No, tabby cats are not hypoallergenic. Tabby is not a breed of cat, but a coat pattern that can appear in many different breeds. Some breeds with tabby patterns may produce less allergens than others, but none of them are completely free of allergens. If you are allergic to cats, you may still react to tabby cats, depending on the severity of your allergy and the amount of exposure. However, there are some tips and tricks that can help you reduce the allergens in your home and enjoy living with your tabby cat.
Understanding Tabby Cats
Tabby cats are domestic cats that have a distinctive ‘M’-shaped marking on their forehead, stripes by their eyes and across their cheeks, and other patterns on their body, such as spots, swirls, or bands. The tabby pattern is very common among mixed-breed cats, and it also occurs in many official cat breeds. The tabby pattern is connected to the coat of the domestic cat’s direct ancestor, the African wildcat, and other related wildcat species.
Tabby Patterns
There are five types of tabby patterns, each with a different appearance and genetic explanation:
- Mackerel: The most common tabby pattern, characterized by vertical stripes along the body and a ringed tail.
- Classic: Also known as blotched, this pattern features wider stripes that form swirls or whorls on the sides and a butterfly shape on the shoulders.
- Spotted: This pattern consists of spots of various shapes and sizes on the body, resembling a wildcat or a leopard.
- Ticked: Also known as agouti, this pattern has no stripes or spots on the body, but each hair has bands of color, creating a salt-and-pepper effect.
- Patched: This pattern combines any of the above patterns with patches of red or cream color, usually seen in female cats.
Common Tabby Cat Breeds
Some of the most popular cat breeds that have tabby patterns are:
- Abyssinian: A ticked tabby breed with a slender body and large ears.
- American Curl: A breed with curled-back ears and a variety of coat colors and patterns, including tabby.
- American Shorthair: A breed with a muscular body and a short coat that comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby.
- Bengal: A spotted tabby breed that resembles a wildcat, with a sleek body and rosettes on the coat.
- British Shorthair: A breed with a round face and a dense coat that comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby.
- Maine Coon: A large and fluffy breed that comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby.
- Norwegian Forest Cat: A breed with a thick coat and a bushy tail that comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby.
- Ocicat: A spotted tabby breed that looks like a wildcat, with a muscular body and a short coat.
- Oriental: A breed with a slender body and large ears that comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby.
- Persian: A breed with a long and fluffy coat and a flat face that comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby.
- Scottish Fold: A breed with folded ears and a round face that comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby.
- Siamese: A breed with a pointed coat and blue eyes that comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby.
- Siberian: A breed with a thick and water-repellent coat that comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby.
- Somali: A longhaired version of the Abyssinian, with a ticked tabby coat and a plumed tail.
- Turkish Angora: A breed with a long and silky coat and a plumed tail that comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby.
What Does “Hypoallergenic” Mean?
Hypoallergenic means that something is less likely to cause an allergic reaction than something else. However, there is no official or scientific definition of hypoallergenic, and it does not mean that something is completely allergen-free.
Hypoallergenic Cats
When it comes to cats, hypoallergenic refers to breeds that produce less of the protein Fel d 1, which is the main cause of cat allergies in humans. Fel d 1 is found in cat saliva, skin, and urine, and it can stick to cat fur and dander, which are shed into the environment. When people inhale or touch these allergens, they may experience symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, runny nose, coughing, wheezing, or skin rashes.
Common Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds
Some of the cat breeds that are considered hypoallergenic are:
- Balinese: A longhaired version of the Siamese, with a low-shedding coat and less Fel d 1 than other cats.
- Cornish Rex: A breed with a curly coat and no topcoat, which means less fur and dander to spread allergens.
- Devon Rex: A breed with a wavy coat and no topcoat, which means less fur and dander to spread allergens.
- Javanese: A breed with a long and silky coat and no undercoat, which means less fur and dander to spread allergens.
