7 Best Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds for People With Allergies

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two devon rex cat in cat trees

You are a cat lover, right? But you also have a problem with allergies. Felines produce dander which is a common allergen and that’s at the root of the problem. According to aafa.org, in the United States alone, It is estimated that as many as 3 in ten pet parents with allergies have allergic reactions to cats.

What Cat Breeds Are Hypoallergenic?

Did you know that there are no 100% hypoallergenic cats? Some cat breeds, however, that produce less allergens come pretty close to the mentioned figure. Let’s take a look at those hypoallergenic breeds and who knows, we might be able to help you find your perfect feline friend.

#1 Sphynx Cat

Sphynx Cat

Breed Overview
Sphynx Origin:
? Where this breed was first established.
Canada
Sphynx Height:
? The typical adult height among individuals of this breed. Height is measured from the top of the head to the bottom of the front paws.
20.3 - 25.4 cm
Sphynx Adult Weight:
? The typical adult weight range of this cat breed.
3.6 - 7.3 kg
Sphynx Life Span:
? The average lifespan of the breed. While life expectancy is fairly consistent across all cat breeds, some breeds tend to live shorter or longer than others.
13-14 years
Sphynx Group: Medium-sized hairless
Sphynx Price: $1800-$3000

The Sphynx cat is unique due to its hairless look. Sphynx cats have no fur, so there is no way for the allergenic proteins in the cat’s saliva to get trapped in it.  However, cat dander comes from the saliva, so even the hairless Sphynx can irritate allergic reactions. Don’t forget that these felines require special care, so before you get one, you should be well informed on what that involves.

#2 Cornish Rex

Cornish Rex cat

Breed Overview
Cornish Rex Origin:
? Where this breed was first established.
United Kingdom
Cornish Rex Height:
? The typical adult height among individuals of this breed. Height is measured from the top of the head to the bottom of the front paws.
30.5 - 35.6 cm
Cornish Rex Adult Weight:
? The typical adult weight range of this cat breed.
2.7 - 4.1 kg
Cornish Rex Life Span:
? The average lifespan of the breed. While life expectancy is fairly consistent across all cat breeds, some breeds tend to live shorter or longer than others.
9-13+ years
Cornish Rex Group: Small to medium-sized shorthair
Cornish Rex Price: $800-$1,300

This one has quite a special kind of fur. While the majority of cats’ fur is arranged in three layers (top, middle, and bottom hair) the Cornish Rex only has a bottom undercoat of down hair which means that they are quite soft and a lot less hairy than the rest of their cousins. Shedding less hair means a lower risk of causing an allergic reaction.

Considering that they only have one layer of hair, they are less likely to cause a problem with allergy. These cats are widely considered as one of best small hypoallergenic cat breeds around.

#3 Devon Rex

Devon Rex cat

Breed Overview
Devon Rex Origin:
? Where this breed was first established.
United Kingdom
Devon Rex Height:
? The typical adult height among individuals of this breed. Height is measured from the top of the head to the bottom of the front paws.
30.5 - 35.6 cm
Devon Rex Adult Weight:
? The typical adult weight range of this cat breed.
2.7 - 4.1 kg
Devon Rex Life Span:
? The average lifespan of the breed. While life expectancy is fairly consistent across all cat breeds, some breeds tend to live shorter or longer than others.
10-15 years
Devon Rex Group: Small to medium-sized shorthair
Devon Rex Price: $600-$2,000

Just like its cousin Cornish, the Devon Rex also has the same coat type and that is the soft down hair used to make up most cats’ undercoats. To make things even better, Devon Rex has even less hair than the Cornish Rex, so it sheds even less. Therefore, that low risk of having an allergic reaction just decreased even more.

#4 Oriental

Oriental cat

Breed Overview
Oriental Shorthair Origin:
? Where this breed was first established.
United Kingdom
Oriental Shorthair Height:
? The typical adult height among individuals of this breed. Height is measured from the top of the head to the bottom of the front paws.
20.3 - 25.4 cm
Oriental Shorthair Adult Weight:
? The typical adult weight range of this cat breed.
2.7 - 5.4 kg
Oriental Shorthair Life Span:
? The average lifespan of the breed. While life expectancy is fairly consistent across all cat breeds, some breeds tend to live shorter or longer than others.
12-15 years
Oriental Shorthair Group: Medium-sized short-haired
Oriental Shorthair Price: $400-$2000

Oriental Shorthairs have fine, short coat and they shed very little. The best thing you can do here is to brush it on a regular basis, so that you remove any loose hairs and further reduce the amount of hair it drops. Oriental cats aren’t as efficient as the cats we mentioned before allergies-wise, but that is no reason to overlook it. It still is a hypoallergenic cat breed.

