About Cat Allergies

Even if you are allergic to cats, you can probably have a cat as a pet. Many people don't know what causes most allergic reactions - and it's not cat fur.

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Cats produce a protein called Fel d 1 in their salivary and sebaceous (skin oil) glands. When they groom themselves, this protein gets distributed onto the fur, and sometimes attaches to dead skin cells (dander). When it dries, it floats off into the air. When it is inhaled or gets onto your hands, reactions like sneezing, itchy eyes or even hives can occur. 

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There are actions that reduce the allergens in your environment, like washing your hands or vacuuming with a Hepa filter, but these do not remove the original source. For that, you need to choose a hypoallergenic cat breed that produces much lower Fel d 1, like a Siberian.

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Within the breed, there is a lot of variation. Some Siberian cats are more hypoallergenic than others. That's why it's important to be exposed to the specific cat that you are interested in bringing into your home. There is a saliva test that can be performed on 12-week-old kittens that accurately rates their allergen levels, making it simple to match prospective families with suitable hypoallergenic kittens. The chart below shows the Fel d 1 levels recommended for differing severities of allergic reactions. The lower the level, the safer the kitten for the cat allergy sufferer. ​​