Hypoallergenic Cats: Should You Own One?

There are millions of allergy sufferers in the world today, many of whom just happen to be cat lovers. Sadly, most of the percentage of that population has lived their entire lives without having the companionship of a beautiful and loving cat. However, the introduction of hypoallergenic cats may have changed all of that.

A hypoallergenic cat is one that is not as likely to cause an allergic reaction in humans who were previously allergic to cats. Although there is no scientific proof, the Siberian and Russian Blue cat breeds are said to be naturally hypoallergenic. Other cat breeds like the Sphynx, LaPerm, Cornish Rex, and Devon Rex don't have some of the normal layers of cat fur possessed by more common breeds. These breeds can sometimes be tolerated by people with only mild allergies to cats. However, the most common allergy is to the cat's saliva rather than the fur, so for those people, even a hairless cat breed may not be the answer.

The Allerca Company announced in 2006 that they have been successful in breeding a line of hypoallergenic cats. Although there have been no studies reviewed on this claim, many people are already placing orders for hypoallergenic kittens. Felix Pets is another company who claims to be in the process of developing a hypoallergenic cat breed.

Obviously, for the true cat lover, news like this could be the answer to a dream for them if they have not been able to have a pet cat due to allergies. It offers them the chance to actually own and cuddle that long elusive cat. This is definitely the biggest advantage of owning a hypoallergenic cat. You would finally have your very own kitty, and not have to worry about it kicking up any of your allergy symptoms.

However, the cat breeds that are believed to be hypoallergenic are also quite an expensive investment. They run from $300 on the low end to $2000 on the high end for one of these special kittens. You would need to make very sure that you can afford the cost of buying and caring for a kitten like this.

Another thing to consider is making completely sure that you are going to respond well to the hypoallergenic kitten of your choice. It would be not only quite a waste of money, but heartbreaking as well, to buy your precious kitten only to find out afterward that your allergies are going to be irritated by it. Your doctor may be able to help you in testing this before you get too excited. If everything works out your way, then owning a hypoallergenic cat could be the answer for you.