15 Hypoallergenic Dogs and Cats
If you love animals but hate allergies, you may be tempted to spring for a pricey hypoallergenic pet. However, the only pets proven to be hypoallergenic have scaly skin—like iguanas and snakes. That said, if you’re dead set on a furry pet, here are a few that are touted—but not proven—to be better for people with allergies.
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Allerca's GD cat
Allerca is a company launched in 2004 to produce pets free of the major allergens, Fel d 1 (cats) and Can f 1 (dogs). Prices for cats range from $6,950 to $16,000 and dogs are available for $8,950.
The problem is that removing these proteins from the skin, saliva, and other secretions may not be enough, says Dr. Sublett. Animals can produce other symptom-triggering allergens.
"Both dogs and cats have what we call minor allergens, so it's not only the major allergens," he says. "Most people have a sensitivity to minor allergens too."
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