Hypoallergenic cats?

Fire_Fox

scotsgirl wrote: »

Funny tifrap mine are also on the same food! This thread is not helping to narrow down why my friends aren't allergic to them, lol! Mine are on RC 33 for exactly the same reason, the youngest maine coon has avery runny tummy on cheaper foods, won't touch raw either sadly, and all 3 seem to be thriving on it now.

It may be how the individual cat processes the specific food - some cats are going to struggle digesting all cereals, some may be sensitive to rice, some to wheat or maize, some to fish .... and just as with humans there are varying degrees within that. I am not saying food is the only reason, as some humans will always be allergic. Royal Canin appeared to make Noah scratch and his poop stink: with Orijen and raw we have no smells.

Fire_Fox

Person_one wrote: »

I understand that this may be the case, but I intend to explore every avenue to find out first! I used to think I'd never be able to live with a dog but have found quite a few breeds that have no effect on me at all!

I would get another dog if it were an option but me and OH both work full time and live in an 10th floor flat. I've considered house rabbits and other small animals. I've had rats before and been fine but maybe a rabbit would be a bit too much fur!

Most cats need company or stimulation just as much as dogs do so experts would recommend two cats in your situation. To shut two cats in a flat all day AND not be able to keep windows open in case they leap to their death is asking for trouble allergy-wise! It is not recommended to leave many designs of windows open just a little as the 'V' shape is dangerous. I would say you don't really have the ideal environment for a cat - perhaps you could wait until you are in a position to have a cat flap? :huh:

Are you able to install proper cat proofing on the windows and is it then secure to leave them open each day? There are quite a few systems on the market, the problem I have found is that many need to be fixed to the outside which in a flat is not practical! :mad: Many systems are also quite expensive - because I am at home a good deal I am able to isolate rooms and open windows safety.

My other thought it to install high quality extractors or, better still, a positive input ventilation system with HEPA filter such as the Flatmaster. However this is also an expensive option and I doubt it would eliminate risk, simply add in to your OH grooming daily and vaccum with a HEPA filter.

Person_one

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Most cats need company or stimulation just as much as dogs do so experts would recommend two cats in your situation. To shut two cats in a flat all day AND not be able to keep windows open in case they leap to their death is asking for trouble allergy-wise! It is not recommended to leave many designs of windows open just a little as the 'V' shape is dangerous. I would say you don't really have the ideal environment for a cat - perhaps you could wait until you are in a position to have a cat flap? :huh:

Are you able to install proper cat proofing on the windows and is it then secure to leave them open each day? There are quite a few systems on the market, the problem I have found is that many need to be fixed to the outside which in a flat is not practical! :mad: Many systems are also quite expensive - because I am at home a good deal I am able to isolate rooms and open windows safety.

My other thought it to install high quality extractors or, better still, a positive input ventilation system with HEPA filter such as the Flatmaster. However this is also an expensive option and I doubt it would eliminate risk, simply add in to your OH grooming daily and vaccum with a HEPA filter.

Thanks this is all stuff to think about.

A lot of the stuff I've read seems to suggest that most cats are fine with about 2 hours of attention from their humans each day, have you experienced differently?

Our windows are already fitted with safety catches due to the height of the flat and only open a couple of centimetres. I hadn't thought about the problems this might cause with lack of fresh air though. We do have good extractor fans, one in the bathroom and one in the living room/kitchen.

Our flat is quite allergy friendly, wooden floors, leather sofa, no curtains so I had hoped that lots of hoovering and dusting of surfaces would help us.

Obviously we haven't made any decisions yet and won't until we've spoken to some breeders and spent some time with the cats that are possibilities. Don't worry, I don't want to be a bad pet owner!

lowis

i live on the 11th floor - and i have two cats. my ex who is allergic to cats (who i mentioned earlier in thread) can't spend more than 30 mins in my flat now without getting some sort of reaction, after an hour she has to leave. (fyi - she can tolerate some dog breeds such as poodles and parsons jack russel and she was fine with our pet rabbit, but he lived on my balcony so his hair didn't build up in my flat).

despite having wooden floors, wooden blinds etc my flat is STILL basically a nightmare for anyone with cat allergies - no matter how much hoovering and cleaning i do, there is cat hair and dander around all the time. i don't open the windows for obvious reasons - i only open the small little windows at the top of the frame, and only by an inch, and they can't get out of these. i do open the door to the balcony and let them wander around on the balcony supervised - but i have fully cat-proofed it so they can't have any fatal falls.

if you are determined to try it out if i was you i would ask a breed rescue if you can foster for them, and then if it doesn't work out you can just hand the cats back. you might be better with an older cat who sleeps most of the day if you only intend to get one - most cats need stimulation of some kind, it would be cruel to leave one cat alone for 8 or 9 hours a day, every day, alone in a flat.

Fire_Fox

Person_one wrote: »

Thanks this is all stuff to think about.

A lot of the stuff I've read seems to suggest that most cats are fine with about 2 hours of attention from their humans each day, have you experienced differently?

