Do Siamese Cats Shed?

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Some people claim there are cat breeds that don’t shed. Most of the time, they are talking about hairless cat breeds. However, it isn’t uncommon to see these people say the same thing about Siamese cats. Unfortunately, Hepper says this isn’t true. The fur of Siamese cats is constantly growing, meaning it needs to fall out from time to time to make room for its replacements. As such, Siamese cats shed.

Are There Cats That Don’t Shed?

It is somewhat reasonable for people to ask whether there are cats that don’t shed or not. After all, there are domesticated animals that do that. Interested individuals might have seen Reuters and other news sites’ reporting on Chris the Merino sheep. For those unfamiliar, wild sheep shed their coats on their own, whereas domesticated sheep have coats that grow and grow. Chris was famous because he became lost in the wilderness. As a result, he went several years without a shearing before a hiker spotted him. Thanks to that, Chris secured the world record for the heaviest fleece at 91 pounds, beating out the previous holder named Big Ben.

Of course, if the hiker hadn’t found Chris, the latter might not have lived long enough to be found at all. His coat was so overgrown that it had a very negative effect on his well-being. Simply put, a person wouldn’t do so well when they have an extra 91 pounds distributed in a very awkward manner around their body, so it makes sense that an animal wouldn’t fare any better. On top of that, there was a serious concern that Chris would pick up an infection because of his coat, not least because it was so overgrown that it was hindering his ability to evacuate waste. It isn’t hard to see how that might lead to health problems.

Cats and Shedding

In any case, interested individuals should be able to guess that cats don’t have this problem. If cats couldn’t shed their coats without human intervention, that would be a huge part of caring for our feline companions. However, while people sometimes give their cats haircuts for various reasons, they don’t need to do so in most cases. That means cats shed their coats on their own for the most part. Since Siamese cats have coats, that means they do shed.

The curious thing is that hairless cat breeds also shed. Essentially, CBS says they are still shedding dander, which often refers to flakes of skin from furred or feathered animals even when they don’t have fur or feathers. That is a huge problem for people suffering from allergies. Dander is so small that it can stay in the air for long periods so long as there is some air circulation. Even worse, it is very easy for it to collect in unwanted locations ranging from clothing to furniture. If people want a hypoallergenic pet, they should check out reptiles and other cold-blooded animals.

Do Hypoallergenic Cats Even Exist?

Speaking of which, it is very common for people to market certain cat breeds as hypoallergenic cats. Their reason for doing so is simple. People like cats. Unfortunately, some people are allergic to cats. As a result, it makes sense for them to look for cats that won’t cause allergic reactions in them. The issue is that Smithsonian says there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat.

The gist of it is that people aren’t allergic to cat hair. Instead, people are allergic to certain proteins in cat saliva. There are hairless cats, but there are no saliva-less cats. As a result, if someone gets a cat, they need to understand there is a very good chance of them being exposed to those proteins. For example, their cat might lick them. Alternatively, their cat might lick themselves, thus putting those proteins on their fur and dander. There is some evidence that Siberian cats produce less relevant proteins than other cat breeds. Even then, it is a matter of reducing the chances of an allergic reaction rather than eliminating them.

With that said, interested individuals may find hairless cats better than haired cats. As mentioned earlier, cat hair is a way for relevant proteins to reach people. Less cat hair in the environment means reduced exposure to them. Still, interested individuals should always remember that a reduced chance of an allergic reaction isn’t the same as a guaranteed chance to avoid an allergic reaction. That is another good reason for them to get to know the cats they want to bring home before they do so. It is much better to find out that they are allergic beforehand rather than once they have already signed the papers.

What Else Should You Know About Siamese Cats?

Allergens-aside, Siamese cats are a good choice of pet. They have a well-earned reputation for being one of the most striking cat breeds in existence. These cats have gorgeous white coats, which are particularly striking because their point coloration enables everything to stand out through the visual contrast. Better still, Siamese cats come in not one but two styles. First, there are the old-style cats, which are both round of head and round of body. Second, there are the new-style cats, recognizable because of their triangular head topped by a pair of long ears. There are no issues attached to either look, so interested individuals are free to choose whichever one suits them more than the other.

Personality-wise, Siamese cats are one of the cat breeds that are often described as being puppy-like. Essentially, they are clever, affectionate creatures that get along very well with their humans. Indeed, Siamese cats might get along a bit too well with their families because they are supposedly prone to suffering from separation anxiety if they are left on their own for too long. Amusingly, Siamese cats are also quite good at manipulating humans. They have a distinctive vocalization that sounds like the cries of a human baby, which they use to excellent effect in getting human attention. In that, they are more than a bit reminiscent of dogs. Puppy eyes are called that for a reason.