If you are allergic to cats, would like to have one and have $3,950 spare, this may be your lucky day. Allerca Inc., California, USA, says it has managed to breed the world’s first hypoallergenic cats. People who are allergic to cats and buy one of these will not experience sneezing, red and itchy eyes or asthma – except in very acute cases.
The company says that as soon as the news got out people rushed to place orders and now there is a waiting list.
The company tested thousands of cats, looking for those tiny few that do not have glycoprotein Fel d1. Glycoprotein Fel d1 is what triggers allergic reactions in humans – it can be found in the fur, pelt, saliva, serum, urine, mucous, salivary glands, and hair roots of the cat. On finding a decent number of cats that did not carry glycoprotein Fel d1, the scientists selectively bred them.
The kittens of these selectively chosen cats do not produce human allergic reactions – they are hypoallergenic cats.
The company stressed that their cats are not the result of genetic engineering. About one in 50,000 cats do not carry Glycoprotein Fel d1 – it was a question of finding them and breeding them, there was no genetic modification.
It is estimated that about one third of all humans are allergic to cats. The market for hypoallergenic pets could be huge.
The company says its cats are friendly, playful and affectionate. They have cats in several coat colours and patterns. The coat is “medium-long, with low maintenance and minimal shedding.”
Symptoms of Cat Allergy
Eyes
— eyes become red, itchy and watery, and/or swollen
Nose
— nose may be itchy, runny and congested, the patient may sneeze a lot
Ears
— ears can become itchy and/or plugged (blocked)
Throat
— nasal drip may make its way down to the throat. The throat can feel sore. The patient may often clear his/her throat. He/she may also experience hoarseness.
Skin
— skin can be itchy, with rashes or hives
Lungs
— patient may cough frequently, wheeze, experience tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and often suffer from bronchitis
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today