About 4% of adults are allergic to cats. Some breeds are known to be naturally less allergenic, but is this really the case? Is a neutered or hairless cat also less risky?
The cat allergies concern about 4% of adults and they are not due to hair but to the saliva. The main allergen is here protein Feld1, naturally produced by his salivary and lacrimal glands. As the cat often licks itself, theallergen spreads all over the animal’s coat and when the hair falls out it is released into theair and leads to different symptoms : coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, hives, eyes red, even asthma attack and Quint’s edema.
Cat breeds that produce less allergens
Some cat breeds are known to be less allergenic: Russian Blue, Siberian, Abyssinian, Devon Rex, Cornish Rex or Balinese would be hypoallergenic cats. An argument often used by breeders to sell you these breeds. Despite its long hair, the Siberian is actually the cat that produces the least Feld1 protein. The other breeds mentioned also generate less Feld1, but no animal, and therefore no cat, is 100% hypoallergenic: even a small amount is enough to trigger an allergy.
Breeds with little or no body hair, such as the Sphinx, are also no guarantee, as allergens are also produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin and even the anal glands. Additionally, at least seven other cat allergens have been identified besides the Feld1 protein. Finally, the concentration of Feld1 in saliva is highly variable from one animal to another, regardless of breed or sex. In short, the notion of “hypoallergenic cat” is greatly exaggerated.
Is a neutered cat less allergenic?
Many other misconceptions circulate about hypoallergenic cats, such as the fact that neutered cats would produce less allergens, or that the colors dark coats trigger more allergic reactions than light colors. There is no scientific evidence for these assertions. Some companies have even tried to create hypoallergenic cats (sold very expensive!) with genetic manipulations, without much success.
Cat allergy: what to do?
People with an allergic background (especially asthma) unfortunately have a very high probability of developing a reaction. in contact with a cat. Symptoms can be reduced by regularly taking thevacuum to remove hair (carpets, cushions, carpet, drapes…). On the other hand, the extractors of air and washing the cat had little effect on the concentration of Feld1 in the air. The only really effective measure is the complete eviction of the animal.
Very cute kitten Kittens are born deaf, and it is only after several weeks that their hearing reaches its full potential. The eyes only open in the second week of life. They are blue at first and take on their final color after about two months. © Aka, Wikimedia Commons, cc by sa 2.5
The folded ears of the scottish fold Originally from Scotland, the Scottish Fold is easily recognized by its ears folded forward. Unlike the Highland Fold, its cousin, it has very short-haired fur. Origin: Scotland © Psihopat, Wikimedia Commons, cc by sa 3.0
The great flexibility of the cat Like other felines, cats have a special skeleton that gives them great flexibility. Their neck vertebrae are short and their small collarbone is connected to the sternum by a single ligament. They can thus move their shoulders independently of each other. © OlsenWeb, Flickr, by nc nd 2.0
The sight of the cat and its piercing gaze Sight is the primary sense of cats. Their field of vision is 287°, against only 180° for humans. In low light, cats see six to eight times better than humans. However, their day vision is not very efficient, these felines poorly perceiving colors and details. © Mike Grimes, cc by nc 2.0
The cat’s whiskers The sense of touch is also well developed in cats. They have long hairs, called vibrissae, on the whiskers, legs, chin and eyebrows. These allow him to estimate the distance to an obstacle, even in total darkness. © Ruth, Flickr, by nc nd 2.0
The long hair of the Persian cat Originally from Iran, the Persian cat is very easily recognizable by its long silky hair. It has a round silhouette and a face with a very short muzzle. Origin: Iran © Chosovi, Wikimedia Commons, cc by 3.0
The bunny cat The Abyssinian, also called bunny cat, is said to be one of the oldest cat breeds. Many believe that it originated in Egypt, although there is no formal proof of this. Origin: Asia © Maliangkay, Wikimedia Commons, DP
The wild cat In some regions, a wild cat designates a non-domestic animal close to the cat, but which does not necessarily belong to the species Felis silvestris. In Canada, the bobcat is thus considered a wild cat. © Alvesgaspar, Wikimedia Commons, cc by sa 3.0
The Thai cat, a cousin of the Siamese As its name suggests, the Thai cat originated in Thailand. It resembles the Siamese, but is more massive and rounder than the latter. Origin: Thailand © Kamée, Wikimedia Commons, GNU 1.2
The savannah, half cat half serval Resulting from the cross between an African feline, the serval, and a domestic cat, the savannah is a new breed of large cats. The first savannah was bred in the United States in April 1986. A female savannah measuring 43 cm at the withers holds the record for the largest domestic cat in the world. This breed shares many similarities with the serval, including size, color, and shape of the ears. Origin: United States © shayhaas, Flickr, cc by nc sa 2.0
The selkirk rex, a ball of curly hair With its curly coat, the selkirk rex is easily recognizable. The first selkirk rex was discovered in 1987 by an American Persian cat breeder. The latter was immediately seduced by this unparalleled breed. Origin: United States © Exition, Flickr, cc by nc sa 2.0
The Mekong bobtail The Mekong bobtail is easily recognized by its tiny tail, which is sometimes completely absent. This particular physical characteristic is due to a genetic mutation. Origin: Russia © Alex Opryatin, Wikimedia Commons, cc by sa 3.0
Kittens’ nap When they are born, the kittens present phantom stripes which gradually disappear with the growth of the hair. © Macphreak, Wikimedia Commons, cc by sa 3.0
The Chartreux, one of the oldest cats in the world One of the oldest natural breeds of cats, the Carthusian, owes its name to the Carthusian monks in whose homes it pursued rats carrying the plague. Originally from Turkey and Iran, he would have been brought back to France at the time of the Crusades. Origin: Turkey, Iran © Abujoy, Wikimedia Commons, cc by sa 3.0
The Maine coon, raccoon genes? The Maine Coon is America’s oldest natural breed of cat. It is also, after the savannah, one of the largest breeds of domestic cats. Several legends revolve around its origins. The most common says that the Maine coon comes from a cross between a cat and a raccoon, from which it would have borrowed its color and its very bushy tail. Of course, this is genetically impossible. However, the breed bears traces of this history in its name (raccoon is called raccoon in English) Origin: Maine (United States) © Ankord, Wikimedia Commons, DP
The ragdoll, a rag doll The ragdoll is a very special cat. Its name, which literally means “rag doll”, comes from the fact that when worn it becomes completely soft. Origin: United States © Mike Lawson, Flickr, cc by nc nd 2.0
The Oriental, a Siamese with a colorful coat Like the Siamese, the Oriental or Oriental Shorthair originated in Thailand. Both arrived in the UK at the end of the 19th century, although the Siamese was favored by the British. Unlike the Siamese, the Oriental has a colorful dress. Origin: Thailand © Heikki Siltala, Wikimedia Commons, cc by 3.0
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