Are Ragdoll cats really hypoallergenic?
July 9th, 2010
Because I want a cat but have mild allergies to them, and then came across the Ragdoll breed which apparently is hypoallergenic. Don’t go ranting at me or anything, because I won’t listen! Just answer the question! What is your experience with these cats? Thanks
Ragdoll Cat – Ragdoll Cat Videos – Ragdoll Kittens
They do produce less dander than, say, a Persian, but other than that, no, Ragdolls aren’t hypoallergenic
No, Ragdoll cats are not hypoallergenic.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the HAIR NOR DANDER which cause the allergic reaction. It is an enzyme in ALL CATS saliva.
The hair gets the blame simply because they lick their hair all the time. But you simply cannot get away from the saliva.
HOWEVER… there are somethings you can do to help limit an allergic reaction….
1. Get a SHORT haired cat… the shorter the hair the less hair to have to deal with. (Okay, so you don’t have this choice right now… go to #2)
2. BRUSH the cat often to get rid of the excess hair.
3. VACUUM your carpets/floors/sofas/furniture wherever the cat "lives."
4. WASH the cats’ beds (or other things they frequent… pillows, blankets, etc) regularly to get rid of the enzymes that can build up.
5. BATHE your cats often. Okay, not an EASY thing! But you can purchase bath-wipes specially made for cats. Rub the cat to "bathe" him/her to get rid of the enzymes they lick onto their coats. If you CAN get your cat USED TO an actual bath (or take to a groomer regularly for a bath) then that would be great! Every 2 weeks, with the bath wipes in between would be great.
6. DO NOT ALLOW your cat to SLEEP in the bedroom of the allergy sufferer…. that is if you have any overnight guests.
7. Purchase and TAKE allergy meds DAILY. There are 24-hr antihistamines which are perfectly SAFE to take every day. Wal-Mart has their own brand which is a whole lot cheaper than the brand name. These will help cope with whatever symptoms are being suffered with…. well.. as for your guests, this may not be practical. But if you have a long-staying guest, maybe it could be suggested to them if they are having a particularly bad reaction.
So, there you have it! Most of these steps are not difficult to do and will make allergic life with your cats tolerable!
Me… kittyslave23… I know my place.
I suggest that you look into Siberian cats because they are thought to be the least allergy provoking. Usually the allergy is caused by a protein called fel-d-1 from the saliva. Siberians seem to have the lowest count of this protein. Hypo means less than, so probably every cat can have the potential to cause an allergic reaction. Siberian cats are said to be hypoallergenic. My husband is very allergic to cats and had a difficult time with my cat. After she passed on, we got a Siberian kitten and the difference is absolutely amazing. It’s a dream come true for us.