Obviously we haven't made any decisions yet and won't until we've spoken to some breeders and spent some time with the cats that are possibilities. Don't worry, I don't want to be a bad pet owner!

I had hoped my thoughts were coming over as constructive criticism, apologies if not. I have an indoor cat myself - Noah - he doesn't like other cats and has a paw condition whereby the vet has advised him not to go outside. Soooo I am not against the idea of indoor cats BUT I do believe there is a difference between being 'fine' and being happy and healthy.

Cats are quite intelligent, they do need quite a bit of mental stimulation and physical activity. With an outdoor cat they get an awful lot of that from being out and about - lots of different smells and sights, things to hunt and climb, other cats to play with or challenge to a duel! :cool: An indoor cat doesn't get any of that so they really are reliant on human companionship or other pets in the household.

Noah probably does get about two hours of undivided attention per day, but it isn't all in one hit - he needs cuddles or playtime multiple times a day. :j I have also spent a small fortune on interactive and solo play toys but he does still spend a LOT of time grooming: over-grooming is an issue for indoor cats.

If you have two cats they can entertain one another, most rescues and some breeders will not house a single indoor cat to someone who works full time. Any cat you get from a breeder *should* have been well socialised which means they should get more attached to you that an ex-feral. Often a cat from a breeder won't have lived alone, so you don't know whether they will love or hate single life!

The other issue with indoor cats, especially single indoor cats, is being able to go away and leave them as then there is no external stimulation. I've had to leave Noah overnight twice and it really isn't ideal, he was quite clingy when I returned. With hindsight this is what I didn't properly consider I had to go away in the worst of the snow so I couldn't rely on friends/ family to pop in.

Sorry bit of an essay, hopefully you can overcome the potential problems as cats are just amazing! :A Lowis' idea of fostering sounds great if it can be organised.

SUESMITH_2

im allergic to cats but i was fine with my friends Rex, no reaction at all.

tandraig

If you are allergic to short-haired cats - then try long-haired, an hour or two catsitting or visiting a friend with a long haired cat will usually show up an allergy.but whatever breed you will need to keep the cat - its bed - and your home scrupulously clean. and the homeopathy suggestion is also a good one but be sure to visit one who is experienced with allergies.

kiraroo

I have a sphynx and she still produces dander (this is what causes the allergy apparently) i don't know if this is different for rexes but in sphynxs they definitely do still have dander, although I do give her a bath every week

Person_one

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I had hoped my thoughts were coming over as constructive criticism, apologies if not. I have an indoor cat myself - Noah - he doesn't like other cats and has a paw condition whereby the vet has advised him not to go outside. Soooo I am not against the idea of indoor cats BUT I do believe there is a difference between being 'fine' and being happy and healthy.

Cats are quite intelligent, they do need quite a bit of mental stimulation and physical activity. With an outdoor cat they get an awful lot of that from being out and about - lots of different smells and sights, things to hunt and climb, other cats to play with or challenge to a duel! :cool: An indoor cat doesn't get any of that so they really are reliant on human companionship or other pets in the household.

Noah probably does get about two hours of undivided attention per day, but it isn't all in one hit - he needs cuddles or playtime multiple times a day. :j I have also spent a small fortune on interactive and solo play toys but he does still spend a LOT of time grooming: over-grooming is an issue for indoor cats.

If you have two cats they can entertain one another, most rescues and some breeders will not house a single indoor cat to someone who works full time. Any cat you get from a breeder *should* have been well socialised which means they should get more attached to you that an ex-feral. Often a cat from a breeder won't have lived alone, so you don't know whether they will love or hate single life!

The other issue with indoor cats, especially single indoor cats, is being able to go away and leave them as then there is no external stimulation. I've had to leave Noah overnight twice and it really isn't ideal, he was quite clingy when I returned. With hindsight this is what I didn't properly consider I had to go away in the worst of the snow so I couldn't rely on friends/ family to pop in.

Sorry bit of an essay, hopefully you can overcome the potential problems as cats are just amazing! :A Lowis' idea of fostering sounds great if it can be organised.

No apology necessary! Its great to hear from people who know what they're talking about! I've only ever had dogs and small animals so I'm really a complete novice when it comes to cat behaviour and needs, everything I know is just in theory from the internet.

Its good to be thinking about the possible downsides and the fact that it may not be a realistic possibility, I like to go into these things with my eyes open rather than just hoping for the best. I've had an e-mail from a breeder of Siberians who is allergic to most cats herself but fine with hers and she has offered for us to go round and sit with the cats for a bit.

If (and its a huge if!) there are no allergy problems then I guess we will have to start thinking about the practicalities, getting 2 rather than 1, how to keep them occupied etc. but the allergies are the biggest potential roadblock so I'll worry about that first and then the rest later!

I like the idea of fostering and am currently googling for breed specific rescues in another window!

maysmummy

My sis, who is a cat lover but allergic tried a siberian forest cat -allergic.

She solved her problem with a poodle. Poodles have wool not hair and she's fine with this.