You may have heard of hypoallergenic cats, they are special cat breeds that don’t trigger cat allergies in humans. There are at least 11 cats that don’t shed fur and hardly trigger cat allergies.
So, you are thinking of adopting a feline friend? But, you are worried about allergies or you just don’t like to have cat hair all over your furniture and clothes?
Well, these doubts run through most people’s minds and are completely valid when trying to decide on adopting a cat!
Many people are allergic to cats, you’re not the only one if this may be the case. If you are allergic to cats, your body often reacts to dander, saliva, and/or the urine of cats.
Unfortunately, it is often mistakenly believed to be due to cat hair. Because cats groom themselves and shed hair with saliva all through the house, as you breathe you automatically inhale these cat allergens and your airways get irritated, causing an allergic reaction.
No cat breed is 100% hypoallergenic, some cats shed lesser hair and dander/skin than other breeds.
These types of cat breeds are less likely to cause an allergic reaction and can therefore be a good option for people who have allergies around cats.
Introducing 11 Cats That Don’t Shed
The following 11 cat breeds don’t or hardly shed and are considered to be hypoallergenic cats, meaning: they don’t cause a heavy cat allergic reaction in humans.
1. Sphynx
The Sphynx cat breed is hairless, this gives them a recognizable appearance. This cat breed is the right cat for people who suffer from cat allergies.
The main reason is the protein in the saliva of cats to which you are likely to be allergic cannot remain in the sphynx’s coat (simply because this cat has no fur).
We must note that Sphynx cats require more care than regular cats. Because they have no cat hair, their skin is exposed, and require skincare like bathing, lotion, creams, and no direct exposure to the sun.
2. Bengal
The Bengal cat is gorgeous, they have a short spotted coat and hardly shed. Their fur feels silky to the touch, it’s different than most domestic cats’ fur, this is due to their ancestor The Asian Leopard Cat.
They’ve inherited the somewhat wild and active behavior from their ancestors. The Bengal cat doesn’t sleep 12 hours in front of the heating, they are energetic and very agile.
They love to run, climb, and like company while doing it. Getting a tall cat tree where the Bengal can lose some of its energy is a must for this cat breed. They also like to play fetch and are pretty good at it!
Many Bengal breeders and owners claim that the Bengal has hypoallergenic properties. However, there is no evidence that they produce less Fel D1 protein (in the saliva) which gives humans an allergic reaction.
The main argument why they are less allergenic is that their short fur-like coat sheds much less than that of an average cat making them less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
3. Cornish Rex
Most cats’ coats have three coat layers: an upper coat, a middle coat, and an undercoat. The Cornish Rex cat only has an undercoat. As a result, they are very soft but also have and shed much less hair than other cats.
While the Cornish Rex is not completely hairless, this cat’s coat does deviate from the norm.
The hairs are curled, very short, and close to the body. As a result, they shed less hair than other cat breeds. Their coat is probably not going to cause an allergic reaction.
4. Devon Rex
The Devon Rex is a popular cat breed with an unusual appearance, they are super cute! Because of their facial features, big eyes, and large ears this breed looks like an elf or baby Yoda.
This breed has somewhat the same coat type as the previous Cornish Rex cat – The soft undercoat. The difference is, that the Devon Rex has way less cat hair than his Rex friend, they pretty much don’t shed.
The soft and curly coat on the Devon Rex is also unusual. Many Devons have a lack of fur in some areas of their body. Their coat and whiskers are vulnerable, they can easily break off. You will need to be very careful when grooming this adorable cat breed.
Devons need a lot of attention from their owners so make sure you can spend enough time with them.
5. Burmese
This cat breed is perfect for people with sensitive noses and airways. The Burmese cat has striking looks, it’s a small cat with a short, fine coat that is less likely to shed than similar breeds.
This cat breed likes to be around its owner. But the Burmese are not as intrusive as the Devon Rex when asking for attention. These cats will respect the distance from time to time, too. They also love to play and trust other pets as well.
