ForestWind Siberian Cats
Adding a little love to your life!
Are Siberian Cats Hypoallergenic?
Cats produce 7 different allergens. Scientists label these feline allergens fel d-1, fel d-2, fel d-3, and so on. The cat allergen most people react to is named fel d-1.
Some Siberian cats produce very little fel d-1, allowing most allergic (but non-asthmatic) people to live happily with them. It is important to note that a few individuals are not allergic to feld-1 but to one of the other proteins produced by felines. For these persons, Siberian cats will still be reactive. Siberian cat breeders grew tired of hearing that this low allergy trait was a fairy tale, and began testing their cats for levels of Fel d-1. About 1/2 of Siberians do produce exceptionally low levels of fel d -1.
Happily, here at ForestWind Siberians in Buffalo, NY, our breeding cats all score exceptionally low - below 3.0 ug/ml!! Domestic cat levels of fel d-1 range from 1 to 35 ug/ml. Over 8 is quite high and is definitely reactive. Below 4 most allergic people can tolerate or even not react to at all. According to Indoor BioTechnologies, ForestWind Karolina and ForestWind Wyatt are the first Siberians to be tested who produce **no** detectable fel d-1 at all!
We test our adult cats in the winter when FEL d-1 levels are highest. Why do we do this? To identify the "top" level of allergen expected to be produced. When the highest level is low, this is a good thing! Our cats are breeding cats - they are not desexed. Desexed cats produce much less fel d-1. When desexed, males and females have similar rates of fel d-1 production. Fel d-1 production is testosterone mediated. Therefore it is important for your kitten to be desexed before coming to sexual maturity. Siberians mature early, and desexing is preferably completed before they achieve five months of age.
How did Siberians get this low allergy trait? They developed in geographic isolation in rural Siberia, so traits were shared amongst the natural breed as it evolved. By sharing our fel d-1 testing results, pedigrees, and dna, we particpate in a UC Davis University research project on Fel d-1 in Siberians. Through this project, several feld -1gene mutations specific to the Siberian have been identified. These mutations are responsible for the lower level of feld - production in our cats. So, now we know - there is a scientific basis for the claim that some Siberians are hypoallergenic! The genes are dominant and inherited heterozygously, so that a kitten has a 50% chance of inheriting it from an affected parent (affected = good: the cat has the special low allergy gene). We also support a new research project seeking to identify a simple method of testing kittens.
To summarize, Yes, Virginia, (some) Siberian cats ARE hypoallergenic!
Some Siberian cats produce very little fel d-1, allowing most allergic (but non-asthmatic) people to live happily with them. It is important to note that a few individuals are not allergic to feld-1 but to one of the other proteins produced by felines. For these persons, Siberian cats will still be reactive. Siberian cat breeders grew tired of hearing that this low allergy trait was a fairy tale, and began testing their cats for levels of Fel d-1. About 1/2 of Siberians do produce exceptionally low levels of fel d -1.
Happily, here at ForestWind Siberians in Buffalo, NY, our breeding cats all score exceptionally low - below 3.0 ug/ml!! Domestic cat levels of fel d-1 range from 1 to 35 ug/ml. Over 8 is quite high and is definitely reactive. Below 4 most allergic people can tolerate or even not react to at all. According to Indoor BioTechnologies, ForestWind Karolina and ForestWind Wyatt are the first Siberians to be tested who produce **no** detectable fel d-1 at all!
We test our adult cats in the winter when FEL d-1 levels are highest. Why do we do this? To identify the "top" level of allergen expected to be produced. When the highest level is low, this is a good thing! Our cats are breeding cats - they are not desexed. Desexed cats produce much less fel d-1. When desexed, males and females have similar rates of fel d-1 production. Fel d-1 production is testosterone mediated. Therefore it is important for your kitten to be desexed before coming to sexual maturity. Siberians mature early, and desexing is preferably completed before they achieve five months of age.
How did Siberians get this low allergy trait? They developed in geographic isolation in rural Siberia, so traits were shared amongst the natural breed as it evolved. By sharing our fel d-1 testing results, pedigrees, and dna, we particpate in a UC Davis University research project on Fel d-1 in Siberians. Through this project, several feld -1gene mutations specific to the Siberian have been identified. These mutations are responsible for the lower level of feld - production in our cats. So, now we know - there is a scientific basis for the claim that some Siberians are hypoallergenic! The genes are dominant and inherited heterozygously, so that a kitten has a 50% chance of inheriting it from an affected parent (affected = good: the cat has the special low allergy gene). We also support a new research project seeking to identify a simple method of testing kittens.
To summarize, Yes, Virginia, (some) Siberian cats ARE hypoallergenic!
More answers in our forum!
We invite you to join our Forum to learn more about allergies and the Siberian cat!
