Non Shedding Cat Breeds -
Fact or Myth?

And one of these just may make a great pet for you!

Cornish Rex Cat	Devon Rex Cat	Sphynx Cat

People normally want non shedding cat breeds for one or more of these reasons:

• They don't want to be constantly vacuuming up cat hair
• They are allergic to cats, and are hoping that a breed that sheds less will be less likely to trigger an allergic reaction
• They want a low maintenance cat that doesn't need grooming

Let's look at each of these in turn, then look at the breeds that may be suitable in some or all of these circumstances:

1) I hate vacuuming!

I can really empathize with this one - I hate vacuuming more than any other household chore.

Most cats don't shed massive volumes of hair everywhere as long as they're groomed regularly. Some definitely need grooming more than others - long haired breeds such as the Persian cat and the Himalayan cat need grooming every day. This isn't so much because they shed excessively, but more because they'll get tatty, knotted hair if it's not regularly groomed.

If you hate vacuuming but enjoy grooming your cat, then a 10 minute daily brush and comb should keep Kitty's fur in tip top condition and stop your vacuum cleaner from steaming towards an early grave.

The Cornish Rex cat, Devon Rex cat and Sphynx cat do shed a lot less hair than most other cats, so choosing one of these breeds may be a good idea if vacuuming isn't your favorite pastime.

2) I'm allergic to cats and want a breed that's hypoallergenic

A lot of people assume that an allergic reaction to cats is triggered by the cat's hair. in fact, this isn't usually the case.

The reaction is triggered by a glycoprotein known as Fel d1. This is found in the cat's saliva and dander (dried skin flakes) as well as in the fur, and it's often the saliva and dander that cause the allergic reaction rather than the hair.

Cats that shed less fur than other breeds (Cornish Rex cat, Devon Rex cat, Sphynx cat) also release less Fel d1, so they often trigger less of an allergic reaction than other cats.

If you're normally allergic to cats but really want one as a pet, try to spend some time with one of the hypoallergenic cats listed above before you buy one. That way at least you'll know for sure whether you'll be OK with the breed before taking the big step of purchasing.

3) I want a low maintenance cat!

I don't really believe any of the cat breeds that shed minimal hair are low maintenance overall. The Cornish Rex cat and Devon Rex cat breeds are intelligent and active, and need lots of stimulation and attention from their owners.

The Sphynx cat secretes a lot of oil from its skin, and needs sponging almost daily to keep this under control (and to stop it staining the furniture!)

Before you get a cat, you need to be really sure you have the time and the energy to look after him. Grooming is only one aspect of cat care. Cats need entertainment, love, care and attention on a daily basis, and if they get sick they may need a huge amount of care and attention.