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Bengal cats are beautiful looking cats and are very popular for good reason, too.
They’re known for their distinct markings, but are also for many other things as well.
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So, Are Bengal Cats Really Hypoallergenic?
Being cat lovers, we know the answer to this. Simply put, yes. Bengal cats are some of the cleanest cats in this world. Most Bengal cat owners will not own any other cat breed because Bengals are far superior in their hygiene.
So, to answer the question: ‘are Bengal Cats really hypoallergenic?’ yes, Bengal Cats are hypoallergenic. This cat breed is as close as you can get to actually having a hypoallergenic cat.
What Makes a Bengal Cat Hypoallergenic?
A Bengal’s coat has excellent blood flow, which results in less shedding all year. It helps to keep their skin germ and bacteria-free. Also, you don’t have to concern yourself with dead skin cells all over the place.
Because Bengal cats are so clean, they don’t have to groom like regular cats do.
Since they don’t shed, the paws and face are covered by heavy fur, which protects them from germs that can cause illness.
Basically, what it boils down to is that Bengal cats are hypoallergenic because they do not have to groom themselves as often.
What Causes Cat Allergies?
Some cats have allergies, and if you are unsure if your cat does, here are some of the things you need to look for.
- Ear infections
- Coughing, sneezing, or wheezing
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Itchy, runny eyes
- Sensitive, swollen paws
- Scratching
- Snoring
- Red or dry skin
- Excessive grooming
Below is a list of the different types of cat allergies and what causes them:
Environmental
Things that can cause environmental allergies are grass, mold, fungi, dust, and pollen. Other things include perfume, cleaning products, and cigarette smoke. Pretty much anything in your cat’s environment can cause allergies to it.
Flea
Fleas are tiny insects that bite animals. This bite can cause a bad allergy reaction. It inflames and irritates the skin. A flea’s saliva can affect your cat’s entire body, not just where it gets bit, as some people think. Talk to your cat’s veterinarian, and they should be able to guide you on the best flea medication for your cat.
There’s also something else to also think about. If you have a dog that you let outside to potty, fleas are also probably being carried back inside on your dog. Being that Bengal cats get along great with dogs, your cat and dog probably play together. This is one reason that your cat may have fleas.
You might also want to see if your veterinarian has anything that will get rid of fleas in your home. Once fleas get into your carpet, if you don’t get rid of them right away, it becomes almost impossible to get rid of them short of yanking out all of the carpet.
Do Bengal Cats get along with dogs? Click here to find out!
Food
Most cat foods have a bunch of different ingredients in them that your cat can be allergic to. Appropriate food for your cat to have a healthy diet needs to have fewer ingredients. For this, I suggest “Vital Essentials Chicken Mini Patties Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food”. This is one of the best cat foods out on the market today with the least number of ingredients.
Atopic Dermatitis
When your cat has allergies, it can react with atopic dermatitis, a skin condition. This skin condition can cause hair loss, redness, sores, and scabbing.
Flea and environmental allergies are treated with the same medication, usually a prescribed medication or a cream for its skin.
Tips For Those With Cat Allergies?
Do you believe that your cat may have allergies? If so, you need to make an appointment with your veterinarian. Only the vet can diagnose what kind of allergy it is, figure out what is causing it and decide the proper treatment.
If we were smart, we would stay away from anything that we are allergic to. We usually do, except when it comes to animals we are allergic to. For those of us who are allergic to cats, they are ways to make living with your fur baby manageable.
There’s one other thing you need to keep in mind. Cat allergens have to be airborne for you to breathe them in. You have to breathe them in for you to get an allergic reaction from them. A cat allergen is extremely tiny, which helps it to remain in the air for longer.
Below are some things that you can do to help to minimize your cat allergies.
Use An Air Purifier
Since allergens are hard to remove, a good air purifier is definitely essential to keep the air in your home clean. An air purifier works wonders for cleaning the air, which helps decrease the cat allergens in your home. We have two different air purifiers that we recommend.
An air purifier will work by taking airborne allergens out of the air. They are wonderful for those who have allergic reactions to airborne allergens.
