Lovers of LaPerm cats, are you wondering if this breed is hypoallergenic?
LaPerm is an American cat breed that is known worldwide for its affectionate personality. It’s signature curly fur gives justice to having “perm” in its name. With tight curls on the belly, throat and base of the ears, LaPerm’s sure are little cuties!
For allergy sufferers, we have committed ourselves to finding out if this breed is ideal for your homes. And true to our style, we have gone straight to the deets on whether LaPerms can trigger your allergies or not.
For answers to all your questions, please read on!
Are LaPerm Cats Hypoallergenic?
Fortunately, the answer to that question is yes. LaPerm cats are considered to be hypoallergenic since they have a low probability of affecting allergy sufferers.
The main reasons why this breed is considered hypoallergenic include:
- Low shedding levels
- Low dander production rate
- Low Fel d1 production rate
- Can have short coats
- Easy to maintain
However, no cat is 100% hypoallergenic.
All pets can trigger a wide range of allergic reactions, including skin and breathing allergies. And LaPerm cats have a low probability of triggering either. Need more details on this? Please read on!
How to Decide If Laperm Is Hypoallergenic to You
Cat allergies are caused by dead skin cells and dander that are usually shed by all cats. And even breeds with a low amount of allergens, like LaPerms, can trigger allergies in some sufferers including breathing and skin allergies. And we have rated the LaPerms for both:
Shedding is the main thing affecting individuals with breathing sensitivities, while the ones with skin sensitivities have more factors to consider related to exposure to proteins like Fel d1.
The rest of the article will explain why the LaPerm usually has a low probability of triggering allergy sufferers.
Whether you’ll react really does depend on your unique sensitivities too. Make sure you test yourself by safely spending time with a LaPerm cat before bringing one home.
Do Laperm Shed a Lot?
No, the LaPerm is a low shedding cat. But, occasionally, these cats shed heavily after which their coat becomes thicker. LaPerm’s coat is quite easy to groom and therefore easy to keep low shedding levels.
There are two types of LaPerm cats; short-haired and longhaired cats. Both types of LaPerms have a unique coat that is made up of tight curls and loose waves. On occasion, you might notice their hair when they shed, but don’t expect to find a lot of hair all over your home.
LaPerm Saliva and Drooling Levels
Individuals with skin sensitivities are largely affected by the Fel d1 proteins present in a cat’s saliva, dander, urine and other bodily substances.
However, since allergies depend on someone’s sensitivities, you could be safe if the allergy-causing protein in the LaPerm’s saliva doesn’t affect you.
LaPerm’s medium-sized body calls for medium to high dander production rate. However, that is not the case as LaPerms have a very low dander production rate.
A small amount of dander will be released into the surrounding environment when they shed. However, proper grooming routines can also help reduce their dander level.
When it comes to your risk of saliva exposure, just like all cat breeds, LaPerms sometimes drool when happy and relaxed though usually have a low drooling rate. They do tend to lick themselves clean a few times a day though.
However, due to their low Fel D1 production rate, their saliva has a very low probability of triggering allergies even if trapped in their fur.
Grooming and Coat Maintenance
LaPerms are generally clean cats that should be washed at least once every month. Regular baths can end up drying their coat and skin.
When bathing this cat, you must use the right shampoo that will leave their coat shiny and healthy!
Never blow dry this cat as it will leave their coats frizz. Instead, dry their coats using a towel. Towel-drying will always leave their coat in pristine condition. As soon as the coat has dried up, you can emphasize its curls by spritzing using a fine mist of plain water.
Grooming the LaPerm’s curly coat is not as tedious as it might seem. Both longhaired and short-haired LaPerms are low shedding cats. The coat of the short-haired LaPerms should be brushed once a week. Even though the coat of the longhaired LaPerms is not prone to matting, it should be brushed more than once a week.
Just make sure you brush your fluff-ball’s coat with the right brush that won’t yank his healthy hair.
Since LaPerms are low shedding cats, with proper grooming you can help reduce the spread of allergens all over your house to a minimum.
Tips for Reducing Allergies
As we have just mentioned, no cat is 100% hypoallergenic. So regardless of your cat’s hypoallergenic status, you should always look for ways to reduce allergens in your house. Remember, all hypoallergenic breeds still produce allergy-causing proteins and dander. So here are some tips to help you reduce allergies.
Training
LaPerms are intelligent cats that love to spend time with their owners. So you can teach them some tricks. However, we recommend that you teach them the following as soon as possible:
- Always play within your home’s borders to avoid bringing in outdoor allergens
- Train them not to lick you
- Make sure they stay away from your bedroom
- Keep them off textiles areas of your home
- Potty training can go a long way too!
Fortify the House
We recommend that you fortify your home using the following:
- HEPA filters
- An air purifier designed for homes with pets
- A vacuum cleaner with pet hair attachment
- Reduce the number of textile surfaces
- Lint rollers to easily clean textiles surfaces
Final Thoughts
While LaPerms are hypoallergenic, it’s always best to ensure they are safe in your household and won’t trigger more allergies.
The fact that LaPerms produce less Fel d1 protein means that they have a lower probability of causing allergies. But just like all cats, they are known to shed and produce dander, even in low amounts you’ll never be 100% safe from allergen exposure.
To be on the safe side, we suggest you safely hang out this breed before bringing one home and make sure to keep your allergy meds handy too!
