Hair Color And Length Have No Influence On Allergen Production

A myth exists that suggests cats with darker colored hair and those with longer hair are more likely to trigger allergies than cats with lighter colored or shorter hair. However, hair color and length have no influence on allergen production in cats.

• Studies have demonstrated that neither hair length^1-4 nor color^1,5 influences Fel d 1 production or the levels of Fel d 1 in the home.

1. Bastien, B., Gardner, C. & Satyaraj, E. (2019). Influence of phenotype on salivary Fel d 1 in domestic shorthair cats. Accepted, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.
2. Bonnet, B., Messaoudi, K., Jacomet, F., Michaud, E. Fauquert, J.L., Caillaud, D., & Evrard, B. (2018). An update on molecular cat allergens: Fel d 1 and what else? Chapter 1: Fel d 1, the major cat allergen. Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, 14, 14. doi: 10.1186/s13223-018-0239-8
3. Kelly, S.M., Karsh, J., Marcelo, J., Boeckh, D., Stepner, N., Litt, D.,...Yang, W.H. (2018). Fel d 1 and Fel d4 levels in cat fur, saliva and urine. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.07.033
4. Nicholas, C., Wegienka, G. & Havstad S. (2008). Influence of cat characteristics on Fel d 1 levels in homes. Annals of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, 101, 47-50.
5. Siebers, R., Healy, B., Holt, S., Peters, S., Crane, J. & Fitzharris, P. (2001). Fel d 1 levels in domestic living rooms are not related to cat color or hair length. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 108, 652-653. doi: 10.1067/mai.2001.118788