Allergic to Cats but Love Them Anyway? By: Dr. Karen Shaw Becker

"An estimated 10 percent of Americans are allergic to household pets, and cat allergies

are twice as common as dog allergies. Most people with cat allergies react to Feld 1, a

protein found on cat skin (although there are other cat allergens as well found on the

fur and in saliva).

The Feld 1 protein is quite small, so when it's attached to a piece of airborne cat hair

or skin, it can linger in the air for hours - much longer than a dog allergen would

typically stay airborne. Meanwhile, the Fel d1 protein is quite sticky, so it readily

attaches to your clothing and skin, and can even be transferred quite easily to public

locations that have no cats present, like a school classroom.

Male cats tend to produce more of this allergenic protein than female cats - especially

if they're not neutered. However, all cats produce the Fel d1 protein, and it's not

related to the amount of dander or shedding. This means there are no truly

hypoallergenic cat breeds. That being said, some cat breeds may be better for pet

lovers with allergies than others, and Bengals are said to be among the most

"hypoallergenic" of all cat breeds.

Bengal: Bengals' fur is uniquely fine, which means it requires less grooming than

other cats may require. Since they spend less time licking their fur, it contains less

saliva (a common source of cat allergens) and their dander is less likely to be spread around."