Preventative Care@3x

Spring is in full-bloom and summer is coming!

Apr 15, 2015 | Pet Features

If your family is like most, allergies are always tough this time of year. However, some suffer from pet dander/hair allergies year round. If that is the case, but you were hoping to adopt a kitten or cat here’s some great news! There are some breeds that are hypo-allergenic! We’re going to talk about two today, but keep in mind there are many more breeds.

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The Balinese is a beautiful cat and is known as the long-haired version of the Siamese cat. The breed was named after the graceful dancers from Bali. The cats started to develop and be recognized as a breed in the 1940s and 1950s. The Balinese is a wonderful indoor cat, as they have beautiful white coats and typically only grow to be about 5 to 10 pounds. They are extremely clean and very low-maintenance for their owners, only needing to be brushed from time to time. They rarely need a bath because of their impeccable grooming habits.

The Balinese is characteristically a very social cat. They love to follow their people around and snuggle with you as you are relaxing.   This breed is also known to be very intelligent, active, and chatty, getting along great with children and cat-friendly pups. This would be a great choice for you and your family if you look forward to interacting with your loving feline!

As mentioned, the Balinese is not the only choice if you have any allergy sufferers in your family. You may also select to welcome a Russian Blue into your home (shown in picture.) The Russian Blue could be considered mysterious in a way, as little is known about this breed. It is assumed that it originated in Russia and was one of the natural breeds, not having been cross-bred by humans. The Russian Blue first made its appearance in 1875 at a cat show in London.

While the Russian Blue is not as outgoing as the Balinese, it is still considered to be family friendly. They would be a great choice for your family even with small children and pups, just be sure to introduce them carefully and slowly. These felines are a bit shyer and need time to warm up. They are beautiful cats and are often compared to gray rabbits because of their thick, gray, soft fur. Because of the thickness of their coat, they are a little more high-maintenance than the Balinese- needing to be brushed about twice a week.

So, while there is not much we can do about the pollen and blooming that is happening outdoors, inside you can choose to have hypo-allergenic pets to keep your family comfortable and still able to love a few fur babies.

Source: http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/balinese-cats; http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/russian-blue; http://mom.me/pets/cats/18025-10-hypoallergenic-cat-breeds/

Disclaimer: Not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. If you think your pet has a medical emergency, call or visit your veterinarian or your local veterinary emergency hospital immediately.