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.
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. 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
2. Discuss the allergy return policy of the cattery. A reasonable return policy for 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,
3. 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 severe issue, do not agree to purchase a kitten younger than 12 weeks.
4. Pick up your kitten in person when possible. Snuggle with the kitten for a few minutes (breathing with your face in the fur). Wait 15 minutes to note any allergy. If there is any allergic reaction within 60 minutes, do not purchase the kitten.
5. 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.
6. If a kitten is shipped to you – make a decision 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. Allergen levels will continue to rise in the home for weeks or months, and in rare cases, the home must be professionally cleaned.
7. If you are reacting in the first weeks, your symptoms may decrease after 4-6 weeks as your body tries to adapt and “tolerance” develops. Tolerance is not a long-term change, and might be lost during spring seasonable allergies.
8. Don’t try masking symptoms with antihistamines. Like tolerance, this should be reserved for short-term reactions, and might mask development of severe allergies.
9. 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.
10. 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.