Hypoallergenic Animals, Which Pets Are Best?

Are you an allergy sufferer and a pet lover? It’s tough because you really, really, might feel like petting every dog in sight, but you know it’s going to lead to a whole day of sneezing, running noses, and sore throats that you might not be prepared for.

There are three causes of pet allergies:

Dander – the dead flakes of skin that fall off all animals, including humans
Pet shed – the fur that naturally sheds in most animals
Fel D 1 protein – largely produced by cats saliva can cause some humans to have an allergic reaction after cats groom themselves.

Learning what exactly it is you’re allergic to can help find the best-suited pet for you. While no pet breeds are 100% hypoallergenic, there are a few that malt less, spreading fewer allergens in the air. Here are some of our favourite hypoallergenic pets for you to consider:

10. COTON DE TULEAR – They make look like allergy fluffballs, but Coton De Tulears have a soft and fluffy coat that rarely sheds if groomed regularly. These dogs are also notoriously happy and good with children in small homes and apartments.

9. ORIENTAL SHORTHAIR – Oriental shorthairs have very short fine coats rarely shed. However, if it’s dander you’re allergic to, these cats need to be groomed regularly.

8. MALTESE – Maltese dogs shed surprisingly little. Their long silky hair requires a lot of grooming, or you can alternatively keep it short. However, if you’re allergic to dander, you will want to shampoo your Maltese regularly to keep them as hypoallergenic as possible.

7. BENGAL – Bengal cats have very fine coats that require less maintenance, so they don’t need to be groomed often, and therefore their fur contains less saliva. They also shed less in general and look quite pretty too.

6. CHINESE CRESTED – One of the most recognisable hairless dog breeds, these dogs come in two varieties: the hairless and the powderpuff. Both are hypoallergenic and require very little grooming. However, they do require some taking care because they are quite prone to many dermatological issues, including sunburn, acne, and rashes.

5. RUSSIAN BLUE – this short-haired cat is famous for its blue/grey coloured coat that makes its coat shiny. They have a dense double coat that traps allergens more closely to their skin, so there’s less chance of them floating around you.

4. SCHNAUZER – Because of their wiry topcoat and light undercoat, even when they do shed, Schnauzers don’t melt all over the place and catch their own dander.

3. CORNISH REX – While most cats have three layers of fur, the Cornish Rex only has a soft undercoat layer, so they carry far less dander and don’t often shed.

2. POODLE – When most people think of hypoallergenic dogs, they think of Poodles. No matter which breed you choose, they don’t often shed, and their curly hairs hold onto any dander and dead hairs if they do!

1. SPHYNX – We did say that no animal is 100% hypoallergenic; this one is pretty close. With no hair to shed, they can’t trap any allergens on their saliva, and any allergens they do have stay on their skin.