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My New hypoallergenic, trick performing, Siberian Kitten, Clancy

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Downhome

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(Please see Post #135 on information about Clancy's six month old sister being available for $450)

Ok, let me give a tiny bit of background.

I got married this past October, and me and my wife moved into an apartment together. I have never had an indoor pet, but grew up on a farm and always had pets, just outside. Dogs, cats, and various farm animals. My wife grew up with different pets, cats and dogs, and for the past ten years or so she had 1-4 indoor cats at any given time, and had 3 at the time we got married.

I am highly allergic to cats. When I would go to her her house while dating I had to make sure I almost never touched her cats, and if I did I had to force myself to not touch my face at all, and had to wash my hands anytime I touched one of the cats or anything the cats came in contact with a lot.

My wife knew this even before we started dating, and she was fine with it. We talked about getting a dog, a Boston Terrier, something we will still eventually do. It is just with us in the apartment right now, on the second floor and with both of us working full time, we don't think the time is right for a puppy. That is when we started to seriously look into the Siberian cat breed. We talked about it while dating, so it came up again.

The Siberian cat is supposedly somewhat hypoallergenic since they produce a far lower level of Fel d1 which is where the cat allergies tend to come from in the first place. We found a somewhat local breeder and I contacted them and they mailed me a sample of their Siberian cat fur. I have kept it in our apartment, rubbed it all over my face and arms, and I have never reacted to it at all. This Saturday we are driving down to their "cattery" to see how I do in person.

The price of one of these cats is $950.

I have heard that females produce less Fel d1 than males. Is that true?

Regardless, here is the little guy we have our eye on right now...

kittensapril182012245.jpg


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And here is the dad:

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Anyway, I'm really just wondering if any of you guys have any experience with this breed. It sucks that I am allergic to cats and I can't just get any type of cat out there. Heck, you can find plenty of cats out there totally for fee at any given time. Still, we want a pet, and I know a cat would work better for us now than a puppy.

EDIT: Update after we decided on getting one, and bringing him home...


YouTube Page: ClancyCam

Alright guys, I have an update.

We drove down to near Atlanta to pick him up from the breeder on June 7th. He meowed half the way home, and for the first week he did it here in the apartment almost nonstop. We kept him in the office with all of his stuff when neither of us were home and at night when we were asleep, and let him out with us when we were there and awake. Overay the past two days we have started leaving the office door open and letting him roam around the entire apartment except for our bedroom - I'm trying to keep that one room cat free for now. Since we started leaving him out he has been a totally different cat, much happier and just more well rounded. I guess that goes without saying, but we thought that would be the best way to do it to start with.

Also, I haven't had a single allergic to him at all in these two plus weeks other than maybe an itchy nose a time or two from a single hair going up my nose, but that's to be expected and I'm not used to an animal being indoors. It is just freakin' amazing. He can be right in my face cuddling up with me asleep and it doesn't bother me a single bit. I never in a million years thought I could have a cat inside like this. For those of you curious about the Siberian breed, I HIGHLY recommend it, especially if you are typically allergic to cats. Or heck, even if you just want an awesome cat.

We have also started clicker training him with freeze dried chicken treats. So far he can play fetch like a puppy, and we're going to work on sit, stand, roll over, and all of the other typical tricks. He is also growing, fast. We went to PetSmart the other day
and they had kittens a month older than Clancy, and he is already twice their size. It's crazy. This is going to be one big cat.

Here are a few pictures of him here in the apartment.

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As a fellow sufferer of a cat allergy, I am also curious about this. Please post the results of your upcoming visit.
 
That kittens dad looks majestic. That's the only word for him.

My fiancée and I are also looking into these cats so, subscribed
 
hitsugi said:
That kittens dad looks majestic. That's the only word for him.

My fiancée and I are also looking into these cats so, subscribed
Click to expand...

I'm glad I'm not alone here. If you hear anything or know anything more about it let me know as well in the thread or through PM.
 
npm0925 said:
As a fellow sufferer of a cat allergy, I am also curious about this. Please post the results of your upcoming visit.
Click to expand...

We made the trip down yesterday, and it went great. I didn't have an allergic reaction in the slightest, and I made sure I was with a cat for a good while, and had it all over my hand, arms, and face. Even touching my face after didn't do a single thing to me.

We put down a deposit of $250, so it's official, we're getting the kitten I posted pictures of before.

We have named him "Clancy", which means "red warrior".

I highly recommend the breeder we are buying from as well. If anyone wants any information just let me know.
 
I have a Siberian, he's a wonderful big bastard.

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I got him because of my sister, she's highly allergic to basically everything, including cats, and when we used to live together she had to get weekly shots to tolerate our old cats. She got a male and a female for her two kids, and she hasn't had a single problem. The breeder had an extra cat from another litter that was returned for no particular reason, so we got him for less and he ended up with me.

The vet says they still produce Fel d1, but the quantities are so low they don't cause an immunoreaction.

Behaviourally, they're all great cats. If you got any question, feel free to ask!

