Are Siamese Cats Hypoallergenic? Interesting Facts
Are Siamese Cats Hypoallergenic? Siamese cats are iconic for their light brown body and dark brown socks and ears. They seem pretty furry, you wonder. Could they be hypoallergenic? Though no cat is purely hypoallergenic, Siamese cats are considered hypoallergenic cats. They are not the most hypoallergenic breed, but people with mild to moderate cat allergies typically do well with them.
How could this be? Let’s find out.
What is the Science behind Hypoallergenic Cats?
When someone has a cat allergy, they react to the proteins the cats create. This protein is found in a cat’s urine, dander, and saliva. All cats have these things, and therefore, all cats make these proteins. You aren’t going to find a protein-less cat. Therefore, there isn’t any such thing as a hypoallergenic cat (or dog).
The amount of fur a cat produces doesn’t have anything to do with whether or not there are hypoallergenic. Those with allergies aren’t allergic to a cat’s fur; they’re allergic to their skin. It doesn’t matter if the cat sheds or not, therefore. Any cat that has skin and makes dander will set off someone’s allergies. There is currently no cat that doesn’t produce dander.
Fur can work to spread the dander around. It may help it stay airborne. However, dander does an excellent job at this itself, so it often doesn’t need the loose fur to cause allergens. The protein that causes cat allergies is found everywhere, including places that don’t even have cats, like schools and stores. The dander likely catches a ride on people’s clothing and is deposited into the environment. The hair itself isn’t essential in this process.
Do Siamese Cats Affect Allergies?
Are Siamese Cats Hypoallergenic? Unfortunately, Siamese cats aren’t among the breeds that produce less Fel d 1 allergen. They are, however, a breed that is recognized for shedding very little. This is how they earned the title of “hypoallergenic” dog breed. When they groom themselves, cats leave the Fel d 1 allergen on their fur. The allergen is discharged into your house when they shed. Because Siamese cats don’t shed as much as other cats, they won’t aggravate your allergies as much.
Your sensitivity will determine how much a Siamese cat impacts your allergies. No cat will be a suitable pet for hypersensitive individuals to the Fel d 1 allergen. It just takes a tiny amount of exposure to cause an allergic response. However, if you’re just mildly allergic to cats, the Siamese is a breed that may be a better option for you than others.
Do Siamese cats shed?
Not as much as some of the others. The hair of a Siamese cat is short and velvety. It’s difficult to tell how much they shed. The Siamese, like other cats, goes through two molts every year.
Excellent daily combing and frequent vacuuming should keep everything in control during these times. Indoor cats tend to have irregular molts.
If you don’t want your cat going around outdoors alone, the Siamese may be taught to walk on a leash.
How to Minimize Cat Allergens
Are Siamese Cats Hypoallergenic? Make sure the cat gets a bath or at the very least a brushing regularly. It’s best if you delegate grooming to someone who isn’t allergic. Two to three baths a week in the cold, distilled water will remove up to 84 percent of existing allergens and reduce allergy generation if the cat tolerates it. Brushing regularly will keep dander at bay and reduce the number of stray hairs strewn around the house. All cats’ bedding and toys should be washed at least once a week. Wash your hands and face after touching your cat. After you’ve done so, don’t touch your face or eyes.
Qualities in Cats
Long-Haired
It would seem that cats with shorter hair would be more hypoallergenic than long-haired cats. Science proves the opposite. Since we already know that people aren’t necessarily allergic to the cat’s hair, the hair length shouldn’t matter too much.
What has been discovered is that the Fel d 1 protein is contained within the skin and within the hair better when the cat hair is longer. This means less protein is released into the air or onto other objects.
Low Shedding
Cats that shed more minors will have less chance to release the Fel d 1 protein into the environment around them. So, it makes sense that a low shedding cat would have better hypoallergenic qualities than a high shedding one.
Female
Compared to their male counterparts, females make less Fel d 1. If you want a cat, buying a female cat is preferable when you suffer slightly from cat allergies.
