Expert: Jessica - 8/23/2010

Question
im seriously allergic to cats, so is my dad
we get breathing problems and puffy red eyes etc. but we have heard that bengal cats tend to not shed and do not react with allergic people. which is great as we and the rest of my family really want a cat so my questions are :
do bengal cats not shed hair ?
are they good pets?
what are there personalites, temperments, overall everything about them?
what is a good way to reduce the chance of reactions?

Answer
Hi Mariya,

Most people are allergic to proteins present in cat hair, skin and saliva.  Allergies tend to be worse for people when the cats shed in large amounts, because this means the allergens are present in large amounts in the environment.  But since all cats have fur and saliva, every cats poses the risk to be allergenic to people who have cat allergies.  Having said that, Bengals don't have an undercoat but a very sleek single coat.  They shed single hairs like any living creature with hair does, but they don't have a heavy seasonal shed, so they tend to be less allergenic than other breeds.  Grooming the kitty with a grooming mitt can help catch loose hairs.  For someone who is seriously allergic to cats and has breathing problems because of them, I don't know that it would be safe to add a Bengal to the family.  I would consider seeing if there is any possibility with a local rescue group to foster a Bengal before deciding to adopt one permanently.

Cats can be bathed with hypo-allergenic shampoo or wiped down with hypo-allergenic wipes to reduce the chances of allergies.  These are available at most pet stores or online.  I'm allergic to cats, and I take the allergy medicine cetirizine every day to manage it.  Also, vacuuming frequently, using air purifiers, and not allowing cats into your bedroom can help reduce allergic reactions.

In my experience, Bengals make very sweet pets, but they tend to be timid.  This is especially true if they don't get enough attention from their breeder or they come from a line with shy personalities.  You should visit your breeder and visit with the kittens a great deal before making a decision.  Be sure that your kitten will be an SBT (stud book tradition), not an F2 or F3, which have wild blood and will be just about guaranteed to exhibit wild behavior unacceptable in a household.  Bengals are water-loving kitties and tend to enjoy playing underneath the faucet.  I have to put a roasting pan under my cat's water bowl, because my Bengals like to splash the water out of their bowl.  They're very active cats and like to climb to all heights.  Be sure to provide a high cat tree for your Bengal if you decide to get one so that it doesn't feel the need to climb on countertops.  One of my Bengals is very affectionate while the other is stand-offish with people, but both get along with other animals fantastically.  I would not consider them demanding cats at all, but very sweet and caring when you're ready to give them attention.  One of mine loves to wrap his arms around my neck and lick my face.

I also have a hairless cat who has the most fantastic personality imaginable!  Not everyone's cup of tea to look at, but they grow on you, and they are great for people with allergies.

Best of luck on your search!

Jessica