#5 Russian Blue

Russian Blue cat

Breed Overview
Russian Blue Origin:
? Where this breed was first established.
Russia
Russian Blue Height:
? The typical adult height among individuals of this breed. Height is measured from the top of the head to the bottom of the front paws.
20.3 - 25.4 cm
Russian Blue Adult Weight:
? The typical adult weight range of this cat breed.
4.5 - 6.4 kg
Russian Blue Life Span:
? The average lifespan of the breed. While life expectancy is fairly consistent across all cat breeds, some breeds tend to live shorter or longer than others.
10-16 years
Russian Blue Group: Medium-sized short-haired
Russian Blue Price: $1000 - $1700

Russian Blues don’t possess any special coat qualities that set them apart from others, but they do produce less Fel d1 (the protein that cats secrete from their skin which triggers allergies). The Russian Blue is also well-known for its “smile”.

It has a slightly upturned mouth and many compare it to the enigmatic Mona Lisa smile. The Russian Blue is widely regarded as a calm cat breed that is a bit of a loner, but only in the sense that it can enjoy  itself even if you leave it home alone for the day. It will be happy to see you when you arrive, though!

#6 Balinese

Balinese cat

Breed Overview
Balinese Origin:
? Where this breed was first established.
United States
Balinese Height:
? The typical adult height among individuals of this breed. Height is measured from the top of the head to the bottom of the front paws.
20.3 - 25.4 cm
Balinese Adult Weight:
? The typical adult weight range of this cat breed.
1.8 - 4.5 kg
Balinese Life Span:
? The average lifespan of the breed. While life expectancy is fairly consistent across all cat breeds, some breeds tend to live shorter or longer than others.
12-15 years
Balinese Group: Small to medium-sized longhair
Balinese Price: $1,000 - $1,500

The Balinese cat is similar to the Russian Blue when it comes to hypoallergenic tendencies. The Balinese cat also produces less Fel d1 which means that they are less likely to cause an allergic reaction.

The Balinese is also known for its remarkable intelligence and high energy. This cats gets along well both with humans and animals which can only be a good thing.

#7 Siberian Cat

Siberian Cat

Breed Overview
Siberian Origin:
? Where this breed was first established.
Russia
Siberian Height:
? The typical adult height among individuals of this breed. Height is measured from the top of the head to the bottom of the front paws.
22.9 - 27.9 cm
Siberian Adult Weight:
? The typical adult weight range of this cat breed.
7.7 - 11.8 kg
Siberian Life Span:
? The average lifespan of the breed. While life expectancy is fairly consistent across all cat breeds, some breeds tend to live shorter or longer than others.
12-15 years
Siberian Group: Medium to large long-haired
Siberian Price: $1000-$2000

You are probably wondering why we put the Siberian cat here because it has a long coat. Yes, it has a stunning long coat, but just like the Russian Blue and Balinese, this cat’s skin produces less Fel d1 than most other breeds and that’s why it is considered hypoallergenic.

It is a large cat with a lush double coat, but it is hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to worry.

Beware!

Sphynx cat looking

Remember that we aren’t the only ones who can develop allergies. Our (not so) furry friends can develop them too. And that usually happens because of foods full of additives, fleas, flea-control products etc.

Go for all natural pet food, and opt for natural cat products or if you want to minimize the risk of your cat developing allergies. We hope you enjoyed our article on the best hypoallergenic cat breeds that don’t shed.

We also recommend to check out Parcelpet’s article “Discover: Best cat food for sensitive stomachs”  for more info. We hope that your problem is solved now. You now know which cat breeds are less likely to cause an allergic reaction, but be sure to check everything with your doctor first. Just know that hypoallergenic doesn’t translate to 100% dander or Fel d1 free!

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About Amy Brown-Towry

Amy Brown-Towry is a Certified NAVC Pet Nutritionist and animal lover. She is the proud owner of two cats and a dog and her love for animals has led her to a successful career as a freelance writer specializing in pet care, nutrition, and product reviews.