serious shedder. He's an orange tabby.

I could knit two new cats a week on what he sheds. I have to keep after it all the time!