Do you have a cat allergy? If so, it can be difficult to find the right cat for your family.
Cats are not all created equal — some breeds are more likely to cause allergic reactions than others. Here are some of the worst cat breeds for allergies:
Persian
Siamese
Bengal cat
Russian Blue
American Curl
If you or someone in your household has allergies, you may have thought about adopting a cat. Cats are wonderful pets and can be great companions. However, some people are allergic to cats. You might not know if you’re allergic until you actually get one.
If you or someone in the household has allergies and you’re considering getting a cat, here are the worst cat breeds for allergies. These cats shed more than others and can cause more problems for allergy sufferers.
Worst Cat Breeds For Allergies
Persians
Himalayans
Bengals
Russian Blues
If you’re an allergy sufferer, you might be wondering which cat breeds are the best for you.
Cat allergies can be triggered by a protein in cat saliva and dander. Dander is microscopic pieces of dead skin that are shed from the cat’s body all the time. When you pet or cuddle a cat, some dander will stick to your skin and clothing, where the dander will remain until it is washed off or falls off.
Allergies are caused by your immune system reacting to foreign substances called allergens. Your body makes antibodies called IgE (immunoglobulin E) that attach to special cells called mast cells in your nose, throat, lungs and eyes. These IgE-mast cell complexes release chemicals like histamine that cause redness, swelling and itching around the area where the allergen enters your body. The symptoms usually start within minutes or hours after exposure to an allergen and can range from mild to severe depending on how much exposure you have experienced.*
If you’re allergic to cats, it’s important to know which cat breeds are the most likely to trigger your allergies. Not all cats are created equal, and some are more likely to cause allergic reactions than others.
The Ragdoll
The Ragdoll is a large breed with blue eyes and long hair. They’re known for being extremely affectionate and having a sweet temperament. But unfortunately, they’re also known for having a long coat that sheds heavily year-round. This means they can be quite difficult to groom, which can make them a bad choice if you have limited time or patience.
The Persian
Persians are another popular breed that has long hair and big eyes of different colors (usually blue). Their coats require daily brushing and grooming, which can be difficult if you’re not up for the task or don’t have the time for it. The Persians’ thick coats also shed all year long, so if you have allergies, this may not be the best cat for you.
The Sphynx
Sphynxes are hairless cats with wrinkled skin from their noses down their legs and tails — making them look like little aliens! They’re friendly by nature but tend not
Cats are known for being clean and low-maintenance pets, but that doesn’t mean they’re allergy-friendly.
About 8% of people are allergic to cats, says Dr. Susan Cone, an allergist in Boston. And even if you don’t have allergies yourself, your cat may be the cause of your sniffles and sneezes if he sheds dander — tiny particles from his skin — around the house.
Although some breeds are less likely than others to cause allergies, no breed is entirely hypoallergenic. To keep your sneezing and wheezing in check:
Don’t buy a kitten. The longer you wait, the less likely you are to develop allergies later on, Cone says.
Get a short-haired cat instead of long-haired ones or longhaired ones like Persians or Himalayans. Even though they shed less than their long-haired counterparts, short-haired cats still produce dander that can trigger allergies in some people. “The length of hair makes no difference,” Cone says.
Choose a breed that’s not popular with breeders who might sell kittens with genetic defects such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD). These defects can strike even if