Outdoor
Part of the reason people get allergic reactions from pets is that the offending animal lives in the house. There’s no avoiding the Fel d 1 protein getting everywhere when your cat lives inside. One easy way to have fewer allergic reactions to cat hair is by keeping your cat outside, where they can spread that protein around without it bothering you or your guests.
How to Minimize Cat Allergens and Live with a Cat Even if You Are Allergic?
You don’t have to completely give up on your dream of keeping a Siamese if you are allergic to pets. There are various ways to co-exist with a cat easily and with more fun without triggering allergic reactions.
Check with Your Doctor
First and foremost, you have to check with your doctor if you are allergic to pets or not. You might be allergic to something else in your surroundings, but the allergic reactions started showing up after you contacted a cat. So, it is advisable to go through allergy tests and determine what might be causing the allergic reactions.
Keep Your House Clean
Another essential thing to combat pet-related allergies is to keep your house clean and tidy. Regularly vacuuming and dusting can help reduce the allergens. That will be a plus if you can invest in filters and air purifiers. Installing such filters can help in purifying the air. You may also want to invest in a vacuum cleaner with a pet power brush that will pick up all the fur that your cat sheds without burning out the motor.
Create a Cat-Free Zone
You need to stop your cat towing behind you all the time if you have feline allergies. You can create a cat-free space in your house. This should be a place that your cat cannot access. Similarly, you can also limit your cat to a specific area—install her cat window perch, cat trees, bed, etc., in that area to never get bored and have access to all the essentials. You can also use cat collars to make your cat stay away from certain indoor off-limit areas.
Groom Your Cat
To keep your house free of allergy-inducing fur and dander, it is advised to brush your cat regularly. This will help you control the allergens and maintain skin and coat health for your cat and strengthen your bond with your cat.
If possible, you should do the cat brushing outside, so there is less fur-shedding inside the premises of your house.
Remove Things that Trap Allergens in
Certain things in or around the house allow the allergens to adhere to them for a long time, such as carpets, upholstered furniture, and some types of bed linens and fabrics. As it may not be possible to remove all these items from your house, you can try cleaning them regularly.
Use Cat Moisturizers to control Allergens.
Bathing could be a great way to remove dander from cat skin but bathing a kitten is a daunting task as most cats hate water. So instead, we advise you to use a cat moisturizer to get rid of the allergens clinging to your cat’s skin.
Wash Your Hands After Touching a Cat
Remember to wash your hands every time you touch your cat or her belongings. It would help if you also clean your hand after petting your cat, putting food in her bowls, cleaning her litter box, etc. This will help you eliminate the allergens that might have clung to your hands.
Try Medication and Therapies
It is always sensible to consult your doctor and inform yourself about your allergy’s possible treatments. Your doctor can prescribe medications or suggest possible treatments, such as immunotherapy. As medications can help you deal with the symptoms of feline allergy, undergoing immunotherapy can make you more tolerant of allergens.
Other Quick Facts about Siamese Cats
Are Siamese Cats Hypoallergenic? A Siamese cat can be your new best friend when you are looking for a cat with hypoallergenic qualities. These cats are incredibly playful, loving, and loyal. Some would even call their behavior dog-like! For around $200, you can have your own purebred Siamese kitten. Be sure to provide them with lots of entertainment, in toy form and with your attention.
The Conclusion
Are Siamese Cats Hypoallergenic? Since no cat breed is entirely hypoallergenic and not even the Siamese, Siamese can be considered hypoallergenic compared with other breeds. The low-level release of Fel D1 protein and low shedding make them nearly hypoallergenic.
Also, Siamese releases a shallow level of dander which is also the main reason for many allergic reactions. Even the cats with no hairs or short hairs have some dander, but in Siamese, dander present in cats’ coats is also considerably less than in most breeds. Thanks to the long silky hairs of Siamese, which help trap the allergens in the cat’s skin, and thus it does not spread all over as compared to other breeds.
It simply means that Siamese does not spread much dander, and they are a good fit for an allergy-ridden home. Siamese love to enjoy human company, and if they are groomed with proper care, you can keep your home allergen-free.