- Russian Blue: A breed with a short and dense coat that traps allergens and sheds less than other cats.
- Siberian: A breed with a thick and water-repellent coat that produces less Fel d 1 than other cats.
- Sphynx: A hairless breed that has no fur to shed or carry allergens, but still needs regular grooming to remove oil and dirt from the skin.
Cat Allergens and Allergies
Cat allergies are very common, affecting up to 10% of the population. Cat allergies are also more prevalent than dog allergies, and more severe than other animal allergies. Cat allergies can develop at any age, and can vary in intensity and frequency. Some people may have mild or occasional symptoms, while others may have chronic or life-threatening reactions.
Fel d 1 Protein
The main culprit of cat allergies is the protein Fel d 1, which is produced by cats in their saliva, skin, and urine. Fel d 1 is a glycoprotein that has a role in maintaining the health and function of the cat’s skin and coat. Fel d 1 is also a pheromone that helps cats communicate and mark their territory.
Fel d 1 is transferred to the cat’s fur during grooming, and it can also be released into the air through urine spraying or scratching. Fel d 1 can stick to cat dander, which are microscopic flakes of skin that cats shed. Cat dander can become airborne and travel long distances, and can also settle on furniture, bedding, carpets, clothing, and other surfaces. Fel d 1 can persist in the environment for months or even years, even after the cat is removed.
When people who are allergic to cats come in contact with Fel d 1, either by inhaling it or touching it, their immune system recognizes it as a foreign and harmful substance and produces antibodies to fight it. This triggers the release of histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation and allergic symptoms.
Factors Affecting Allergen Production
The amount of Fel d 1 that cats produce and release into the environment can vary depending on several factors, such as:
- Sex: Male cats tend to produce more Fel d 1 than female cats, especially if they are not neutered. This is because Fel d 1 is influenced by sex hormones, such as testosterone.
- Age: Younger cats tend to produce more Fel d 1 than older cats, as their skin and coat are more active and healthy.
- Breed: Some breeds may produce more or less Fel d 1 than others, depending on their genetic makeup and coat characteristics. However, there is no definitive evidence that any breed is completely hypoallergenic or non-allergenic.
- Diet: Some studies have suggested that certain diets may reduce the amount of Fel d 1 that cats produce, such as diets that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, low in allergenic proteins, or hydrolyzed. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and their effects on human allergies.
- Environment: The amount of Fel d 1 that cats release into the environment can also depend on the temperature, humidity, ventilation, and cleanliness of their surroundings. Higher temperatures and humidity can increase the shedding of dander and the evaporation of saliva, while lower ventilation and cleanliness can increase the accumulation of allergens.
Tabby Cats and Allergies
As mentioned earlier, tabby is not a breed of cat, but a coat pattern that can appear in many different breeds. Therefore, tabby cats are not hypoallergenic, and they can still cause allergies in people who are sensitive to cat allergens. However, some tabby cats may produce fewer allergens than others, depending on the factors mentioned above, such as their sex, age, breed, diet, and environment.
Breeds with Tabby Patterns that are Hypoallergenic
Some breeds with tabby patterns that are considered to be more hypoallergenic include:
- Siberian tabby: These cats have a thick, triple coat that helps to trap allergens.
- Balinese tabby: These cats are a long-haired version of the Siamese cat.
- Devon Rex tabby: These cats have short, curly hair and large ears.
Tips for Reducing Cat Allergens in Your Home
Even if you have a hypoallergenic cat, there are still some things you can do to reduce cat allergens in your home:
- Regular grooming: Brush your cat regularly to remove loose hair and dander.
- Using air purifiers: Air purifiers can help to remove allergens from the air.
- Frequent cleaning: Vacuum and dust your home regularly to remove dander.
- Keep cats out of the bedroom: This will help to reduce the amount of allergens in the room where you sleep.
- Wash hands after handling cats: This will help to prevent the spread of allergens.
