Hypoallergenic Cats
By Lynn Lopez
Cats are one of the top causes of allergies, a fact that can seriously hinder any cat lover's plans to, well, get a cat. Cat allergens are secreted by sebaceous glands, and they usually come from a cat's skin and its saliva. Unlike dogs, the non-shedding breeds of which won't cause allergies, there aren’t many truly hypoallergenic cats, apart from the Siberian cat, which is said to be 90% hypoallergenic.
However, three years ago in 2004, a California-based "lifestyle pet company" called Allerca announced plans to make genetically modified cats available to the public this year. Nothing strange or unusual about them—the company simply sought to produce the first truly hypoallergenic cats. To do this, the company isolated and disabled the gene that secretes the allergen, and to make sure that their cats remain hypoallergenic, they were also to be spayed and neutered. Among the first breeds that were slated to be released was the British Shorthair, said to an amiable breed that people would find quite playful.
In September 2006, an allergist named Dr. Sheldon Spector conducted a trial and found that the Allerca cat is indeed hypoallergenic. There’s no need for you to be concerned about the cats’ welfare, by the way. They are kept in good conditions and are well cared for until they are to be sent to their new owners, most of whom placed orders for these cats when the news broke in 2004.
Hypoallergenic cats sound like a truly novel concept and would certainly allow more people to enjoy the companionship of a feline friend.
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