"hypo-allergenic" animals

[Saje]

I just got in an arguement at work about hypo allergenic animals. She was talking about some HA cats and that they were $4000 each I said there was no such thing and she said they were bred for that and blah blah blah. And they I realized I had no information to back up my arguement so I let it go lol

Was I wrong?

 

[Brattina88]

The prefix "hypo" means "less than" and thus the word hypoallergenic tells the kitten/cat buyer that the breeder
believes the cat to to produce fewer allergens than other cats. How is this measured or regulated - well it isn't. There are no legal regulations defining allergens (let alone allergens in cats), nor are there any guidelines. So the world "hypoallergenic" has very little meaning.

http://www.cat-world.com.au/Hypoallergenic.htm

and probably what your worker-friend was talking about, it was on the news a while back, and yes, they are $4000~
Genetically modified cats for sale

 

[Zoom]

I wrote a sci-fi story about this back in high school...it didn't turn out well for the characters. I'm not so sure about the real-life version either.

 

[Meggie]

The definition of Hypoallergenic" is very interesting, I didn't know that.

Ok, but the whole idea of genetically engineered cats and kitty clones just gives me the heebie jeebies (can't accuse me of being scientifically-minded!). If I ever had the opportunity to see one, I might be tempted to feel on it's neck for little screws, a la Frankenstien's Monster.

I mean, I'm allergic, and this might be a Godsend to those allergic people who desperately love cats. But still, can't help it.......... *icky*.

 

[kidsanddogs]

Yep, saw it on GMA or some other morning program last week. They had beautiful, longhaired, white cat with blue eyes. The cohost holding him was highly allergic, and voila, not even a sniffle. Pretty amazing. And they really are charging a fortune, but obviously they can get it because they have a huge waiting list for them.

 

[ToscasMom]

The REX cats as well as the Sphinx are supposed to be great cats for allergy sufferers. That is if you don't mind a cat that looks bald or like suede. lol.

I thought I was allergic at one point, but found out it was really my ex husband that was making me sick. lol.

 

[Saje]

lol ^

Well I didn't know about all that but I think she was talking about some cats in a newspaper ad. hm

 

[ToscasMom]

4k for a cat is pretty outrageous. They must be pushing a "designer" cat. God only knows what they did in breeding...

You can get a sphinx or rex cat for hundreds.

It would be interesting to know exactly what the name of these 4k cats were.

 

[brem]

there is a new "breed" of supposedly hypoallergenic cats. Can't back up my claim, but I've seen it.
Too expensive for me anyway.
Yoshi's doing fine. Err. I'm doing fine with yoshi.

 

[ToscasMom]

"supposedly" is probably a good word for it. The reason I say this is, there is an assumption that cat dander is the primary cause of allergies. That's not exactly true. It's a chemical in the cat's saliva that is released on the fur when licking. It's actually the saliva that causes the allergies. Even if a cat were completely furless, it would still lick itself by nature. Therefore, I imagine that they would have to almost create a spitless cat in order to say it was truly hypoallergenic.

 

[ToscasMom]

Here's a Sphinx. About as hairless as they come. On the other hand they have loving personalities. They would almost have to. Cats such at this must be kept seriously warm, they cannot stand drafts, etc.

 

[dogsarebetter]

i want a black sphinx!

 

[ToscasMom]

There's a long waiting list for them, there aren't that many breeders. If you really want one, you can contact the the CFA for names.
http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/sphynx.html

 

[misticaleclipse]

wow 4000, crazy. That would pay a good many bills for me.

 

[colliewog]

I'm allergic to hair it seems. Kittens (except for heavy coated Persians or Himys) don't bother me, Rex and Sphynx don't bother me, and even Abyssinian, Siamese, Burmese, Oriental Shorthair and other similar (slick coated) cats don't bother me. But I can't be in the same room with an adult Himalayan, Persian, Maine Coon or "ungroomed" (fly away haired) DSH cat. I also have problems with long haired double coated dogs like Chows, Goldens, Rough Collies (yep!), Samoyeds, Pomeranians, Shelties, etc. but nowhere near as bad as cats.

I want this cat!!!! http://www.cfa.org/breeds/profiles/jpgs-bob/sphynx.gif

 

[ToscasMom]

Figures you'd want the Blue, Colliewog. Needle in a haystack. LOL.

I'm a Havana Brown fan. They are also not so easy to find. I had a black one. Black ones are not show quality but he was a wonderfully loving boy. HB's are mahogany in color with green eyes and a squared nose. Really smart cats. Good travelers and leashers. Love their face.