Testing with a prospective kitten
Most Siberian breeders list the breed as hypoallergenic, but this is misleading. Siberians can be extremely low in Fel d1 allergen, but half are normal-allergen. Placement failures are quite common, and can be caused by reactions to Fel d1 or other allergens.
Kittens begin to produce the Fel d1 allergen around 11 weeks of age, and levels can increase over several months. The earliest time to safely “test” with your prospective kitty is 12 weeks of age.
Cattery practices may temporarily decrease or mask Fel d1 – creating a problem for buyers. We have seen many cases where families were forced to give up their kittens due to catteries masking allergic reactions. These practices include: bathing kittens within three weeks of sale, use of Allerpet grooming solution, feeding Purina LiveClear food, and even the use of sedatives in the water.
Purina Liveclear temporarily reduces Fel d1 allergen levels in saliva by 30-50%. Bathing and Allerpet grooming solution both reduce allergen in the fur, but not the saliva. Practices like these are helpful aids for pet owners, but catteries should not try to reduce allergen levels in kittens before kitten placement. We know of many cases where families were forced to give up a kitten despite using Purina food, weekly baths, Allerpet, etc because they didn’t realize the kitten’s allergens were already muted when they picked it up.
Placement failures are heartbreaking for families involved, especially when children are involved. If there are reactions within the first few days – promptly return the kitten.
Whether you are purchasing a tested or untested kitten:
1. If the cattery claims that all Siberians are hypoallergenic, don’t buy from them. This is not true, and puts the rest of their information and practices in question.
If their website includes our chart linking allergen levels to reactions or our chart linking test results to allergen levels, please check our page www.kittentesting.com/catteries. If they are not in that Catteries list, they are using our charts without permission — frequently with incorrect information.
Testing is expensive. Only a few catteries have tested in the last year. If they claim they test their kittens, please check www.kittentesting.com/catteries. Some catteries test with unproven methods. Others may have tested in the past but not recently.
2. Ask the cattery if there is any reason the allergen levels may not be accurate. This includes any of the following used within 30 days:
~ Liveclear Purina food, which contains anti-Fel d1 antibodies
~ Use of sedatives, which reduces Fel d1 production in saliva
~ Soapy baths, which remove the allergen from the fur
~ Allerpet grooming solution, which deactivates allergens in the fur
3. Discuss the allergy return policy of the cattery. A reasonable return policy for tested Siberians is a refund for 30 days – less direct expenses including shipping costs, vet expenses, and flight certificates. We recommend avoiding catteries offering highly restricted refunds.
4. Kittens should be older than 12 weeks when you test (snuggle) with the kitten at the date of sale or pickup. Kittens below this age have lower or inconsistent allergen levels. If allergies are a moderate to severe issue, do not agree to purchase a kitten younger than 12 weeks.
5. Pick up your kitten in person when possible. Snuggle with the kitten for a few minutes (breathing with your face in the fur). Hold and pet the kitten for at least 15 more minutes to note any allergy. If there is any allergic reaction within 60 minutes, do not purchase the kitten. If you have a history of delayed reactions, wait at least two hours. The cattery should offer a full refund if you react at pick-up.
6. Do not use antihistamines before testing with a kitten. This is a temporary measure, and may mask potential severe reactions. Remember to take Children’s Chewable Benadryl, your inhaler, and antihistamine eyedrops with you when you visit the cattery. If your allergies are life-threatening, please consult with your doctor before your visit.
7. If a kitten is shipped to you, return it as soon as reactions are unacceptable. This is typically in the first 3 days, but might be several weeks if the cattery bathed the kitty recently. The longer you keep the kitten, the harder it is to give it up, and the more difficult it is for children. When deciding whether reactions are unacceptable, realize that allergens will continue to build in the home for weeks or months. In rare cases, the home must be professionally cleaned to be comfortable again for the allergic individual. We recommend immediately returning the kitten if there are children.
8. Your symptoms might decrease after 2-6 weeks as your body tries to adapt and “accommodation” (tolerance) develops. Do not rely on this happening. Tolerance is not a long-term change, and might be lost during seasonal allergies or stress.
9. Don’t try masking symptoms with antihistamines at home. Like tolerance, this should be reserved for short-term reactions (visitors, for example), and might mask development of severe allergies.
10. Before returning your kitty, there are a few things to troubleshoot.
~ The litterbox should not be in the bedroom or primary living area, as litter boxes are a primary allergen source. Some individuals are only allergic to litterboxes.
~ Reactions to bentonite, wheat, corn, and sawdust are common. Test your reactions to the cat litter: fluff up fresh litter and breathe the dust. Change the type of litter if you react.
11. We have a cattery, and have extensive articles on allergens: https://lundbergsiberians.com/allergies/. Please feel free to browse them, as it might help in your search for a kitty. Our cattery wait-list tends to be very long (2 years), and is often closed to new customers. We are very comfortable recommending catteries listed on KittenTesting.
We hope your search for a kitten goes smoothly, and that you can welcome one into your home.