The Zigma Air Purifier works for large rooms that are up to 1580 feet. It is a True HEPA 5-in-1 smart air purifier with voice control for pollen, dust, pet hair, and smoke that will filter any potential irritants that may annoy you.
The Alen BreatheSmart FLEX Air Purifier has a medical-grade filtration system. It is a True HEPA air purifier that is perfect for a 700 square foot home. It perfectly captures bacteria, allergens, mold, germs, and odors that may cause you any irritation.
Do Not Allow Bengal Cat(s) On Your Bed
I know it’s hard to not allow your pets on the bed with you. As long as you have your symptoms under control, it is alright for them to be in bed with you. However, until your symptoms are in check, you need to give yourself a little break from them.
Wash Bedding In Hot Water
If you wash your bedding in water that is 140 degrees or above, it will eliminate cat allergens as well as dust mites. For those of you who will allow your cat in the bed with you anyway, this is one tip that will help.
Use A High-Grade HEPA Vacuum
You will need to vacuum your carpet, walls, chairs, furniture, and floors—vacuum everywhere in your home. Your HEPA vacuum should come with hand tools; put them to use. Cat allergens are invasive and extremely tiny, so you have to make sure you do a thorough and complete job.
A perfectly capable vacuum that you should consider is the Kenmore BU101017 Pet Friendly Vacuum. It features a triple HEPA filtration system that will effortlessly and thoroughly do the job of removing any pet dander or hair.
Use A Vapor Steam Cleaner
Along with doing a thorough job vacuuming, you need to steam clean every now and then. Vapor steam cleaners have been proven to help destroy cat dander and proteins. These things are embedded in the upholstery and carpets. These cleaners will provide you with a chemical-free way of killing dust mites, mold spores, cat allergens, and bacteria.
Wash Hands After Petting
Make a point in not rubbing your eyes after petting your cat. Doing so can cause you to have watery, itchy eyes for many hours. Make sure to use a strong antibacterial soap, and this should take care of that problem.
Clean Your Bengal Cat
Bengal cats usually don’t need you to clean them. However, if you have allergies or if your cat does, cleaning them can’t hurt. Washing a cat will help to reduce the number of cat allergens that are released and airborne.
You can also use a product called Allerpet. This is a liquid that can help reduce cat allergens in the air. You just apply it to your pet’s coat. You can buy this from your local veterinarian.
You can also purchase what is called a microfiber cloth, dampen it, and rub down your pet’s coat to get rid of dander you can see. Most cats hate a bath and would prefer the cloth method.
Keep your Bengal Cat(s) In One Area
This is easier said than done, we know. Cats can jump over almost any barricade you can put up. If you have to, put them in a room with a door and keep it closed. Keep your bedroom door closed so that they cannot get into your bedroom.
Keeping them contained in one room will also keep the cat allergens contained in that room, which means you will only need an air purifier in that one room.
Use A Cat Brush
Bengal cats usually do not need to be brushed since they don’t really shed. However, to keep their coat looking nice and just to be on the safe side (and because most cats love being brushed), it’s a good idea to buy the best brush you can find.
Conclusion:
Yes, a Bengal cat can be considered a hypoallergenic cat. A hypoallergenic cat will produce fewer cat allergens which spell out good news for allergy suffers.
If you are allergic to cats, but you love these animals like most of us do, then a Bengal cat may be the answer to your problem. Because they groom themselves less, it produces fewer airborne allergens, therefore less chance of you having an allergic reaction.
The tips given should help with any cat, but this does not mean that you will be immune to cat allergens. You may still have allergic reactions. If you follow these tips and do a thorough job and still have severe allergic reactions, then it’s sad to say that having a cat may just not be meant for you.
But before you give up on your fur baby, try all of the advice we have given. Hopefully, this will solve the problem, and you can continue enjoying your feline friend.
About the Author
Hey there! I'm Jeremy and I’m the brains behind Pet Care Project, a website chock-full of pet-care know-how. I've got the experience and knowledge to help you keep your furry friends happy and healthy. And let's not forget about my own little fluffball, Lunar, my Ragdoll cat who keeps me on my toes.
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