6. Oriental Shorthair
Oriental shorthair cats have a short, fine coat and shed very little. Oriental cats look goofy and adorable. The main characteristics are the long snout and large ears.
Their soft and silky coat doesn’t require a lot of grooming like other cat breeds. Orientals don’t shed that often, when they do it’s minimal. Owners of this amazing cat breed will need to brush them on a regular basis.
You will need to brush them once a week, maybe two times a week if your allergies are at a high peak. Make sure someone else does the brushing or make sure you are using a face mask. Brushing them will remove the loose hair and reduce the amount of cat hair they shed in your house.
7. Russian Blue
Russian Blue Cats are famous for their plushy/silky blueish gray coat and mesmerizing emerald green eyes. Their coat doesn’t constantly shed like other breeds, they have minimal shedding.
There are three types of Russians, the American Russian Blue has the shortest coat.
The coat of Russian Blues has no special characteristics that make this breed hypoallergenic, but it’s known that they produce much less Fel D1 – the protein that cats have in their body. This causes an allergic reaction in people with a cat allergy.
8. Siamese
Siamese cats are a super-intelligent, very human-oriented cat breed. They are known for their sound and talking behavior. If you bring this kitten into your home, keep in mind that they are talkative when they want to make something clear to their owner.
This breed requires a fair amount of attention and likes to be loved. So make sure that you have the time to give this cat breed enough attention. Also, a little fact: They like to play fetch!
As for their looks, a beautiful blue point cat with piercing blue eyes will make you fall in love.
As for allergies. they have a short coat that doesn’t shed often.
9. Balinese
The Balinese cat is a graceful cat breed, slender and fine-boned. They are sometimes called the long-haired Siamese cat because of their similar looks.
The coat is not long-haired, it’s medium in length and they have a long triangle head and deep blue eyes. Also, the Balinese have a distinctive silky soft tail.
Their personality is almost the same as that of the Siamese, they are of Siamese descendent. This means that this breed is also very vocal.
The hypoallergenic properties of Balinese cats are the same as those of the Russian Blue. Their body produces minimal Fel D1, which is positive for people with cat allergies.
10. LaPerm Rex
Another Rex breed! The LaPerm is a known American breed of cat. They get born bald and develop their cute and soft curls with age.
The LaPerm, like the other Rex species, only has an undercoat. So they have and shed less hair than other cats. Also, when the LaPerm grooms itself, less saliva remains in the coat. This makes the LaPerm seen as a hypoallergenic cat breed.
There are two types of LaPerms, short and long-haired LaPerm cats. Both types are fine for allergies, so the choice is up to you.
11. Siberian Cat
Siberian cat is a gorgeous longhair that surprisingly also produces very little Fel D1 protein. This is perfect for allergic people because this cat breed is beautiful.
You may think they are an awful choice for allergic people. However, the Siberian cat’s body produces less Fel D1 than most other breeds and is therefore considered hypoallergenic as well.
The Siberian stays playful for a long time, they are often described as easy-going, cuddly, and bold.
Does a Hypoallergenic Cat Exist?
The existence of completely hypoallergenic cat breeds is a misunderstanding. All cats cause an allergic reaction, regardless of shedding.
What is it about cats that humans are so allergic to? This is due to the proteins called Fel D1 (in the saliva) and Fel D4 (in the skin). Shedding is irrelevant in stopping the allergy.
However, there are cat breeds that produce less of these allergy-causing proteins. These breeds may be of little help in reducing allergic reactions.
The cat breeds that are hypoallergenic only reduce the allergic reaction of semi-allergic people. This lucky group of people can still own a cat breed that won’t trigger their allergy symptoms. But it’s best if this is tested by being with the cat breed for 24 to 48 hours.
Final Thoughts
We want to advise you to please consider the severity of your allergy, this will be different for everyone. But if you have been around cats before then you are the only one who knows how severe your symptoms will be.
This article is meant to help you find a way to adopt a hypoallergenic cat. Before you make a big commitment, we would recommend that you spend time with the cat breed if you are considering adopting it. This will help you determine whether this breed is suitable for you and your family.