Manx Cat Allergies

The Manx cat, originally from the Isle of Man, is a breed that has a very short tail or no tail at all. The shortness or the lack of tail is a consequence of a genetic mutation of the spine which occurred in time. The Manx cats do not have any problems with equilibrium, despite the lack or their size of the tail. Manx cats are available in a large variety of colors and they have thick double-layered coat. The coat has soft hair underneath and coarse topcoat. The coat can be short or long and can have different patterns. The cat is considered a hypo allergenic feline breed, meaning that it will cause fewer allergic reactions in susceptible humans.

Manx Cat Allergies

A non-allergenic cat is still being researched, but to date, all existing cats are known to provoke allergies in sensitive people.

The allergies are caused by the cat’s saliva, urine and dander and all cats produce the protein that is believed to be the main allergen present in the saliva, urine and dander. Therefore, all cat breeds provoke allergies. However, there are several owners that claim that, even if they are generally allergic to cats, they do not manifest any allergic reaction to Manx cats.

There are breeds, such as the Sphinx cat, the Siberian cat or the Manx cat who are often referred to as hypoallergenic. These breeds cause fewer allergic reactions.  

The Manx cat does not shed a lot of hair and has lower levels of Fel d1, one of the proteins that causes the allergic reactions. The cat also produces less dander.

Cat Allergies

Humans exhibit allergic reactions to cats’ saliva, urine or dander. There are 5 main allergens produced by cats, but 2 are most commonly the culprit allergens:

  • Secretoglobin (Fel d1) found in cat saliva
  • Lipocalin (Fel d4), found in the cat’s urine and secretions

The other 3 allergens, Fel d2, Fel d3 and IgA, are only minor allergens. These proteins that cause allergies are secreted in the cat’s urine and saliva, and will also be present in the dander.

Cat allergies can have various ways of manifesting according to how severe the reaction is. The most common symptoms include:

  • Red watery eyes
  • nasal congestion, running nose
  • Coughing and sneezing
  • Rashes and redness on the skin

Coping with Cat Allergies

There are several ways to control the allergic reactions to felines. If you are severely allergic to cats, you should choose a hypoallergenic cat such as the Manx cat.

Other treatment options consist of antihistamines (OTC medication for allergies), decongestants and other medication prescribed for allergy or asthma.

Immunotherapy with shots can also treat the allergy, but is does not always work. Only 70% of people treated with allergy shots show improvement and diminished reactions. In some cases, the allergies can be completely cured with these shots.

Keeping a clean house and a well ventilated environment, washing your hands after touching the cat, grooming the cat properly can help reduce the allergic reactions.

 

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