Are Chartreux Cats Hypoallergenic? Important Information!
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Anyone with allergies who is considering a Chartreux should know this up front: the breed is not hypoallergenic.
Key Takeaways
- Chartreux cats are not hypoallergenic. They produce the Fel d1 protein in their saliva, fur and urine, which is the main cause of allergic reactions in humans.
- You can’t control how many allergens your Chartreux produces, but regular grooming and a balanced diet can cut down shedding.
- Allergy sufferers who want a cat can help themselves by vacuuming regularly, changing bedding often and using a high-grade air filter.
- No cat breed is completely hypoallergenic, but breeds like the Sphynx and Siberian are often considered better for people with allergies.
Why Do Chartreux Cats Cause Allergies?
Like all cats, Chartreux cats produce the Fel d1 protein in their saliva, fur and urine. That protein is what triggers allergic reactions in humans.
Chartreux coats are a similar color all over, so any stripes or dots are faint, and so is the tabby “M” marking on the forehead.
When cats shed fur, groom themselves or use the litter box, they spread Fel d1 around your home, and you can react to it if you come into contact with it.
How To Own A Cat When You’re Allergic?
You can’t control how much Fel d1 your cat produces, but you can limit how far it spreads. Shedding is one of the main ways it travels, so start with your cat’s shedding.
How much your cat sheds depends on breed, diet, health and the season. Long-haired cats can seem to shed less than short-haired breeds, but their fur tangles easily. Short-haired cats shed more and are much easier to groom.
There are a few ways to reduce the amount your cat sheds.
Brushing Helps With Shedding
Brushing is one of the best ways to cut down on shedding. Regular brushing removes long hairs and the ones about to fall out anyway, so less ends up on your carpet, furniture and clothes. How often depends on the breed.
Brushes to Consider
These brushes work well, and they suit cats who dislike being brushed. They are a good size, take off a lot of fur and leave the coat soft and fluffy. If your cat doesn’t like a normal brush, a grooming glove can help get them used to it.
Diet
Cats should always be fed a quality, balanced diet.
Even with a decent food, a cat can still run short on specific nutrients. Vitamins A, E and B are needed to produce and maintain healthy fur, and a cat that doesn’t get enough of them can shed more than usual.
All cats also need plenty of protein to keep their fur healthy. Some dry foods have less protein than wet foods, which often contain more meat. If your cat is shedding heavily, switching to a mix of wet and dry, or to all wet food, could help. There are lots of foods to try, so it is worth experimenting until you find one that improves the coat and cuts shedding.
Stress and Shedding
A stressed cat may shed fur in large clumps. There are plenty of reasons a cat can be stressed, and it doesn’t always mean something is medically wrong.
Location changes are a common cause. Bringing a new cat into your home can be stressful, and here are tips on introducing a new cat into your home. It is especially true for rescue cats with issues or a troubled past.
Loud noises can stress cats. That includes loud music, heavy traffic noise and thunderstorms. If your cat is shedding a lot, try turning down the background noise.
How To Minimize Allergic Reactions?
Change clothing and bedding regularly
If your cat sleeps on your bed, stopping that will make 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 is an indoor cat, cleaning the tray often reduces 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 your household items.
Use an air filter
Air purifiers pull loose hair and other particles out of the air before they settle on your clothes, furniture or bedding.
A purifier with a HEPA filter can cut down the allergens floating around a room. This Levoit model is one budget-friendly option.
Change carpets to solid flooring
A lot of the hair a Chartreux sheds ends up on the floor, and carpet holds on to it far more quickly than solid flooring does. Even frequent vacuuming doesn’t get it all out. Swapping carpet for solid floors is an extreme step, but it is an option for an allergy sufferer that wants to keep cats.
If you do have carpets, a handheld carpet scraper is worth having. It brushes the cat hair out of the carpet so you can vacuum it up, and you’ll be surprised how much comes out.
Read this article for more about why Chartreux cats shed and how to cut it down.
Are Any Cat Breeds Hypoallergenic?
No cat breed is completely hypoallergenic, but some breeds, such as Siberians, produce less Fel d1 protein and can be better for people with cat allergies. Some breeds also shed less fur than others, which can help too.
Cat Breeds Which Shed Less
Chartreux Coats and Fel d1
Chartreux cats are not hypoallergenic. Like all cats, they produce the Fel d1 protein in their saliva, fur and urine, and that protein is what triggers allergic reactions in humans.
Any tabby-style markings on a Chartreux are faint, but the breed is no different from other cats when it comes to the protein. If you want to know more, read about tabby cats (and here).
Frequently Asked Questions
No cat has earned the title, because reactions vary from person to person. Breeds often considered better for allergy sufferers include the Sphynx, Russian Blue and Balinese.
Moderately. They have a dense double coat, and regular grooming helps manage their shedding and keep the coat healthy.
Not usually. They tend to have a softer, quieter voice than other breeds.
They can adapt to indoor or outdoor life, but keeping them mostly indoors protects them from potential dangers.
Not typically. They are known for being gentle and calm, which makes them good companions and family pets.
Around 12 to 15 years on average. Some live into their late teens or early twenties with good care.
Mostly, yes. They are known for copper or gold eyes, which go well with the blue-gray coat. Orange is a characteristic eye color of the breed.
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