Are Tabby Cats Hypoallergenic? What You Need To Know
If you have allergies and are thinking about a tabby, you may wonder whether the stripes make any difference.
No. Tabby cats are not hypoallergenic.
Key Takeaways
- Tabby cats are not hypoallergenic. Like all cats, they produce the Fel d1 protein in their saliva, fur and urine, and it can trigger allergies.
- You can’t control how much Fel d1 your cat produces, but you can limit how far it spreads. Regular grooming, a balanced diet and frequent cleaning (litter boxes and bedding included) all help.
- No cat breed is completely hypoallergenic, though some produce less, like the Siberian cat. Hairless breeds like the Sphynx can suit allergy sufferers better, but they are not fully hypoallergenic either.
- Stress and poor nutrition can make a cat shed more. A balanced diet and a calm home help keep shedding, and the allergens that come with it, down.
Why Do Tabby Cats Cause Allergies?
Like all cats, tabbies produce the Fel d1 protein in their saliva, fur and urine. That protein is what sets off allergic reactions in people.
Tabbies are not a specific breed, so they make Fel d1 like any other cat. Some breeds produce more or less than others and may suit allergy sufferers better.
When cats shed fur, groom themselves and use the litter box, they spread Fel d1 around your home, and that is where the trouble starts if you react to it.
The tabby is a coat pattern, not a breed in its own right. Tabbies have different patterns depending on how the stripes sit, but all of them have the distinctive “M” marking on the forehead.
How do you own a cat when you’re allergic?
You can’t control how much Fel d1 your cat produces, but you can limit how much of it ends up around your home.
Shedding is one of the main ways it spreads, so start with your cat shedding.
How much your cat sheds depends on breed, diet, health and the season, among other things (more on that below).
Long-haired cats tend to shed less than short-haired breeds, but their fur tangles easily, so grooming them takes more work.
Short-haired cats tend to shed more but are much easier to groom.
Some pedigree cats, such as the Himalayan and Bengal are more likely to carry genes that cause hair loss.
Others, such as Sphynx, are bred to be hairless.
There are ways to cut down how much your cat sheds:
Brushing Helps With Shedding
Brushing your tabby is one of the best ways to cut down on shedding.
Regular brushing removes long hairs and ones that are ready to fall out anyway, so they end up in the brush rather than on your carpet, furniture and clothes. How often depends on the breed.
Brushes to Consider
This brush is very effective and a favorite with cats who dislike brushing. It’s a good size, removes a lot of fur and leaves the coat soft and fluffy.
For cats that don’t like regular brushes, these gloves can help them get used to being groomed.
Diet
Cats should always be fed a quality, balanced diet.
Most commercial cat food has a suitable balance of ingredients, but cats can still end up short of specific nutrients. Vitamins A, E and B are needed to produce and maintain healthy fur, and a cat that doesn’t get enough may shed more than usual.
Cats need plenty of protein to maintain healthy fur. Some dry foods have less protein than wet food, which often has a higher meat content. If your cat is shedding heavily, switching to a mix of wet and dry, or all wet, could help.
Try a few different foods to find one that improves the coat and cuts shedding.
Stress and Shedding
A stressed cat may shed fur in clumps.
Stress doesn’t always mean something is medically wrong. There are plenty of ordinary causes.
Changes of location can stress cats. Bringing a new cat into your home can be a stressful time. Here are tips on introducing a new cat into your home. This is especially true for rescue cats with troubled pasts.
Loud noises can be stressful for cats. Loud music, heavy traffic and thunderstorms all count. If your cat is shedding a lot, try cutting down the background noise.
How To Minimize Allergic Reactions
Change clothing and bedding regularly
If your cat sleeps on your bed, keeping them off it makes a big difference for allergy sufferers.
Washing bedding and clothes often helps too.
Vacuum regularly
Removing cat hair and other particles from floors and surfaces stops allergens building up where you’ll come into contact with them.
Clean out litter tray often
Outdoor cats may not use a litter tray, but if yours does, or lives indoors, cleaning it out often cuts the allergens in the area and stops them being carried through the house.
Wash hands regularly
Washing your hands often reduces the spread of allergens onto household items.
Use an air filter
Air purifiers remove loose hair and other particles from the air before they settle on your clothes, furniture or bedding.
A HEPA air purifier helps reduce airborne allergens, pollen, dust and other fine particles. A budget-friendly option is this model from Levoit.
- Change carpets to solid flooring
If you have a tabby, you’ll know a lot of the hair they shed ends up on the floor. Carpets hold hair and other particles far more easily than solid floors.
Even frequent vacuuming doesn’t get it all out, so replacing carpet with solid flooring is an option, though an extreme one, for an allergy sufferer that wants to keep cats.
If you do have carpets, it can seem like the hair never goes away, no matter how much you vacuum.
A handheld carpet scraper helps here. It brushes the cat hair out of the carpet so you can vacuum it up, and you may be surprised how much comes out.
Read this article for more on why tabby cats shed and how to cut it down.
Are Any Cat Breeds Hypoallergenic?
No cat breed is completely hypoallergenic, but some, such as Siberian cats, produce less Fel d1 and can be better for people with cat allergies.
Some breeds also shed less fur than others, which can make them easier to live with if you have allergies.
Cat Breeds Which Shed Less
Are Hairless Cats Hypoallergenic?
Some breeds, such as the Sphynx, have been selectively bred to be hairless, which raises the obvious question of whether they are hypoallergenic.
Sphynx cats produce Fel d1 like any other cat, but because they are hairless they don’t spread it around by shedding fur.
It is still present on their skin and in their saliva, so the risk of allergies remains, though Sphynx cats can cause fewer reactions than other breeds.
Even so, Sphynx cats are not considered hypoallergenic.
Tabbies Are Not a Breed
Tabby cats are not hypoallergenic. Like all cats, they produce Fel d1 in their saliva, fur and urine, and it is what triggers allergic reactions in people.
And as tabby cats are not a specific breed, none of them is the exception.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cat is the most hypoallergenic?
The Siberian is usually considered the most hypoallergenic breed, but no cat is completely hypoallergenic.
Are short-haired tabbies hypoallergenic?
No. Allergies come from the protein in cat saliva and dander, not from the length of the hair, so short-haired tabbies are not hypoallergenic either.
Why are tabby cats so special?
A coat pattern that varies widely, from classic stripes to spots and swirls, in a range of colors. They also have a reputation for being affectionate and outgoing.
Are Bengal tabby cats hypoallergenic?
Bengal cats are not considered hypoallergenic, as they produce the same allergens as other breeds.
Can I get a cat if I’m allergic?
Yes, but there is no guaranteed way to remove the risk of a reaction. Some people live with cats without problems, while others need precautions or a different kind of pet.
Can you live with a cat if you are allergic?
Yes, though it may take some precautions, such as keeping the cat out of certain rooms or using air purifiers. Some people also get relief from allergy medication or allergy shots.
What is the lifespan of a tabby cat?
Tabby cats can live anywhere from 12 to 20 years, depending on diet, exercise and general health.
What are the 4 types of tabby cats?
The four most common types are classic, mackerel, spotted and ticked. Classic tabbies have bold swirls on their sides, mackerel tabbies have thin stripes, spotted tabbies have round or oval spots, and ticked tabbies have a fairly uniform coat with no distinct pattern.
What is the friendliest cat breed?
Ragdolls, Siamese, Maine Coons and Sphynx are all known for being friendly and affectionate, among others. Every cat has its own personality though, and friendliness varies even within a breed.
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