Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 7/20/2008

Question
I love cats and had 3 growing up, my husband likes them but is highly allergic...any fixes?...is there something we can give the cat to help? is there a particular breed to get? is there a way to stop Fel-Dh1? thanks!

Answer
Sarah -

You may want to try a hairless cat; some breeds are less allergenic than others.  The Devon Rex is known to be less allergenic than most cats (in my experience) but don't quote me on that.  

The words highly allergic concern me.  If your husband is severely allergic you may want to reconsider getting a cat.  Allergies can cause a person to be very uncomfortable.  Air purifiers may be an option, but I have not found one that is very effective in reducing the allergens in the air. Hepa filters help to remove allergens, but one must be very careful if extreme cat allergies exist.  I don't think there is anything you can give the cats to help, but if you decide to get a cat one option is to frequently clean the cat with wipes to remove the dander. Dander is the culprit when it comes to cat allergies.  Frequent wiping can significantly reduce the amount of dander in the environment.

Have your husband talk with an allergist. He/she may be able to offer suggestions to help reduce the allergens in the air and may have other suggestions that have worked for other patients.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM