Page 33 2024 Animal Stories Lincoln Daily News February 2024 By Matt Boutcher While the entirety of this magazine has to do with pets, the reality is that a significant portion of people have allergies to the more traditional pets, such as cats and dogs. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) reports that allergies to dogs and cats affect anywhere between ten and twenty percent of the world’s population. The AAFA continues by stating that these allergies aren’t just limited to dogs and cats, but any animal with fur. The AAFA reports that “even rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, and horses can cause allergy symptoms.” Some people can even be allergic to animals with feathers. This being the case, this not insignificant portion of the population may see a magazine such as this one and feel there is nothing in it for them. This, however, is not the case, as there are plenty of pets out there that are hypoallergenic. To start, what is an allergy and why are some people allergic to things that others are not? According to the Mayo Clinic, “allergies occur when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance… that doesn’t cause a reaction in most people.” These reactions can range from something as minor as a small irritation to anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis, for those unfamiliar with the term, is an allergic reaction so severe that it could be life-threatening. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), when a person with allergies is exposed to the thing they are allergic to, their immune system releases antibodies. These antibodies then travel to cells that release chemicals that cause the allergic reaction. Since allergies are so unique, with different people reacting differently to different allergens, it’s difficult to say exactly what causes them. The AAAAI states, “it is not yet fully understood why some substances trigger allergies and others do not, nor why some people have allergic reactions and others do not.” Since allergies are so specific to the individual, it stands to reason that there should be plenty of pets for people with allergies. Likely one of the most popular hypoallergenic pets is the Hairless or Sphynx cat. While it is commonly believed that this breed of cat is fully hypoallergenic, that’s only partly true. One of the more common things people are allergic to in cats is a protein found in their saliva called “Fel d 1.” According to the Smithsonian Magazine, when a cat grooms itself, the Fel d 1 protein dries on their fur and becomes airborne. While it is true that, due to their hairless nature, Sphynx cats produce less airborne Fel d 1, they likely produce just as much of this protein in their saliva as any other cat breed. According to several sources, there may be cat breeds that produce less Fel d 1 protein than other cats. These breeds may include the Sphynx as well as the Siberian, Balinese, Devon Rex, and Cornish Rex. The unfortunate reality for cats, however, is that there is no true hypoallergenic cat. In addition to their saliva, irritants can be found in a cat’s skin cells and urine as well. Cats with shorter hair, however, seem to be less likely to cause reactions in people who are allergic to them. What about dogs? While they do not release the Fel d 1 protein, dogs do release their own salivary proteins called “Can f 1” and “Can f 2.” To make Continued --
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