What types of cats

[quakerboy]

are lower on the allergen levels? Are there any good ones for a moderately allergic person?

[Critters2]

1. Devon rexes and Cornish rexes. Or Sphynx.

They're expensive, and have their own health issues. Especially the Sphynx, which is a genetic nightmare.

Claritin would be cheaper and easier.

[quakerboy]

3. I was hoping that you would say

Ragdoll. That would be a much better answer for me.

[Critters2]

5. I've never heard that ragdolls have any advantage re: allergies.

Don't know why they would, given their coat.


Sorry.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. Ragdolls don't shed

They're allegedly good for people with allergies.

[Withywindle]

2. Siamese, I hear.

Also Sphynx cats, of course, but they are, er, aesthetically challenging.

[quakerboy]

4. Siamese.. potential there

how are they on personality? I only know alley. How does one even learn about cats?

[Withywindle]

6. Well, they vary a lot, just like people.

But I've always heard that Siamese are intelligent, vocal, demanding, and charismatic.

Here's a web site to start with: http://www.catchannel.com/breeds/default.aspx

[nomorenomore08]

15. Totally - my (applehead) Siamese, Bob, thinks he's the undisputed master of the house.

We've always called him "Sir Robert" for that reason. And while he isn't extremely vocal, he does have a noticeably different meow from most cats, louder and more guttural.

[nickinSTL]

14. a couple sites on cat breeds

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

http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/catselectorindex.do

[Inchworm]

10. Take me to your leader

They've landed!!!

:scared:

[InvisibleTouch]

11. Sphynx cats are super-sweet.

Very personable and interactive. Whether you like their physical appearance is a matter of personal taste, of course, but in terms of personality you can't beat them. They are also pleasant and warm to touch. A lot of them do have some downy hair; the totally hairless ones are fairly rare and command the highest prices.

Myself, I like the look.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. If you google "hypoallergenic cats", you get all kinds of hits...

But scanning them roughly, the least expensive I saw was $1,200, and the most expensive, $37,000. Yeah...That's 3 zeros. Oy.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

16. Ragdoll cats (at least pet quality) are much cheaper than that

My mom's one Ragdoll cost $600 and the other one was free from a kitten mill breeder. Not that I suggest getting a kitten mill cat, but the other one came from a good breeder. Cuddles just wasn't show quality (he didn't have a pure white stomach, which mitted ragdolls are supposed to have).

[Withywindle]

8. There's a product you can buy to wipe down cat's fur a few times a week

a sort of kitty conditioner, supposed to help cut down on dander (which is what causes the allergic reaction). I can't speak to its effectiveness - I'm not allergic-- but I know it exists.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Check ye Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_cats#Hypoallergenic_cats

Hypoallergenic cats
A hypoallergenic cat is a cat which is less likely to provoke an allergic reaction in humans. There is scientific evidence that the Siberian and Russian Blue breeds are naturally hypoallergenic.( http://www.siberian-cat-breeder.com/hypo_allergenic_cat.html ) Similarly, cat breeds such as the LaPerm, Sphynx, Devon Rex, and Cornish Rex, which lack some of the normal layers of cat fur, are generally held by mild allergy sufferers to be significantly less likely than other breeds to provoke an allergic reaction. However, as more people are allergic to the cat's saliva rather than the fur itself, the benefit of a hairless breed may be limited.

In 2006 the Allerca company announced the successful breeding of a line of hypoallergenic cats. However, no peer-reviewed studies have been done to confirm their claims and many scientists and consumers are skeptical of the company's assertions.<3> They are currently accepting orders for hypoallergenic kittens.<4> Another company, Felix Pets, also claims to be developing a breed of hypoallergenic cat.<5>


Other cat variations
It appears that female cats shed substantially lower amounts of allergen than males, and a neutered male sheds significantly less than a full male tom. In 2000, researchers at the Long Island College Hospital found that cat owners with dark-colored cats were more likely to report allergy symptoms than those with light-colored cats.<6><7><8> A later study by the Wellington Asthma Research Group indicates that hair color has no effect on how much allergen a cat produces.<9><10>

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. Ragdolls

They have long hair, but they don't really shed. They're supposed to be good with allergies. My mom has two. They're pretty cute, too.