Are Maine Coons Less Allergenic?
by Shadi
Three Maine Coon Cat Brothers: Photo copyright Helmi Flick
I just wanted to ask if anyone had any experience with the fact that people who are allergic to cats are less allergic to Maine Coons. I find I am one of those who can tolerate this breed but the shorter hair ones makes me itchy. What is your input? Is this my imagination? Hi Shadi... In all my travels on the internet and on the ground I have not encountered information from a reliable source that says that Maine Coons are hypoallergenic or less likely to cause an allergic reaction. The truth is that no cat is absolutely hypoallergenic unless you believe Life Style Pets and their Allerca cats. As you know the allergen is in the cat's saliva (new window) that gets deposited on the fur and it then flies around the place when the fur sheds and the skin flakes break free of the skin (cat dander). The only long haired cat that is said to be hypoallergenic is the Siberian but I don't think this is true. I think what is happening is that the potency of the cat's allergen varies from individual cat to individual cat and you have bumped into some Maine Coons that you are not particularly allergic to. I am not allergic to cats but became allergic to a stray cat who I feed, Timmy(new window). He only had to be in the room and I would itch. Touching him caused itching over most of my body. Now (after 6 months or more) I am not allergic to him. There are some variables here and we can get used to cats too I think.
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