Allergy

Hypoallergenic

The Siberian cat breed is known to be hypoallergenic (lower allergen levels, not allergen free).  Many people who have cat allergies find they can live symptom free with Siberian cats.

Fel d1 Allergen    Reprinted with permission fromKitten Testing

The majority of cat allergies are caused by a small stable glycoprotein called Fel d1.   Each allergen in a species is given a number when it is identified.  The first house cat allergen identified was labeled Feline domesticus allergen 1, or Fel d 1.  Fel-d1 is produced by lacrimal, salivary, sebaceous (oil), and perianal glands.

Fur length does not increase or decrease the amount of allergen produced by salivary and sebaceous glands, thus evenly hairless cats can be highly allergenic (allergy provoking).

Siberians that are spayed or neutered have lower Fel d1 levels than if they were not spayed or neutered.  Although un-neutered males can have the highest levels of allergens, neutered males are no different than spayed females in regards to Fel d1 levels.  Your Glorious Siberian kitten will be spayed or neutered so as far as allergens are concerned boys and girls are considered the same.

Fel d1 Testing  Current testing of saliva is more accurate than earlier testing due in part to the salivant used.  Three samples are taken spaced over a week.  Testing is 80% accurate for kittens over 12 weeks of age, and 90% accurate for adults.

____________________________________________________________________ If your symptoms are:                        Then the recommended level is: ______________________________________________________________  Hives, swelling, severe sneezing,

breathing difficulties                                      Extremely Low 0.08–1.0 mcg ____________________________________________________________________  Itchy skin, light sneezing,

severe runny nose, asthma                             Very Low 1.0–1.75 mcg  ____________________________________________________________________  Runny nose, severe eye irritation,

coughing                                                       Low 1.75–2.5 mcg Fel d1 ____________________________________________________________________ Mild eye irritation and stuffy nose                    Medium Low 2.5–3.5 mcg  ____________________________________________________________________  No allergy symptoms                                      Mild-Normal 3.5–16 mcg  ____________________________________________________________________ Reprinted with permission from Kitten Testing

Glorious Siberians

We have tested all of our breeding cats for their Fel d1 levels. Testing is done through a Virginia laboratory. This means we know if the father is Extremely Low or if the mother is Medium Low. We manage our breedings with the goal of producing low allergen levels, in addition to good dispositions and an eye on beauty.

We’ve learned that Siberians all have some degree of the protein Fel d1. Our human body needs time to adjust. For the majority of people, they do not experience allergy symptoms. If your cat allergies are more than mild or moderate, you may experience allergy symptoms during the first 2-3 weeks after your kitten comes home.  Your body will be adjusting and after 6 weeks your symptoms will stabilize and you may have built some tolerance. It is best if you are matched with a Siberian that meets or exceeds your Fel d1 needs. The next best thing is to get as close as we can, and then employ strategies to bridge the gap.

We are careful in matching and/or testing kittens with potential owners. It is important that both you and the cat be happy for many, many years.  This is accomplished by being thoughtful and methodical at the beginning of the journey.

 

With so many people affected by allergies, it is wonderful to be able to offer beautiful, semi-long coated pets to families who previously thought they could never be pet owners!  Even if you are not affected by allergies yourself, visitors often are and are often surprised to find they have no reaction to the Siberian cat.

 

 

 

 

The following suggestions can reduce the buildup of Fel d1 and other cat allergens in the home.

Routine bathing removes a large amount of allergens present in the fur. Your cat will still produce the same amount of Fel d1 allergen, but the amount in the home will be lower.  Weekly bathing your cat reduces household airborne feline allergen levels by 45%.

We bathe Glorious Siberian kittens several times prior to going home so that they are very familiar with baths.  It does not have to be a big ordeal, and you can successfully bathe your Glorious kitten if needed.

Place washable throws on any area your cats like to sleep. Include couches and chairs as well as climbing stations and cat beds. Wash all throws weekly in hot water, detergent and borax to remove and deactivate allergens.

Frequent vacuuming rugs and soft surfaces reduces allergen levels.  Air out the house after vacuuming, and damp mop hard floors and wipe hard surfaces.  When possible, replace carpets in bedrooms with washable hard flooring.

Clean and change litter boxes frequently to reduce Fel-d1 and other allergens.  The highest concentrations of many allergens are found in the litterbox.  If at all possible, place the litter box outside, or another room that can be vented to the outside. Young kittens get dust on their coats from powdery litters, which tracks irritants and allergens into the house. Please see our information on cat litter – The Scoop On Cat Litter on the More Info tab.

People with mild – moderate cat allergies may be able to allow their cat in the bedroom. However, individuals with severe or dangerous allergies should have an allergen-free room for sleeping. If you have severe allergies, please do keep your cat out of the bedroom.

High efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filters are high-efficiency air filters, and are good at removing very small particles like Fel d 1.  Running a HEPA filter and keeping your cats out of the bedroom can reduce air borne allergens in your bedroom by up to 50%!

 

Additional information!

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