Why Do some people react to kittens?
What are your cat's fel d -1 results?
What housecleaning steps can I take to minimize reactions?
Are there products I can use on my cats to reduce my chances or reaction?
Why Do some people react to kittens?
What are your cat's fel d -1 results?
What housecleaning steps can I take to minimize reactions?
Are there products I can use on my cats to reduce my chances or reaction?
Newest FELd-1 Levels !!
Click on photo of Stimics Flynnssonn at 8 months to be taken to Fel d-1Lab report.
Feodor Vemas 7.91
Cirkumpolare Gostimira 0.25
Jorrah Novia 1.88
Ivanka 0.02
Malania Von der Golden Sima 2.16
Stimics Flynnssonn 0.02
What do these results mean?
Domestic felines (cats that are not lions or tigers, etc) generally test above level 8 ug/ml.
FELd-1results below 4 ug/ml do not usually produce reactions in people who are cat allergic.
Gostimira, Ivanka, and Flynnssonn have results that functionally zero and essentially completely hypoallergenic! These are results taken in winter months from fully adult three year old cats. These results are deemed highly reliable in Siberians of this age.
Additionally, the samples tested are saliva, which is not affected by things like shampoo, shedding, etc.
Novia and Malania are also VERY low producers of FEld-1.
Surprisingly, and quite disappointingly, Theo's (Feodor Vemas) levels are almost as high as a low end domestic cat. Due to this we will be retiring him this coming fall, after he has contributed a bit more to our golden breeding program. His sister, Feodora (Dora) is already spayed and looking for her forever home. Her Feld-1 level is 3.77.
If you have questions about Feld-1 levels, be sure to include them for us on our Kitten Inquiry Form when you email it to us @ SweetSiberians@aol.com
Cica Stepan, Rossity Sultan, ForestWind Wyatt, ForestWInd Karolina FELD -1 Results
We are extremely excited to report that our four most recently tested adults - tested now in fall / winter when the FELD-1 levels are known to be the highest - range from extremely low to none! We are the first Siberian Cattery with scientifically reported levels of zero in their cats! ForestWind Wyatt and ForestWind Karolina are not only golden, but no allergy. We are so happy :) Look forward to some absolutely STUNNING hypoallergenic kittens from ForestWind over the next few years :)
Feld-1 Levels as tested by Indoor Biotechnologies are:
Cica Stepan 2.85
ForestWind Karolina 0.008 (zero equivalent)
ForestWind Wyatt 0.008 (zero equivalent)
Rossity Sultan .19
Click on photo of ForestWind Wyatt for Indoor Biotechnologies FELD-1 Report
Feld-1 Levels as tested by Indoor Biotechnologies are:
Cica Stepan 2.85
ForestWind Karolina 0.008 (zero equivalent)
ForestWind Wyatt 0.008 (zero equivalent)
Rossity Sultan .19
Click on photo of ForestWind Wyatt for Indoor Biotechnologies FELD-1 Report
Feodora Vemas FELD-1 Test Results
Feodora Vemas's ("Dora") FELd - 1 results are a 3.77. This is below average, but not particularly low. Dora has since been spayed, and we are looking forward to retesting her in a few months to ascertain what the difference between a whole, mature female and a spayed adult Siberian is.
This data will be helpful to allergy families in understanding what the approximate level of allergen will be in their home in winter months with a desexed adult Siberian from ForestWind.
Historically, we have never had a reaction to either Dora or her kittens by several different males. This tells us that FELd-1 levels at or below 1 are not necessary for a successful placement into an allergy home. ForestWind Karolina is Dora's kitten, and you can read about her historic FELd-1 level below.
Sometimes you read about FELd-1 levels being ranked on a scale of 1 to 35. This doesn't align with the testing rank that Indoor BioTechnologies uses. They are the only laboratory nationally providing this testing. They solely rank FELd-1 levels on a scale of 1 to 8.
Click on photo of Feodora Vemas's golden boy to open laboratory report from Indoor BioTechnologies on her FELD-1 level.
This data will be helpful to allergy families in understanding what the approximate level of allergen will be in their home in winter months with a desexed adult Siberian from ForestWind.
Historically, we have never had a reaction to either Dora or her kittens by several different males. This tells us that FELd-1 levels at or below 1 are not necessary for a successful placement into an allergy home. ForestWind Karolina is Dora's kitten, and you can read about her historic FELd-1 level below.
Sometimes you read about FELd-1 levels being ranked on a scale of 1 to 35. This doesn't align with the testing rank that Indoor BioTechnologies uses. They are the only laboratory nationally providing this testing. They solely rank FELd-1 levels on a scale of 1 to 8.
Click on photo of Feodora Vemas's golden boy to open laboratory report from Indoor BioTechnologies on her FELD-1 level.
