7 Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds for Cat Allergy Sufferers

Cats, like all animals, repeat behaviors when they are getting the desired results.

7 Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds for Cat Allergy Sufferers

Do hypoallergenic cat breeds exist? The answer is complicated, but cat allergy sufferers may be able to live with a few hypoallergenic cat breeds.

Love cats but have never been able to share your humble abode with one due to the dreaded ‘A’ word: allergies? You’re not alone! According to the American College of Allergy, 10 percent of the population is allergic to household companions, with cat allergies being twice as common in Americans than canine allergies. So, is there a solution to the problem? Kinda-sorta. Hypoallergenic cat breeds. They sound more fiction than anything else, but hypoallergenic cat breeds do actually exist — making co-existing with cats a dream come true for allergy sufferers!

First, do hypoallergenic cat breeds exist?

A Devon Rex cat.

Do hypoallergenic cat breeds exist? Is the Devon Rex cat hypoallergenic? Photography by insomnia/istock.

“Hypoallergenic breeds do exist, and some even come in long hair,” says Sasha Gibbons, DVM at Just Cats Veterinary Hospital in Stamford, Connecticut. “Contrary to popular belief, it is not the hair that people are allergic to but rather proteins in the saliva that are introduced onto the fur through grooming or dander (dead skin cells) throughout the fur. Certain breeds produce less of the proteins that cause a reaction, making them easier for people with cat allergies to tolerate.”

Though no cat is 100% hypoallergenic, we’re about to give you the lowdown on a handful of hypoallergenic cat breeds known for producing fewer allergens — so the two of you can live in harmony!

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