Kitty pics

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His half-brother that my sister got

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1000$ for a cat? Fuck that shit, have you not been behind the back of a italian restaurant? Tonnes of the bastards
 
My missus is highly allergic to cats. Except for our Ragdoll. Ragdoll's are similar to Siberians in the "great for people who are allergic to cats"

However, some people get used to their own cats. This might be the case.

Also fur that has been mailed to you isn't any good. You're allergic to the dander (basically dried skin) rather than the fur.

@sickboy i know i've said it before but your siberian is so much like our raggy.

529726_398596103495252_100000345962165_1269276_470206021_n.jpg
 
Subscribed. This thread is magical, as i'm also allergic. I'm definitely considering getting one now.
 
That is a lot of money for a cat.

Also, some people are just allergic to other people's cats/pets. You could be the type who eventually gets used to their own cat (I know I'm like this).
 
I know some people with a Siberian female cat. An ordinary cat is almost unbearable to be around for me, but I can hang around this cat and while I can sort of feel some sniffles, I almost don't notice it.
 
Sickboy007, thanks for the pics and information. I'm glad someone else here has one too. Is it true they are more dog like than most cats, and can sometimes be "trained" to do this or that like fetch? I've heard they are really smart and don't put up as much of a fight.

How much does yours weigh right now?
 
Downhome said:
Sickboy007, thanks for the pics and information. I'm glad someone else here has one too. Is it true they are more dog like than most cats, and can sometimes be "trained" to do this or that like fetch? I've heard they are really smart and don't put up as much of a fight.

How much does yours weigh right now?
Click to expand...

There is no cat owner that won't tell you that his cat is the most dog-like cat ever :D
But i gotta say, this is certainly the most fun and games loving cat i've ever had. He follows people from one room to the next, constantly tries to surprise attack you, and sometimes fetches small objects that i throw at him. I didn't train him though. Also, but this might be just a personal trait, he almost never uses his claws. I've seen him fall numerous times because he forgets to grap onto objects he tries to climb. His half-siblings are just as playful but use their claws.

He's 7 kg now, a little more than 15 pounds, but his massive father was more than 10 kg (22 pounds). Like all big cats, they grow up slower, until they're 5 or so (mine is almost 2 years old).
 
Loofy said:
It annoys me that domestic cats are basically given away for free while other breeds will start at $500.
I want a scottish fold but Im not gonna spend $1000 on a cat.
Click to expand...

My friend has a scottish fold. Standard adoption fee from a shelter. She was a breeders cat, had already had a bunch of litters and was only about a year and a half old. =/

She also has asthma or something, or chronic sinus problems... some thing that resulted in vet bills. Everyone's better off just getting random cats... less inbreeding and less health problems.

I had no idea about certain cat breeds being hypoallergenic. Huh.
 
Sonicbug said:
I had no idea about certain cat breeds being hypoallergenic. Huh.
Click to expand...

Well, there isn't really a true hypoallergenic cat, but the Siberian has the far lowest levels, and "most" people don't react to them. As mentioned before, the Ragdoll is another one with lower levels as well, but not quite like a Siberian.

We wont be able to bring him home for about 5 more weeks. I have never had an indoor pet before, much less a cat. I guess it's time to get the apartment ready for whatever is in store for us.
 
My partner and I have two Ragdolls and a Bombay that we picked up for cheap at an independent pet store that seemed to be treating him like shit (said pet store has closed down). Despite paying a decent amount of cash for the Ragdolls the money has been paid back in full countless times from pure enjoyment.

We're thinking of trying out the Siberians after our three cats pass on, but she also wants to get a White Shepherd dog while I've mulled about the idea of grabbing a Tibetan Mastiff. I don't know if I can handle having 4 pets in the house - no idea how my brother does it and he and his wife have 3 cats and 3 dogs.

Downhome said:
Well, there isn't really a true hypoallergenic cat, but the Siberian has the far lowest levels, and "most" people don't react to them. As mentioned before, the Ragdoll is another one with lower levels as well, but not quite like a Siberian.

We wont be able to bring him home for about 5 more weeks. I have never had an indoor pet before, much less a cat. I guess it's time to get the apartment ready for whatever is in store for us.
Click to expand...

Buy lint rollers. Tonnes of them.

CRHrX.jpg


LIFE SAVER
 
My allergy ridden sister has a male one and she doesn't have any issues with him. He's kind of an asshole cat though....
 
I had a distant relative that used to have 2 of them.
Her two grew to be huuuuge.
I can't comment on anything dealing with allergies, as nobody was allergic to cats.
They were/are some of the best behaved felines I have ever been around however.
 
Downhome said:
Oh yeah, I imagine so. What else can you do to cut down on the amount of cat fur that will be all over the place? Just frequent brushing?
Click to expand...

They all shed a ton, but long hair cats tend to shed in clumps (so it should be a little easier to notice/clean up?). Good food (no meat-by-product in the ingredients) should make their fur nicer too. Grooming is a must for long hair animals.

Get a good vacuum and get it used to you brushing it straight away. :P
 
Brushing does help lessen the amount of fur that seems to magically attach to everything made out of cloth. You get used to it eventually.
 
