Allergies & Cures

Having a hairless cat in your home may seem the right solution for your feline allergy. For instance, a hairless cat such as the well known Sphinx breed does have a smaller amount of hair and this fact can reduce the amount of allergens in the air. Sphinx cat is regarded as an affectionate pet. This cat loves to stay close to its master and loves to snuggle. Many people claim that this particular breed comes with hypoallergenic properties and can be owned by people who have mild or moderate allergic reactions to cats.

Another pro to owning a cat belonging to this particular breed is its personality – for instance, a well raised cat from this breed can be quite ongoing, attention seeking and more curious when compared to cats belonging to other breeds. But if you think that this breed is a real solution to your cat allergy, you should pay attention to the following things in order to decider whether to buy or adopt a cat from this breed in spite of your allergy.

• First, the cat's hair is not considered a general allergen. Even if airborne cat hair is likely to become a real nuisance for almost every cat owner, due to the fact that this hair is breathed on a constant basis, it may not trigger the allergic reactions. In fact, the number one allergen when it comes to a cat allergy is a protein every cat produces, namely Feline d1. This is a protein that is produced by the glands that can be found in the cat's skin. It can be found in your cat's saliva, dander and urine and this happens regardless of your cat's breed. In fact, cat hair is only a way of transporting this particular allergen instead of being a cause for your allergic reactions. Sphinx cat is not an exception from this rule. The protein is quite hardy and it can stay active for longer period of times. Also, Fel d1 attaches to other household pollutants that are usually found even in the cleanest homes.

• So, the lack of hair that is characteristic for the Sphinx cats will bring you even closer to the real source of the allergen because this allergen is secreted by the cat's sebaceous glands. Cat hair is the one that serves as a sort of barrier for this allergen. So, in the case of a hairless cat, you will be closer to the source of the allergen because the hair will not be there to protect you any longer. 

• A Sphinx cat will also require more maintenance and this will force you to have more physical contact with your cat unless you decide to delegate another person to take proper care of the job. Keep in mind that the normal oil production is likely to be readily apparent right on the cat's skin – your cat will keep on rubbing itself on bedding, furniture, floors and ever type of surface that it frequents. So, a proper maintenance of such hairless cat will include some regularly scheduled baths in order to keep all the dangerous skin oils away.

• Remember that you will get no guarantee when it comes to solving your allergy by adopting or buying a hairless cat because every cat is going to be individual when it comes to the exact amount of protein it produces. Hairless cats tend to be really affectionate and they are fond of being cuddled. So, you will be more likely to end up being kissed and licked all day long. Once the cat's saliva dries, it will flake off thus becoming unwanted airborne causing problems.