A Big Question for Exotic Cat Lovers: Are Siamese Cats Hypoallergenic?
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Cats are always wonderful pets, and Siamese are one of the most beloved. Many people live with pet allergies, and cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies. When we talk about Siamese cats, one of the most popular cat breeds known for their beautiful temperaments, a curious question, are Siamese cats hypoallergenic? Let's learn the answer together!
Siamese cats have unique Himalayan genes and that is why they have long, silky coats which do not make them a good candidate for a hypoallergenic cat breed. It is also seen that Siamese cats cause fewer allergic reactions compared to other breeds of cats.
Are Siamese cats hypoallergenic?
Hypoallergenic is not the right term. No cat can be completely hypoallergenic, not even hairless cats. Luckily, Siamese cats aren't heavy, so they're a good choice for people with cat allergies.
Despite the long coat, the Siamese sheds less, which is why he is often considered a hypoallergenic breed. As we discussed above, Fel D1 is the reason that causes allergic reactions, and Siamese also releases this same protein but in smaller amounts.
Siamese Cats and Shedding
If the question you are wondering is are Siamese cats hypoallergenic, one of the most important topics is molting. Shedding is the main reason that causes too many allergic reactions, but it must be said thanks to the DNA of Siamese cats, these cats shed significantly less compared to other breeds of cats. Dander is the real problem. Cats have dandruff on their skin and saliva.
When cats groom, they come into contact with the fur, and when the fur sheds, the allergens spread well everywhere. Despite having a long, silky coat, these cats are good pets for many allergy sufferers. Shedding in the Siamese is much less than in any shorter-haired cat breed. The long silky fur of the Siamese helps trap the Fel D1 protein, and its release into the environment is much less.
In addition, the Siamese releases this FelD1 protein in a much lower quantity than other cats. In short-haired cats, the problem is that this Fel D1 protein moves more quickly to the surface of the fur and then to the environment, which can cause many allergic reactions.
Grooming your Siamese cat
Grooming your cat is the best way to reduce the allergy level. Some cats don't like bathing, but with Siameses, if you expose them to water at a very young age, they do enjoy bathing. It may also be a good idea to wash your cat's blankets, bedding, and toys with hot water once a week.
Three baths a week for your Siamese will keep the allergy level low at home. Regularly brushing your cat's hair will also reduce shedding, which is a great way to reduce allergy levels at home.
Best Products for Siamese Cats
What causes cat allergies?
Proteins are responsible for many allergic reactions. In cats, the FelD1 protein is the allergen found in cat urine, saliva, and skin. This protein irritates humans in various ways. Due to this protein, many people suffer from feline allergies.
Studies show that approximately 10% of the population is hypersensitive to this protein. Siamese cats compared to Oriental breeds release less FelD1 protein.
Fel D1 protein
The Fel D1 protein is responsible for an allergic reaction in humans. Even a small amount of this protein can cause various allergic reactions. Cats release this protein through the skin.
- Saliva.
- Urine.
A person can come into contact with this protein when cats lick them. Also, cats like to groom themselves and they put protein into the fur through saliva. When the saliva on the cat's fur dries, the protein present in it is born in the air and a person can easily inhale it.
Also, when cats shed a lot, they leave marks everywhere. A person with an allergy may experience symptoms related to this allergy, such as swollen eyes, closed airways, and massive hives.
How to Minimize Cat Allergens?
As stated above, grooming your Siamese pet is the best way to reduce cat allergens, but we also need to remember that cats don't usually sit in one particular place and love to roam here and there. In this case, you should establish a cat-free zone, which should be your bedroom, where you spend most of your time.
Always wash the area where your cat sits regularly and thoroughly vacuum and sweep your house once a week. Also, clean your air conditioning and heating systems, as cat hair can penetrate deep into them.
Without proper cleaning, cat hair can live in filters and ducts for a very long time. You can even buy the allergen filters for these systems and need to replace them regularly.
If you are the one who likes to take your cat in the car, you also need to be careful. Cat hair can easily stick to car seats and air conditioning ducts, so be prepared to vacuum and wash seats and floors.
So if you like to pet a cat but are also allergic, follow the steps above; you can easily avoid or reduce the allergic reaction.
The conclusion
So, as a result, what have we learned about the question, are Siamese cats hypoallergenic? Since no breed of cat is completely hypoallergenic and not even the Siamese, the Siamese can be considered hypoallergenic compared to other breeds. Low Fel D1 protein release and low excretion make it almost hypoallergenic.
Siamese also releases a very low level of dander, which is the main reason for many allergic reactions. Even hairless or short-haired cats have scales, but in Siamese scales, the coat of cats is also considerably lower than that of most breeds. The Siamese's long, silky hairs help trap allergens in the cat's skin and therefore not spread everywhere compared to other breeds.
It just means that Siamese doesn’t shed a lot of dander and are great for an allergy-prone home. Siamese love to enjoy human company, and if cared for with the proper care, you can keep your home allergen-free.
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