smb (04/01/83)
This may sound weird, but do such critters exist? That is, I would like to have a cat, but my wife is allergic to them. Some folks have told us that Abyssinian cats are indeed hypoallergenic, and we have some evidence that Siamese cats (or at least, one particular half-Siamese we knew) don't cause my wife to react. --Steve
mark (04/01/83)
Allergies vary from person to person, but I am certainly allergic to my sister-in-law's Siamese cat. I suspect that a person with cat allergies will often be bothered by any cat or dog that sheds.
mag (04/01/83)
I am aware on one type of hypoallergenic cat-- the English Rex. These cats are a genetic mutation which has bred true. They possess no undercoat, the part which causes allergic reactions, and their top coat is very thin, soft, and wavy, like Persian lamb. They also have one of the friendliest dispositions of any cats I have encountered. Last time I looked, breeders were selling kittens for about $100. Mike Gray, BTL, WH.
bch (04/01/83)
Unfortunately it is not the fur *per se* of cats that most people are allergic to, but the saliva spread on it from constant cleaning. I have heard (but do not have positive evidence) that Abyssinian cats induce fewer allergies than others. They do have very short fur and tend not to shed. I would tend to think that any cat which sheds only a little would be a good candidate for a companion to those allergic to cats. Byron Howes unc!bch