OMG I'm allergic to cats but I love them. This is a possibility?!
 
Apparently there are a few breeds that are low allergy:

http://www.catster.com/cat-breeds/hypoallergenic-cat-breeds

Home » Cat Breeds
Also:

Top Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds for People with Allergies
Why Black Cats Sometimes Get a Bad Rap
Five Cat Breeds That Make Excellent Travel Companions
The Top Cat Breeds for Apartment Dwellers

Top Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds for People with Allergies

NEW: Are hypoallergenic cat breeds for real? See the Catster video on the subject.

According to The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, between 6 and 10 million Americans are allergic to cats or other pets. If you're an allergy sufferer who also happens to be a cat lover, you may be interested in low allergen cats. But what makes a cat hypoallergenic? Low allergen, or "hypoallergenic" cats are those that typically produce fewer allergens than "regular" cats. The operative word here is "fewer." Hypoallergenic is not synonymous with non-allergenic, and no breed is completely non-allergenic.

A protein (Fel D1) is the allergen in the cat's saliva is what causes problems for allergy sufferers. Once your cat licks her coat, the allergen-laden spit dries and becomes airborne, seeking a warm home in your nose and sinuses. Some cat breeds produce less of this protein than others, making them hypoallergenic.
Several Factors Affect Cats' Allergen Production:

Males produce more allergenic secretions than females
Intact males produce more than neutered males
Dark cats tend to produce more than light-colored ones (no one knows why)
Kittens produce fewer allergens than adults

So, a light-colored female cat might work out better for people with cat allergies.
Cats Good For Allergy Sufferers

Although no cat breed is truly hypoallergenic - all cats produce at least some allergens - there are seven breeds that produce fewer allergens than others. This hypoallergenic cats list should not be the only thing you consider when researching which breed of cat to adopt, however. Be sure to consider all of each breed's characteristics to determine which is the best fit for your household.
Hypoallergenic Cats List

Three of the seven hypo-allergenic breeds are Oriental lines: the Balinese, Oriental Shorthair and Javanese. This provides several options for cat lovers who'd like a low allergen cat with the characteristics of the popular Siamese.

Balinese: Often referred to as the "long-haired Siamese," the Balinese looks like an unlikely candidate for a hypoallergenic cat. But it is one of the few breeds that produces less of the Fel D1 protein than other cats, thus causing fewer allergic reactions in allergy sufferers.

Oriental Shorthair: They're hypoallergenic, but it's still a good practice to groom your cat frequently (brushing as well as wiping her down) to keep dander to a minimum.

Javanese: Like the Balinese, the Javanese sports a medium-long single coat that doesn't mat. Because of the lack of undercoat, they have less fur which translates into fewer allergens.

Two "Rex" cats are on the list: the Devon and Cornish Rex. Both shed very little fur, which is good news for allergy sufferers:

Devon Rex: Of the two, the Devon has both shorter fur and less fur. Your Devon Rex will need to have her paw pads and ears cleaned of oil build-up frequently, but doesn't need frequent full baths like the Sphynx or Cornish Rex.

Cornish Rex: The Cornish Rex requires more upkeep than the Devon because they require frequent baths to mitigate the oil buildup on their skin.

The last two cats on the list offer you a choice of hairless or hairy:

Sphynx: The hairless Sphynx is the cat most often associated with being hypoallergenic. Being hairless does not mean they're maintenance-free, however. Your Sphynx will need frequent baths to remove the gummy buildup of oils on her skin, and her large ears will also require frequent cleanings.

Siberian: Like the Balinese, the Siberian sports a moderately long coat, but still is hypoallergenic due to the lower-than-average enzyme levels in their saliva. Some claim that 75 percent of cat allergy sufferers have no reaction to the Siberian.
Click to expand...
 
We've had a Siberian cat for about 3 years.

My wife is super-allergic to cats. She just has to walk in the front door of a house with cats and she starts to feel the pain (same with dogs, etc.). Consequently, my kids could never have any pets beyond fish and a hamster.

My kids did the original research and found out about Siberians - i.e. they produce less of the protein that triggers allergies and asthma. To put it mildly, I was very skeptical.

We arranged to visit a breeder - just to see what my wife's reaction to the cats would be. Again, we warned the kids not to expect good news. But after an hour of sitting on the floor playing with these cats, my wife did not have an reaction. We were absolutely floored!

long story short, we have Siberian named Mika and she's awesome. Prior to meeting my wife, I always had a cat or two as a pet. But the Siberian temperament is nothing like any cat I've had had. They seem much smarter. Mika is more like a little dog - greets us at the door, 'talks' to us when she's after something, hangs out with us on the couch at night, etc.

So that's our story. YMMV with Siberians, but ours has been worth every penny.

And questions, just let me know!
 
Here is a random question. Would it be safe to have a Sugar Glider with a pet cat? Is it possible they could get along and coexist or would the cat start plotting the demise of the SG the moment it was introduced into the home?

Not getting one, but have thought about it for years. Not sure if this ends that or not.
 
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