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Siberians

We are a family with moderate cat allergies, but our allergy symptoms are no longer an issue now that we have Siberians.  

• Siberian cats generally have a lower level of Fel-D1 than other cats,  this makes them hypo-allergenic.  Hypo means "less". The Siberian still has Fel-D1, but it is at a lower level than many other cat breeds and most people do not experience allergic reactions with a Siberian.  

• However, there is no such thing as a non allergic cat. Every cat grooms itself and gets saliva with Fel-D1 protein on their fur.  Some cats have higher levels of Fel-D1 than others.   Even with the lower level of Fel-D1, there are some people who will have a allergic response to a Siberian.  However, since the Siberian has a much lower level of Fel-D1 protein in their saliva than other cats, the Siberian is often a good choice for allergy sufferers.    

• Some breeders offer to send a cat hair sample or other item so that you can "test" how much you react to a particular cat.  This is not a valid test.  The cat hair sample will lose its allergic qualities while in transit.

• Some breeders will do lab testing of the allergen level in their kittens , but that is misleading. Kittens naturally produce lower allergens than adult cats.

• Some breeders claim that their kittens will have lower levels of allergens because their parents tested with low allergen levels, but that is also misleading, since allergen levels will vary between cats and their offspring.

• So, what to do?  Visit a Siberian cattery and interact with some Siberians. Spending time with Siberians in a home setting is the best way to determine if you experience fewer allergy symptoms.

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