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Popular Cat Choices For Poeple With Allergy

Cats are one of the most popular pet choices in the entire world and they are just seen practically every place that you go. They have become icons and almost everyone in the world has seen and heard of the famous cats like Felix, Hello Kitty, Garfield, Heathcliff and so many more cats that have been made popular through cartoons, comics and TV shows. They have been revered and set on a pedestal in places such as Egypt where they were considered to be gods. Cats have also been the inspiration that sparked so many paintings and sculptures all around the world. They have a regal and majestic grandeur about them and it just makes you want to make them happy. Despite this high status, cats are also one of the most loveable pets in the world and there is just nothing better than having one curl up in your lap on a cold day as you sip your cup of hot chocolate. They are so cuddly and they are sure to ease your loneliness whenever they sidle up to you.

Sadly, there are a lot of people out there who have to avoid cats because they get itchy, or they start coughing and sneezing whenever they are near one. There are other people who need to stay away from cats because an asthma attack may be triggered and their airways get inflamed which make their breathing labored. Some people get dermatitis or irritated, red skin which may be swelling, itching or have a burning feeling. This is because they may have hypersensitivity reactions or allergies to cats. As always when it comes to having allergies, the best thing to do to avoid another attack would be to stay away from the allergen. Some people would rather not avoid cats because they would want them to have one as a pet and who could blame them? Some people might be willing to be continuously taking anti-allergy medications or antihistamines just so they would be able to enjoy the company of their beloved feline friends.

Before we start talking about which cat breed is good for those people who have cat allergies, we must first be able to understand what causes these allergic reactions. It is a good idea to have yourself tested and screened to determine that you really do have an allergy to cats because it could also happen that you were allergic to something else and a cat just happened to be there at the time. This test can also help your doctor determine what cat breed would not trigger your allergies as much as other cat breeds would. Most people believe that the cat’s fur causes the allergic reactions but this is not entirely true. You have to understand though that the allergen or the allergy causing substance is not actually found in cat hair. The allergen is actually a protein found in cat saliva and it is called FEL D-1. FEL stands for feline. These allergens are microscopic and they can float in the air which could be inhaled by some people triggering the allergy attack. This FEL D-1 can also be found in dander which is the flakes of cat skin that can float around the house sticking to your carpets and furniture. Sebum or the natural oil found in skin can be found in this dander and this has the allergen which can cause allergic reaction even when there is no cat present. This dander can stay in your house for a long time. They can also adhere to clothing which means that cat allergy causing substances can be brought to places where there are no cats at all. Now, a person’s sensitivity to these allergens differ from one individual to another which is why some people are able to tolerate cats while others can not tolerate even being near someone who owns one.

Moving on, do hypoallergenic cats exist? Well, hypoallergenic cats mean that these cats were bred to have less than the average cat’s allergens. The truth is, all cats have allergens and there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat breed. Then why are some people allergic to some cat breeds while they do not exhibit allergy symptoms while handling other cat breeds? Each cat is unique which means that the allergens they carry also vary but we have no way of measuring the amount of allergens that a cat can have. There is also a variation between each person and their sensitivity to allergens also differs from one person to another which is why we believe that there are certain cat breeds that are hypoallergenic. The truth is that one may just not be that sensitive to amount of allergens that a cat carries.

So why do most people with allergies still believe that there are hypoallergenic cats? Most pet stores claim that there are cat breeds that hypoallergenic and these cats are usually hairless. Rex Cats are among the most popular hypoallergenic cat breeds that people buy and take care of. There are two breeds of Rex Cats and both breeds have short fine hair. Siberian Cats are also claimed to be hypoallergenic because they are said to produce less of the protein that causes the allergies. The Sphinx is a cat which has almost no hair at all and is also considered to be a hypoallergenic breed of cat. Although it might be true that these cat breeds are hypoallergenic, there are still some people whose allergies may persist despite having these hypoallergenic cat breeds.

Before getting a cat, you should have yourself tested and check how sensitive you are to the allergens that a cat carries. It would also be a good idea to hang out in cat shelters and holding one cat for a few days to determine which breed you are less allergic to. Handling kittens usually do not cause an allergic reaction so choose cats that are already mature enough. Kittens have supple skin and produce less oil than the older cats which is why most of the time they do not cause an allergic reaction. This is also why people often get kittens and only develop cat allergies after a few months and even a year.

So you have already taken home your very own kitty and you want to know how to reduce the amount of allergens in your home. You can give your cat a bath twice a week to reduce the amount of allergens that they carry in their fur. It has been researched that the amount of allergen is restored every two days so giving your cat a good bath will be able to decrease allergen levels.  Make sure that you rinse your cat well and to concentrate on washing the facial area because this is where most of the FEL D-1 proteins can be found. Washing your cat will also prevent fleas. Fleas can cause an increase in the levels of FEL D-1 because your cat will be scratching more causing dander to float in the air. Having your cat neutered or spayed will also reduce the amount of allergens that they have. Limiting your cat to certain areas in the room will also reduce the amount of allergens you have around the house.

You can also have an air purifier or an air filter in your home to reduce the amount of allergens airborne in your house. There are also some vacuums that are effective in removing the allergens that are stuck in your carpets, floor, and the corners of your room. You may also want to use plastic curtains around the rooms your cats play in as these are easier to clean and cat hair does not stick to them as much. Let your cats play outside too. You should also invest in cotton clothing while avoiding using wool because allergens tend to adhere to wool more. You can also contact your allergist for more advice on how to reduce your allergies.