Allergies & Shedding

Siberian cats have been described as being hypo-allergenic.  Biologically what this means is that the Fel D1 allergen level of this breed of cats is lower than the average cat’s allergen level.  Each cat has a different Fel D1 level.  The higher the level of Fel D1 the more likely an allergy sufferer is to react adversely. There is no link in Siberians between color, gender and allergen levels. All of our pairings are between two low allergen level Siberians and therefore we have low allergen level kittens.

Every person is different and every Siberian contains a different (although low) allergen level than the next. My ex-husband and one of my 11 year old twins are very allergic to regular cats, but both have no allergic reactions to our Siberian cats or their kittens. Studies have shown that 80% of people with cat allergies have little or no reaction to the Siberian breed. The people that fall in the 20% range that do have an allergic reaction are usually those with severe allergies to cats and those with complications to asthma. With both allergies and asthma nobody in our home has had issues with our (multiple) cats.

However, if you would like to test your allergies I am able to provide a small swatch of fabric that the cats have lounged on and I will rub all over them (including trying to get some of their saliva directly as well) and a sampling of fur that I can send to you for $15. Just contact me through the form to your right and I’ll send you information for getting on the wait list as well as getting an allergy testing sample. Do note that this type of testing is no where near as effective (or fun and adorable) as rubbing a kitten directly on your face. But it is a good starting point — and we only test with kittens directly when it’s your turn on the waitlist to choose a kitten to potentially take home.

Do they shed? Yes. Is it as much as you would expect a long haired cat to shed? No. But, instead, Siberian cats molt once or twice a year. The first molt is at the end of winter. The winter molt is instigated not by a change in temperature but by a change in day length. Many Siberians will experience a less intense “mini- molt ” at the end of the summer season, unlike other cats which will experience a “heavy molt” more than twice a year.
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/pets-and-allergies