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High Tech Cats Wont Cause Allergy
A line of specially-bred, hypo-allergenic cats could soon be in Australia after local pet lovers inundated the creators of the breed with inquiries.
An American firm, Allerca, claims to have used genetic analysis and selective breeding to produce the cats, which are expected to cost Australian buyers up to $9000 each.
For the money, people with cat allergies may be able to bring home a pet cat for the first time without suffering a severe physical reaction.
An Allerca sales and service spokesman said Australians were among those wanting to buy the cats after they featured in international media reports last week.
"I would say there has been a significant interest from Australia," the spokesman said.
"I have taken about six calls [from Australia] myself and I'm just one of the team."
Allerca claims a protein secreted by the sebaceous glands of cats, known as FEL D1, is the major cause of cat allergies.
Found in skin and saliva, it can remain airborne for months and is about 10 times smaller than pollen or dust particles.
People allergic to the protein experience symptoms including red, itchy, watery, or swollen eyes, runny or congested noses, sore throat and shortness of breath. Their skin could also develop itchy rashes or hives.
Allerca claims it identified the gene responsible for FEL D1 and then tested cats looking for individuals with "genetic divergences" – slight genetic differences.
By crossbreeding these cats, the company claims it has produced a variety of feline that produces a different version of FEL D1 that does not triggers the auto-immune system of people allergic to cats.
Critics have suggested other allergens may still be present in the cats.
But Allerca claims tests prove the cats are safe for allergy sufferers.
"None of the human subjects exposed to the [Allerca] cats reacted in any way," the company said in a statement.
"When these same volunteers were exposed to [regular] cats, the subjects demonstrated classic symptoms of a feline allergic reaction, including watery eyes, runny noses, hives and itchy skin."
The cats sold by the company are medium-sized and weigh four to eight kilograms as adults.
The company said they matured at three years, had a long life expectancy and were sweet and affectionate.
However they did not come cheap.
For American customers the cat costs about $5300 with an additional $1335 payable for processing and delivery.
On top of that international customers must pay a charge of between $1340 and $2680, depending on their location.
The company said interest had been high and customers were not currently able to select particular colours.
