Are Sphynx Cats Hypoallergenic?

​Many people out there would love to have a pet cat, but due to allergies, they may believe they’re unable to have one. It’s widely believed and accepted that any cats who don’t have fur can be an excellent option for allergy sufferers.

​However, you may be surprised that this isn’t the case. After all, many people look to get sphynxes as they tend to be the first cat you think of when you consider a hairless cat. But are sphynxes and other hairless cats hypoallergenic?

​Can Sphynxes Trigger Allergies?

Unfortunately, sphynxes can still cause allergic reactions in allergy sufferers. It turns out cat allergies aren’t triggered by fur but by a specific protein called Fel d 1.

You can find this protein in the sebaceous glands on your cat’s skin and in their saliva. When your cat grooms itself, you’ll find it gets its saliva and skin oil all over its fur, so it’s covered in Fel d 1.

​Due to Fel d 1 coming out of your cat’s saliva, a sphynx will still have the allergen on its skin, so you’ll still experience a mild allergic reaction in the presence of a sphynx.

​How Can I Still Own A Sphynx When I’m Allergic?

The good news is that even if you experience allergic reactions, you can still own a sphynx. Sphynxes are naturally friendly cats and are intelligent too.

They love cuddling their owners, and you’ll find that they will follow you around the house. You don’t have to worry about them struggling with children or guests. They are known to have a great temperament around other cats and dogs.

​Sphynxes are, without a doubt, one of the most popular cats for allergy sufferers, and here are some tips on how to live with a sphynx in your home.

Air Filters And Purifiers

You should buy air filters and purifiers to put in your home. These are great for getting rid of allergens and dust mites, making breathing more manageable in your home.

It does this by using High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters to remove allergens you wouldn’t usually see, including pollen.

Allergy Medication

Nowadays, so many medicines are available for allergy sufferers to make their life easier. You may find that you can get allergy shots or other medication to enable you to live your life easier with your pet cat.

If you want to try allergy medication, contact your doctor to see whether they could refer you to an allergy specialist.

Clean Your House Regularly

Your cat will be in your house a lot, so you should make sure that you clean any area where it sleeps regularly.

Allergens from your cat’s skin will make contact with your carpets and furniture regularly, so vacuuming is essential to maintaining your household. If your sphynx runs all over your furniture, you might want to invest in some washable covers to make the process a lot easier.

Make sure you clean your cat’s bedding regularly, especially if you use blankets to keep them warm in colder weather. After all, their lack of fur does make them get cold quickly. 

Establish Cat-Free Areas

You should make cat-free zones to ensure that you won’t accidentally have a severe allergy reaction. One recommended area is ensuring that your sphynx can’t get into your bedroom, or else you’ll be cleaning your bedsheets daily.

Unfortunately, this means you won’t be sleeping with your cat in your room, but ultimately, you’ll find owning your cat far more comfortable. While your sphynx will most likely climb on furniture, look into making them their beds.

Sphynxes get cold easily, so make sure their bed is one of the warmest areas of the house so they won’t be tempted to climb all over your furniture.

Bathe Your Sphynx

The good news about having your sphynx is that they’re furless so that you can bathe them more effortlessly.

By washing your cat, you can reduce the number of allergens on their skin. While that won’t eliminate the Fel d 1 allergen, you can reduce the number of allergies on your sphynx’s skin.

If you don’t want to bathe them weekly, you can get some cat cleaning wipes to use weekly to help eliminate the allergens. You should also groom them regularly as their skin is oily and prone to infections.

​If you’re allergic to cats and need to bathe them regularly, then grooming your sphynx won’t be an issue due to their need for regular cleaning.

​Is A Sphynx The Only Option For Cat Allergies?

Sphynxes aren’t the only cat available for allergic cat lovers, but there are others available that you could get if you can’t get a sphynx.

While these other cats have fur, they also produce fewer Fel d 1 allergens than other cats. These cats include Balineses, Bengals, Cornish Rexes, Devon Rexes, Oriental Shorthairs, Russian Blues, and Siberians. 

These cats are all great options if you’re looking to adopt a cat and don’t want to relegate to searching for a specific breeder.

If you are contacting a breeder to get any type of cat, remember that you should check the breeding facilities and understand what health tests the parents have had.

​There should be breeding organizations where your cat is registered, and you should always meet the parent cats.

​Final Thoughts

Ultimately, sphynxes are an excellent option for allergy sufferers due to their temperament and the lack of allergens on their skin. It’s understood that no cats are entirely hypoallergenic, but there are always methods to lessen the effects of the Fel d 1 allergen on you.

When you get a sphynx, you should look into fostering it to see how your body reacts to it. Ultimately, you should do this before you dedicate yourself to getting a sphynx or any type of cat.

​You should remember that cats can live for a long time, with the average lifespan of a sphynx being between eight and fourteen years of age. So, if you are looking for a cat, why not try getting a sphynx?