While many people want the cats in their homes to be hypoallergenic, unfortunately, no breed of cat can be proven to be completely hypoallergenic, and the Oriental Longhair is no exception. In fact, all cats secrete a protein called Fel d 1, which is the main cause of most human allergies to cats. From a rigorous scientific point of view, this protein is contained in the cat’s saliva and skin excretions, and is dispersed into the surrounding environment through the cat’s self-cleaning (grooming of its own fur) trials. Therefore, regardless of the length of the cat’s fur, or the breed, it is possible to cause an allergic reaction.
It is worth noting, however, that there are some breeds of cats that are widely recognized as potentially friendlier to allergy sufferers. This is generally due to the fact that these particular breeds of cats secrete smaller amounts of Fel d 1 protein. However, the Oriental Longhair is not widely recognized as one of these “hypoallergenic cats”.
Overall, if you have children’s allergies or are considering purchasing a new pet, I recommend that you learn as much as you can about the allergy potential of different cat breeds before making a decision so that you can make the best decision for yourself. Common suggestions include getting tested for allergic reactions, visiting the cattery several times before bringing your cat home to learn about your allergies, and considering choosing an older cat as they produce fewer allergens than kittens.