Allergies in Cats: An Overview
Allergies in cats occur when a cat has an immunologic hypersensitivity reaction to a specific environmental, contact or food allergen.
Allergies
Anyone who owns a dog who has allergies knows how frustrating it can be. Allergies are not cured, but managed.
Cat Allergies and Atopy
A cat who is allergic to something will show it through skin problems and itching, i.e., pruritus.
Cat Allergies
Useful Information On Allergies To Cats
What Are Cat Allergies?
Food Allergies: Although tests for food allergy are available, the reliability of the test is so low that it is not recommended at this time. A food trial remains the best diagnostic test for food allergy.
Allergies Cats Allergy Relief Asthma Cat Behavior Cat Breeds Cat Care Cat Fleas Cat Food Cat Health Cat Names Cat Training Cough Dog Allergies Eczema Feline Diabetes Food Allergies Heat Rash Hives Itching Kittens Poison Ivy Poison Oak Reactive Airway ...
Allergies to Cats and Hypoallergenic Cats
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Cat Allergies
Here are some highlights from the article in CATS Magazine, April 1992, pertaining to cats with allergies.
Causes Allergies:
None
Documents and mummified animal remains from ancint Egypt have convinced many people that the Abyssinian is the ancestor of the domestic cat.
Cat Allergies
Breeds
The Cat With The Velvet Waves - The Cornish Rex
ACFA Reinstates the Bengals ...
The Sphynx and allergies, contrary to what some people believe, Sphynxes are not hypo allergenic. These cats still produce the protein to which allergic people react and shed it in their saliva and dander.
DEVON REX CAT AND ALLERGIES The cause of the allergies are the fur and the saliva/dandruff of the cat. The Sphynx cat is one of the best for people with cat allergy because all they have is a kind of fuzz for hair.
Skin Diseases from Allergies in Cats
Skin Infections and Loss of Skin Color Disorders in Cats
Skin Inflammation Due to Allergies (Atopy) in Cats ...
Some people with allergies to cats are able to tolerate Devons but others are not depending on their personal allergies.
However, cat allergies are not actually caused by hair, but by allergens in the skin and dander, so Rexes can still cause problems for allergic humans.
Their dander, which is the usual cause for allergies, tends to remain on the skin rather than floating freely.
Like their Siamese cousins, Colorpoint Shorthair domestic house cats require little grooming and are especially good in households with allergies to cats since both breeds have little dander.
Daily rub downs and twice a week brushings will be not only enjoyed by the cat but also advantageous to your furniture and allergies in the end.
Many pets suffer from skin allergies. These are commonly caused by contact with an irritant substance. Certain grasses and plants can set up an allergic response in the animal when it lies on the vegetation.
Most people who have cat allergies are allergic to cat dander and cat saliva. Since Cornish Rex cats groom as much as or even more than ordinary cats, a Cornish Rex cat will still produce a reaction in people who are allergic to cats.
Does Anyone in the house have allergies?
Some dogs shed more further than others and while no dog is truly nonallergenic - less fair means less allergies. In addition less hair means less mess to clean up.
And as they are easily bathed, many people with allergies to cats discover they can live comfortably with a Devon Rex.
They have no special health problems but as with other lighter coloured cats are more prone to allergies and skin cancers than darker ones.
While no naturally bred cat can be truly hypoallergenic, Devon Rex (and Cornish Rex) do not aggravate allergies in some people with cat allergies. Allergic people are encouraged to visit a breeder to determine their own tolerance for the breed.
Asthma: A chronic respiratory disease, often arising from allergies, that is characterized by sudden recurring attacks of labored breathing, chest constriction, and coughing.
Asymptomatic: Neither causing nor exhibiting symptoms of disease.
Hypo-allergenic (can vary according to an individual's allergies)
Does best indoors
Needs sufficient scratching device
Declawing is not recommended
Kittens are available after 12-16 weeks
Low maintenance ...
It is a great animal to have in the home of anyone who suffers from allergies or asthma as it possesses a low allergenic "poodle-like" coat that is low maintenance and sheds little hair thus making pet ownership a possibility.
Adult cats are available for adoption for many reasons, for example, the owners moved or died, allergies, and for other silly reasons.
Cornish Rex shed less than many breeds but do produce dander and so are not automatically the breed of choice for those with cat allergies that wish to own a cat.
The Burmilla is a generally healthy bread. Some may suffer from allergies.
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Constant scratching to remove fleas can cause open sores that may lead to serious infections, lesions or damaged fur. Allergies to flea bites (flea saliva) are an enormous problem in cats and dogs.
The coat is also somewhat hypo-allergenic which makes the breed a bonus for most people who suffer from allergies to cats or asthma.
The Devon Rex is also a good potential choice for people who are allergic to cats. While no cat can be truly hypoallergenic, many people with allergies to cats discover they can live comfortably with a Devon Rex.
They have relatively small heads with abnormally large ears. Another thing that makes Devon Rex cats popular is the fact that many people with allergies to cats can tolerate having one in their homes.
The Sphynx cats may develop lumps and are prone to allergies. The International Cat Association recognizes the Sphynx as a breed. however many registering organizations refuse the Sphynx stating that the cat is a genetic malformation.
Consider things such as age, are their infants or elderly in the household. Also think about health and safety, does anyone suffer from allergies, have problems with their immune system, or have a chronic illness.
The cats are not really hairless as some believe; they have fine hair covering their bodies. To feel a Sphynx is like touching a suede hot water bottle. They bond with their humans, are affectionate and make good pets for people with allergies.
Please, before you race out and look for a rex cat, remember you should always test your allergies by visiting home or catteries that only own rex cats, and test continuously over several weeks or months.
It should be noted, however, that many people who have cat allergies are allergic to a protein in the saliva of cats which is spread when cats groom. The Sphynx does groom himself, so you may still find yourself allergic to this striking cat.
 See also: Veterinarian, Behavior, Parasite, Bacteria, Allergy
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