Cats that dont loose their hair!

[Randybaxter]

Is there any type of breed of cat that dosn't loose it's hair? My brother really wants to get one but until we can find one that dosn't mault then he can't have one because he is allergic to the hair! We have had yorkshire terries and poodles before and beacuse these don't mault he is fine - Is there a breed of cat similar?

[PurplePixie]

It's usually the cats saliva on the fur that causes the allergic reaction. When it dries it creates something called dander. So getting a non moulting cat might not even be the solution.

The hairless cats are called Sphinx but they cost about �1000 I think...unless that's changed. There are other breeds that have very short wirey coats (not sure if they shed hair) called Devon Rex or Cornish Rex.

I've found that people who have an allergy & come to my house seem to be more allergic to certain cats rather than others, with no relation to how long the fur is. There are certain lotions that you can buy from Boots the chemist to rub into cats fur to lessen the dander & it's effect on the allergy sufferer.

[drgnrdr]

Just a short correction, Devon rex and Cornish rex do not have "wirey" coats they have "wavey" soft coats. I have had the pleasure of owning 2 Cornish so far, they are great cats. Maybe it was a typo before, if that is the case PurplePixie, I take back the correction.

"Fel d I", the cat allergen, is the major cause of allergic reactions to cats. During a cat's self-cleaning process, Fel d I protein in the saliva is deposited on the fur. It is also produced by sebaceous glands--the skin glands that secrete the oils that keep the skin and hair sleek and shiny. Male cats usually produce more allergen than females. Proteins in the urine of cats will also trigger allergic reactions.
Some animals seem more tolerable than others because they shed fewer allergens. Unfortunately, there are no non-allergic animals. It is also true that the length of hair does not alter the animal's allergenicity. Within any given breed, or even litter, you may find animals that you can tolerate better than others.

from catsinternational.org

[PurplePixie]

I've only ever seen Rexes in photos & always imagined them to feel a bit wirey!! I'd love to have 1 but seem to only end up with the usual moggy rejects!! Now I want 1 even more now you say their coats are soft & wavey to touch.

[drgnrdr]

If you ever get a chance to, do so, I can only say about Cornish (I have never had a Devon), they are warm to the touch when you leave your hand on them for 1 or 2 seconds, this is because they have no guard hairs, they only have the down and awn hairs, and it's all the same length. They use to call them poodle cats when they first were discovered by a lady in Cornwall England. They soak up any oils or dirt on your hands when you pet them so they get oily at times, I got mine use to a bath when needed. Most exhibitors don't let you touch their show cats , but they may have cats for sell. And if you bring hand sanitizer with you they might let you touch them.

I always described them as soft ruffle potato chips. The ones that are marsailled real heavy feel rippley. They are great cats like I said, prone to being vocal, but I loved that about mine. Check out this website

http://rexphiles.com/rescue.html Hope it opens for you.