What type of cat should i get?

-I'm moving house soon,although i don't think that really has anything to do with the question.



My daughter is 14 and she wants a kitten,she's been wanting one for years and i think she's old enough to be responsible for it.The thing is i'm allergic to cats,and i'm also asthmatic.Cats make me sneeze,they make my eyes swell up and they affect my breathing quite badly.If i go to someones house that has a cat within minutes i'm suffering,even if the cat's not in the house.

Is there a cat that's suitable for me? i've googled and come up with siberian but they're quite expensive.



Anyway any advice would be appreciated.



Thanks.Maybe try fostering a kitten to see if this effects your allergies. I believe kittens do not trigger allergies as easily as cats do. You'd be literally saving a life instead of having to give up a full grown cat because your allergies increase as your kitten turns into a cat. Cats are so much more difficult to adopt out because everyone seems to want a hyperactive kitten. While you are fostering kittens, you can experiment with allergy vaccination to see if it relieves your symptoms. There is hypo-allergenic shampoo that you can bathe a cat/kitten in which will remove it's dander. Saliva/Dander/Pollin is what triggers an allergic reaction. Furthermore, there is dander wipes that you can rub all over a pet to aid in reducing allergies. Hepa-Filters are helpful as well so basically with the combination of all of the above methods, it should make you feel better. Sometimes your body will stop reacting over time because your body realizes the cat is not a threat to your immune system. I will post links so you can see in further detail that will confirm what I posted...

http://cats.about.com/od/allergiesandcat鈥?/a>

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-ho鈥?/a>

Allergic reaction to cats can be lessened most successfully by minimizing exposure to the animals. That is not always a practical solution, and there are a number of other strategies that may aid an allergy sufferer.

*Lower exposure

Allergens are airborne and survive for months or even years by themselves, hence removing anything that can trap and hold the allergens (carpet, rugs, pillows) and cleaning regularly and thoroughly with HEPA filters and Air purifier systems reduces risk. Furthermore, regularly brushing the cat will reduce the amount of loose fur (and its attached saliva) in the air. Regularly bathing the cat may significantly reduce allergens. Frequent hand washing, especially after handling the cat, and washing hands prior to touching eyes, nose, or mouth, and limiting the cat to the outdoors or barring the animal from certain rooms, such as the bedroom or other rooms where much time is spent, may also reduce allergic reactions. Feeding the cat a high quality diet with plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids will help keep the coat healthy and minimize dander.

*Medications

Cat allergies can often be controlled with over the counter or prescription medications. Antihistamines and decongestants may provide allergy relief.

*Allergy shots

Some allergy sufferers find relief in immunotherapy, a periodic injection therapy designed to stimulate the body's natural immune responses to the cat allergens.

*Synthetic epitope vaccine

The Synthetic epitope vaccine is an in-development vaccine to provide a long term vaccine for allergies.

*Cat Bathing

It is also possible to wash a domestic cat in order to remove the significant amounts of allergens from the fur.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_aller鈥?/a>

Please note that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic breed of cat. However, some cats (not specific to breed) will be more prone to trigger allergies compared to other cats. It's basically what you call luck of the draw.My mom is slightly allergic, though she takes allergy medication for it. You could try the Sphinx cat..they're also expensive, but they've got no fur. Thing is they disgust a lot of people. Other than just having skin and nothing more, they're lovable cats. :P



Anyways, get a domestic shorthair. Go to any shelter and find what my mom calls "the typical stray cat". I have one and my mom teases him for looking so normal, but he's absolutely lovable. I've also got a Persian cat. Avoid any long hair breeds as controlling their shedding is impossible. If any cat is brushed daily, the excess hair can be controlled, rather then spread all over the house.



I would say either get a keep off spray, or find out how to keep the cat out of your bedroom so that if you're having a problem, you can go in straight away.



Go to a shelter and adopt a cat. Domestic short hairs rarely shed. Along with that, get some allergy medication.



Good luck! xx