The vast majority of people who are "allergic to cats" are allergic to a protein called FEL-D-1 (see image, right). It is secreted by sebaceous glands in the skin as well as salivary glands.The amount of FEL-D-1 secreted seems to be greatly affected by testosterone since an intact male will produce much more than a neutered male or a female (spayed or not).
Since cats bathe themselves with their tongue, FEL-D-1 from their saliva is deposited on their fur (along with the FEL-D-1 secreted by the glands in the skin).
Giving a cat a bath using tepid water and cat shampoo will reduce the amount of FEL-D-1 on the skin and fur, but only for a couple of days. Just as over-cleansing a human's skin and hair can upset its natural balance, frequent baths are not good for a cat's skin, and therefore are not a solution for those with an allergy to FEL-D-1.
Siberian and Abyssinian cats (especially males who have been "fixed" and females) have naturally lower levels of FEL-D-1. While not truly "hypo-allergenic", these 2 breeds seem to be tolerated by many people who can't tolerate other breeds. The Korat (a breed from Thailand) can also be a good choice for people allergic to FEL-D-1 as its hair generally does not float up off the cat when the cat is petted. A potential cat owner with an allergy to FEL-D-1 might want to spend time with these 3 breeds to see if he or she tolerates one breed better than the others.
Those who are allergic to FEL-D-1 should follow the same advice given to other allergy sufferers, such as limiting the amount of non-washable fabrics in the home. Curtains that can be easily taken down and washed are preferred over blinds or shutters; furniture should be leather or wood or have washable slip covers; wood or tile floors are a better choice than carpet. Sticky-tape rollers and a good vacuum, such as the Dyson™ Animal model, are helpful in controlling the amount of hair and dander (and therefore FEL-D-1) that is present in the house. Having a non-allergic member of the family brush or comb the cat on a regular basis will help also.
In addition, allergic pet owners should keep their bedroom doors closed at all times, in order to keep their sleeping space as allergen-free as possible. And they should also ask their doctor about allergy shots or other medicines which might help with symptoms.
Giving a cat a bath using tepid water and cat shampoo will reduce the amount of FEL-D-1 on the skin and fur, but only for a couple of days. Just as over-cleansing a human's skin and hair can upset its natural balance, frequent baths are not good for a cat's skin, and therefore are not a solution for those with an allergy to FEL-D-1.
Siberian and Abyssinian cats (especially males who have been "fixed" and females) have naturally lower levels of FEL-D-1. While not truly "hypo-allergenic", these 2 breeds seem to be tolerated by many people who can't tolerate other breeds. The Korat (a breed from Thailand) can also be a good choice for people allergic to FEL-D-1 as its hair generally does not float up off the cat when the cat is petted. A potential cat owner with an allergy to FEL-D-1 might want to spend time with these 3 breeds to see if he or she tolerates one breed better than the others.
Those who are allergic to FEL-D-1 should follow the same advice given to other allergy sufferers, such as limiting the amount of non-washable fabrics in the home. Curtains that can be easily taken down and washed are preferred over blinds or shutters; furniture should be leather or wood or have washable slip covers; wood or tile floors are a better choice than carpet. Sticky-tape rollers and a good vacuum, such as the Dyson™ Animal model, are helpful in controlling the amount of hair and dander (and therefore FEL-D-1) that is present in the house. Having a non-allergic member of the family brush or comb the cat on a regular basis will help also.
In addition, allergic pet owners should keep their bedroom doors closed at all times, in order to keep their sleeping space as allergen-free as possible. And they should also ask their doctor about allergy shots or other medicines which might help with symptoms.
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