Are British Shorthair Cats Hypoallergenic?

One of the first questions one may have when researching which cat breed is best for you, is what kind of an effect your cat will have on those with allergies in your household–guests and permanent residents alike.

The British Shorthair is misleading in this category–due to the shorter, fluffy nature of their coats, many tend to assume that they are hypoallergenic, or that they shed less than longhair cats. Unfortunately, both of these assumptions are incorrect. While they do tend to shed in neat clumps or, as we like to call them, tumbleweeds, rather than a coating all over everything in the household, British Shorthairs shed quite a bit, and like most cats they carry dander at a level that may cause allergic reactions.

Can British Shorthair cats cause allergic reactions?

The short answer is yes. The British Shorthair is not considered a hypoallergenic cat breed, and therefore can cause allergic reactions in humans. However, the good news is that in our experience with allergic guests, we’ve only seen the mildest of reactions that have come from someone petting our cat and immediately rubbing their eyes afterwards. From there our guest experienced watery eyes and some light sneezing, but recovered quickly after washing their hands and avoiding another love fest with our British Shorthair. For those with significantly allergic or sensitive family or household members, the British Shorthair may not be the best breed for you.

What causes allergic reactions from British Shorthairs?

All cats, regardless of breed and including the British Shorthair, produce allergens that can cause reactions in humans. The range of allergic reactions can span from mild irritation to more severe reactions from itchy eyes, to sneezing, to swelling. Most people become aware of their allergies or sensitivity to cats from a young age, but as with allergies of every kind that level of sensitivity or severity may change to become more or less intense over time.

Cats produce different types of allergens, from dander to the proteins in bodily fluids including saliva, sweat, and urine. Dander is the trickiest of these allergens, as the cells are very small and tend to both cling to any shedded fur as well as circulating throughout the air. If you live in a smaller space such as an apartment, living with a cat if you have an allergy or sensitivity may be particularly difficult in your living situation, as it would be quite difficult to escape all instances of dander.

What’s the closest I can get to a hypoallergenic version of the British Shorthair?

If you’re looking for a breed that’s visually similar to the British Shorthair, a Russian Blue may be the perfect compromise. With extremely similar blue fur color, from afar the two could look quite similar! While the Russian Blue lacks the super round, cobby body type, as well as the rounded face, fluffy jowls, and Cheshire smile of the British Shorthair, what they lack in looks they make up for in temperament. While they do not have the signature Cheshire smile that has made the British Shorthair a cultural icon, Russian Blues do have more angular faces, and what look almost like sharp cheekbones. They also have what many refer to as the “Mona Lisa smile” with an upturned mouth that results in a coy, permanent slight smile. They are elegant, dignified cats–and do lack the diva qualities the British Shorthair exudes on occasion.

Though they share the same distinct fur color and may share a common ancestor from countless decades ago, the British Shorthair and Russian Blue are distinct breeds and are not related. However, the British Shorthair was used to extend the line of Russian Blue breeding, as Russian Blues almost died out completely during World War II. Due to this cross-breeding, European Russian Blues tend to have larger bodies than American Russian Blues.If you’re looking for the most visually similar hypoallergenic cat, the Russian Blue may be the perfect runner-up companion to the British Shorthair.

What is the best breed of hypoallergenic cat?

While there is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic cat breed, one may instead consider a variety of different hypoallergenic breeds to bring into your home. Some of our favorites are the Siberian and the Bengal for their striking good looks and loving personalities. For a completely hairless option, the Sphynx is a certainly unique choice, and will completely eliminate the need for daily vacuum sessions. With a similar face and body structure to the Sphynx, but with the addition of a very short fur coat, the Devon Rex and Cornish Rex are both hypoallergenic as well. Rounding out the category, the Javanese, Balinese, Oriental Shorthair, and Colorpoint Shorthair are all wonderful options as well. Though there’s no replacing the British Shorthair, if having a non-hypoallergenic cat is a deal breaker for you, these breeds are all wonderful options.

How can I make my living space with a British Shorthair as allergen-free as possible?

If you know you have an allergy or sensitivity to cats but are committed to living with your British Shorthair or other non-hypoallergenic cat, the good news is there are ways to help manage your home to keep it as relatively allergen-free as possible! The best way to accomplish this is to establish a consistent cleaning routine and stick to it.

As we already covered, dander is a menace–the microscopic particles will float around and stick to anything it possibly can. The most obvious spaces to keep clean are those which your cat frequents. Take stock of the bedding, blankets, and pieces of furniture your cat best likes to sleep or hang out on. Make sure to wash these frequently! To make things easier, it may be best to eliminate any unnecessary throw blankets around your home to cut down on maintenance. It may also be helpful to replace upholstered furniture with hard, smooth pieces that are easy to wipe down. A middle ground here would be to ensure that all upholstered furniture has removable covers that can be washed easily and consistently.

Smooth surfaces are absolutely your friend. Wipe down any and all smooth surfaces, including your floors and even your walls, as regularly as you can–the upside here is dust will be eliminated along with the dander, so you’ll have sparkling clean surfaces on a daily basis. A vacuum especially made to clean up after pets, preferably one with a filter, will be a much-needed investment to keep things clean. This one from Dyson has been an absolute life-saver for us. You may also want to procure a small steam cleaner, such as this one from Bissel, to ensure your carpets and rugs don’t become dander receptacles–particularly as your British Shorthair will love to lounge around on them!

Curtains are an unsuspected villain in this scenario. While we typically don’t think to clean curtains on a regular basis, for the sake of eliminating dander and allergens from your space you’ll either want to get rid of them or ensure that they’re cleaned on a regular basis. To keep them clean, you’ll want to fully launder them if possible, which may require swapping out curtains that aren’t laundry-friendly for a more accommodating set.

To keep the circulating air in your home as allergen-free as possible, you’ll want to invest in a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. If you live in a larger home, these filters can be attached directly to your existing furnace or air-conditioner. If you live in an apartment or simply prefer not to mess with existing equipment, a free-standing unit is a great alternative. While there’s quite a range of different types and sizes of freestanding air purifier units to help with cat allergies, this one from Chewy is a great option at a solid price point, and can be included with your next subscription order. Whichever way you go to filter your air, they will effectively remove small particles from the air that circulates in your home and ensure you can breathe easier without the hindrance of dander and other harmful allergens.

Ultimately, one of the most helpful solutions may also be to establish cat-free zones in your home. While your British Shorthair will most likely prefer to hold command over the entire living space, keeping them out of your bedroom may likely help to cut down on any allergic reactions–especially as you’ll ensure your pillow and bedding remain dander-free! This is as simple as closing your door, which your British Shorthair will soon come to understand as a boundary to be respected, and leave you at peace and allergy-free.

To make a long story short–while British Shorthairs are not hypoallergenic, and may cause those with allergies or sensitivities to react, if you have your heart set on the breed and bringing them into your home, not to worry! There are plenty of ways to ensure you can coexist without too much sneezing, and plenty of love to go around.