| Lots of people around the world would love to have | | | | has gained a reputation as a good possible cat for |
| a cat or two as pets but can't because they are | | | | allergy sufferers. But again, it is not completely |
| allergic to cats. Many people love their cats so much | | | | hypoallergenic. |
| that they keep the cats and live with their allergies | | | | Recently, a company called Allerca feels that they |
| as best they can. Cat lovers and breeders around the | | | | have completely solved the problem with Fel D 1. |
| world have put many years of effort into finding a | | | | They used a patented process to test cat's genes to |
| cat breed or type that is hypoallergenic. Although | | | | identify which genes produce Fel D 1 protein. Once |
| they have had some success in the past, until | | | | they identified the Fel D 1 gene they found cats that |
| recently there really has not been a cat type or | | | | had genetic divergences with that gene. They call |
| breed that is totally hypoallergenic. | | | | genetic divergences GD for short. They did not do |
| The cause of the problem is primarily a protein in the | | | | any genetic engineering or cloning or anything like |
| cat's saliva and skin called Felis Domesticus but most | | | | that they simply found cats that already had the |
| people call it Fel D 1 to keep it short. A skin gland | | | | genetic divergences naturally and breed them with |
| called the sebaceous gland produces it. Since all cat | | | | each other to produce cats with genetic divergences |
| breeds have this gland they all can generate allergic | | | | that changed the structure of Fel D 1. The result was |
| reactions in their owners. Although the hair, dander | | | | 100 percent hypoallergenic cats. This is not a |
| and urine from cats can produce allergic reactions in | | | | particular breed of cat. Cats of all breeds can have |
| people, Fel D 1 is the biggest cause of cat generated | | | | the required GD (genetic divergences) but it is very |
| allergens. It is an extremely small and sticky molecule, | | | | rare. |
| much smaller than dust or pollen. It is almost | | | | So can you buy one of these Allerca GD cats? Yes, |
| everywhere that a cat has been and can hang | | | | but they cost about $3500 dollars U.S. and that puts |
| around in the air for several years after the cat has | | | | you on the end of a waiting list about 2 to 3 years |
| left. Believe it or not, Fel D 1 has even been found in | | | | long. As in most businesses, money talks so for an |
| the Antarctic far away from the nearest cat. | | | | extra $2000 you get to go to the head of the line |
| Two cat breeds in particular have been better | | | | and get one today. For that price they even fly the |
| tolerated by allergy sufferers. The Sphynx breed is | | | | kitten to your veterinarian in a private jet. Is Allerca |
| almost totally hairless and because of this they cause | | | | having any trouble selling the kittens at that price? |
| fewer allergic reactions from people. They don't really | | | | They are receiving 500 down payments per day for |
| shed since they are mostly hairless so that eliminates | | | | kittens. That's right, 500 down payments per day so |
| one way of spreading the Fel D 1 protein. This is truly | | | | selling the cats is not even remotely a problem but |
| an enchanting and elegant breed but the Fel D 1 | | | | keeping up with demand is obviously a problem. |
| protein is still generated and can cause allergy | | | | Allerca plans to have 500 kittens available in 2007 and |
| problems for the owner. Cornish Rex is a similar | | | | hopes to increase that to 5,000 next year in 2008 |
| breed with very short dense hair. It does shed but | | | | and 200,000 per year by the year 2010. |
| much less than most other breeds. Because of this it | | | | |