Many people have cat allergies. Although people can be allergic to cat dander, most of the allergic reaction most people have from cats is from a protein in their saliva. As cats groom themselves, they spread their saliva all over their fur. Therefore, even hairless cats can be allergenic to some people because they still lick their skin. There are no cats that are truly 100% non-allergenic. However, the chemical makeup of the saliva differs between cats and therefore, some cats and some breeds tend to be more or less allergenic than others.
If your allergy to a new cat is only mild (slight runny nose and itchy eyes), then many individuals develop a tolerance to the allergy and within a few weeks to a couple of months, the allergy is barely noticeable or might have disappeared. Some people fare better if the cat is not allowed in the bedroom. However, if an individual’s allergy is more significant (swelling, trouble breathing), it is not safe for that individual to continue to live with the cat.
Allergy shots given by a doctor specializing in allergies can be very effective for some people with cat significant allergies.