How to Find a Cat that Won’t Make You Sneeze and Wheeze!

Millions of Americans are allergic to domestic cats, and you may well be one of them. Being exposed to cats, or specifically, coming in contact with the dander from their skin, can set off an explosion of symptoms. Similar to human “dandruff”, dander is actually microscopic flakes of skin. Once this allergen becomes airborne, it is then easily inhaled into a person’s the nose and lungs.

These resulting symptoms can include itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and scratchy throat. If a person is severely allergic to the dander, they may experience rashes, hives, asthma attacks, and serious breathing problems.

There are many products on the market that can alleviate these symptoms, but there is no known cure for allergies, especially being allergic to domestic cats. However, a biotechnology company in California has found an answer to this common problem. This company, called ALLERCA, Incorporated, has genetically engineered a breed of domestic cat that is hypoallergenic. That’s right, you read it right- “HYPOALLERGENIC.” ALLERCA has used a process they call, “Gene Silencing” to produce a cat that does not produce dander.

The first breed of the world’s first hypoallergenic kittens that will be reproduced is the British Shorthair. This breed is characterized by its strong, compact physique. British Shorthairs usually have a broad chest, short, powerful legs, and a roundish head. Its eyes are also round, bright, and very alert. And, it’s short, thick fur is gray in color, though the The Cat Fanciers Association refers to this color as being “blue”.

British Shorthair cats have friendly and affectionate personalities. They also have a long life span, and they typically live to be fourteen to twenty years old.

If you love cats, but are allergic to their dander, you can enjoy their companionship again by purchasing one of these kittens. The purchase price is a bit hefty at $3,500.00. ALLERCA president Simon Brodie says the company already has received a great amount of interest from prospective buyers in the United States, Japan and Europe. So, ALLERCA has developed a reservation list. There is a $250.00 required deposit.

The company expects the first litter of kittens to be born in early 2007. Before they are shipped to their new owners, each kitten will be either spayed or neutered so they cannot breed with
naturally born cats.

For more information on these ground-breaking, genetically engineered cats, you can visit ALLERCA Incorporated on the Internet at http://www.allerca.com. Their email address is pr@allerca.com. Or, you can drop them a line by writing to ALLERCA Incorporated, 1400 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90064. You can also phone them by dialing 310.312.9522.