Can Cat Fur Color Shape Human Allergies?

Discovery News ^ | June 1, 2011 | Marianne English

[decimon]

Strange as it sounds, the question has been thrown around in previous years and even studied by scientists. A recent write-up on the website Improbable Research revisits whether cats with darker coats wreak more havoc on their owners' immune systems.

Pet dander, skin flakes, saliva and urine can aggravate owners' allergies and asthma, but for cats in particular, a specific protein called "Fel d 1" is a common culprit. It's secreted by cats' salivary and sebaceous (or oil) glands, so when a cat grooms itself, it spreads the allergen to the outermost surface of the fur, increasing human exposure to the protein.

But does allergen production vary among cats with different coat colors, with darker ones creating more allergy problems for humans than lighter cats?

[decimon]

Via SunkenCiv, pictured below.

[decimon]

Me-hue ping.

[Rytwyng]

"/...does allergen production vary among cats with different coat colors, with darker ones creating more allergy problems for humans than lighter cats?..."

Racist.

[coloradomomba]

I have a calico at home...no problems...I go to see my Mother-in-law who has a Siamese and my allergies go wacko...(but maybe it's psychosomatic)

[decimon]

I have a calico at home...no problems...I go to see my Mother-in-law who has a Siamese and my allergies go wacko...(but maybe it's psychosomatic)

Sure it's not a reaction to the mother-in-law?

[Kirkwood]

I can say for a fact that I’ve never sneezed around a pink kitty.

[JoeProBono]

[madison10]

It might make a difference. DH was not allergic to white cat we owned, but seemed to be allergic to the striped ones and dark ones.

[netmilsmom]

I’ve grown out of most of my cat allergies but I’m still sneezy around Siamese.

[PERKY2004]

[razbinn]

[goodnesswins]

OMG...what is THAT?

[goodnesswins]

I’m thinking that I’ve almost adjusted to our kitty (he’s 9 months old now)....he’s tuxedo...(black & white)...I don’t want to be allergic to him...but it made this winter miserable.

[Slings and Arrows]

[Slings and Arrows]

Ugly Bat Boy.

[PA Engineer]

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THEN DON'T USE MY PILLOWS.

[Califreak]

Brother in law is very allergic to cats, but seems to be able to tolerate our meezer.

[doorgunner69]

I go to see my Mother-in-law who has a Siamese and my allergies go wacko...(but maybe it's psychosomatic)

Yes, it is psychosomatic, get treatment.

A house withot at least one Siamese is not a home...... So says Sassy Micky, the head Siamese in this abode..............

[JoeProBono]

[PA Engineer]

I’m thinking that I’ve almost adjusted to our kitty (he’s 9 months old now)....he’s tuxedo...(black & white)...I don’t want to be allergic to him...but it made this winter miserable.

I know what you mean. I have recently developed asthma with our felines as potential triggers. I'm not young and was surprised it could occur in midlife.

We have 5 of them. Four of the five were dump rescues over the years from our property. Luckily our house is not wall to wall carpet and the furniture is leather.