We do not test, market or guarantee against allergies. What we do is breed for health, temperament and type. Not showing a sensitivity is just icing on the cake!
What is an allergy?
An allergy is an immune response that a body has to a stimulus called an allergen. Most common allergens or triggers are pollen, dust and of course food. Sometimes it can be to animals such as dogs and cats. Please visit the link below to learn more.
https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-dictionary/allergic-reaction
What type of symptoms may I have?
Some familiar symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, post nasal drip, itchy eyes and hives allow us to more easily recognize allergies. Fatigue, yawning, constipation, headaches are some of the symptoms less frequently associated with allergies.
If you are an allergy sufferer, please seek the opinion of a medicalprofessional, your allergy specialist. A breeder cannot provide you with a medical evaluation or a sensitivity test. As a breeder is not a medical professional, such an opinion is subject to legal review and may be considered gross negligence on the part of the breeder.
Can I be allergic to pet dander?
No. Allergies are to proteins which are secreted by your pet’s glands and therefore saliva. As animals lick themselves, protein is deposited on the hair shaft. When the hair is shed, either the hair itself, or the protein on the hair can cause a sensitivity. Please visit the link below to learn more.
https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-dictionary/immunoglobulin-e-(ige)
How does one diagnose an allergy?
An allergy is a medical condition. Tiberius Cats does not condone self-diagnosis or self-medication. In order to be truly allergic to cats or any other trigger, one must be tested by an allergy specialist. There are different types of tests, the subcutaneous and the blood test available through Quest and LabCorp Inc. We request that allergy sufferers test for Fel-d1 and Fel-d4. Your allergy specialist is the best resource for diagnosis and treatment plan if you are allergic to cat proteins. If you are found to be allergic to other substance such as ragweed, but not cat proteins, then you are not allergic to cats. Please visit the link below to learn more.
http://allergist.aaaai.org/find/
What are the chances that I will develop allergies to my newly adopted ‘fur-baby’ at a later date?
If you are concerned about allergies, you should seek professional advice from an allergy specialist. One is never too old for allergies and asthma. The chances of one developing allergies in the future depend on your medical history, your medical condition, the environment and your family history. Only a medical specialist can answer this question. Only a medical specialist is able to advise, if the addition of a cat to your lifestyle will cause your health harm. Please know how difficult it is for a cat to be separated from the owners he/she knows and loves, due to allergies. Please consider your pets future as this decision is made. If you plan to rehome your cat due to allergies, please do not get a cat.
Treatment options for allergies?
Treatment options depend on the diagnosis and should be prescribed by your allergy specialist. Using over the counter medication without a proper diagnosis is still considered self-medication and is not condoned by Tiberius Cats. Options may include but not be limited to: anti-histamines, decongestants, steroids and immunotherapy, to mention just a few. Please do not self medicate. An allergy specialist can help direct you toward a treatment plan and appropriate medication should you choose that route.
Where can I find more information?
The NIH (National Institutes of Health), NIAID (National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases) is a great source for finding information and publications relating to asthma, food and pollen allergies. Please check the link provided to learn more. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/allergicdiseases/Pages/default.aspx
Also, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology can provide additional information. Please visit the link provided to learn more. http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/at-a-glance/allergic-reactions.aspx
My allergies will go away after a few weeks with a new kitten!
This is not accurate! This excerpt is taken directly from the Merk Manual:
Environmental factors also increase the risk of developing allergies. These factors include the repeated exposure to foreign substances (allergens)...that means (according to the medical manual) that repeated exposure to cats, if they are a trigger, will only make things worse. Your allergies will not go away magically! Please click on the link below to learn more.
http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/immune-disorders/allergic-reactions-and-other-hypersensitivity-disorders/overview-of-allergic-reactions
Prolonged expose to an allergy trigger is called hypersensitivity. Please click on the link below to learn more.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypersensitivity
Do I have a cold or an allergy?
The NIH, NIAID has developed a checklist to determine if you may be suffering from a common cold or an allergy. Please refer to your family practitioner and/or allergy specialist as self-diagnosis is not recommended. Please click on the provided link to learn more. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/allergicDiseases/Documents/coldallergy.pdf
What is an allergy sitting?
An allergy sitting is when an individual schedules an appointment with their medical specialist to be tested for allergies. An allergy sitting is not when you go to play with cute little kittens in a breeders home.
Can a cat breeder offer an allergy sitting?
Absolutely not. There are very few medical professionals who also breed cats. If that individual happens to be your choice of breeder, then you are a lucky future pet parent. Breeders, generally speaking, are not medical professionals. While many may suffer from allergies, we know where to find resources, but we are not able to provide allergy sittings. Entering a strange person’s home, exposes you to all allergy triggers in that home. That includes dust mites, mold, pollen, ragweed, dogs and cats. Ventilation systems in our homes do not permit for completely sterile environments. Therefore, there is no such thing as an ‘allergy sitting’ at a breeders home or in your car. Besides, I would recommend the advice of a medical professional over a breeder, regardless the case. Only your medical professional knows your medical history, your personal response to immune stimulus and can provide the necessary medical opinions on the status of your immune system....not a breeder.
Are Siberians (Siberian Forest Cats of Russia) really supposed to be hypoallergenic?
No cat breed is fully and truly hypoallergenic, while there are some breeds that boast to show lower expression of allergy triggering proteins. There is no such thing as a GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) cat designed to address allergies. All cats secrete a multitude of proteins, and someone will be allergic to one of those proteins. The most common assailant on our senses is Fel-d1 and/or Fel-d4. There is no medical, guaranteed, published evidence supporting the existence of Siberian cats with lower levels of Fel-d1 or Fel-d4.
We find that the expression of Fel-d1 is very difficult to measure. When you kitten turns 10 months old, you may purchase a test from Indoor Biotechnologies. This test costs $895 as of 2017. There is a fur test and there is a saliva test. Both tests prove to have an approximately 40% error rate, depending on the condition of the cat. We believe the protein may be tied to a ‘fight or flight’ mechanism. When cats are highly stressed, have just had a litter or require to digest food that has been rottin (as in the desert) for some time, expression of Fel-d1 is heightened in order to help digest harmful bacteria. Nursing mothers lick their young and the saliva digests any bacteria that may be harmful to the young.
How can I be sure I won’t be allergic to the kitten I am buying?
You can’t be. Ever. There are no such guarantees. Just as in marriage, every relationship comes with it’s own ups and downs. Getting a kitten is a commitment, just as any relationship you plan to enter. This animal will provide you unconditional love, entertainment and hopefully joy. If you plan to give away your kitten when it gets older or after it triggers sensitivities, then please consider a different pet. Please consider how stressful this is for your fur-baby to become unloved.