Breed Characteristics

• LaPerm cats are believed to be more tolerated by allergic owners due to a coat mutation that causes soft, permlike curls, which reduce the need for grooming. LaPerms are part of the Rex breed, which tends to have only a single coat of fine hair and sheds less than other breeds.
  
  

The Reason Behind Allergies

• Grooming spreads common allergens in saliva onto the fur.cat licking its paw on a blue floor image by Inkkensix from Fotolia.com
  
  The main cause of an allergic reaction to cats is not the fur but a protein found in the saliva and dander of cats. Regardless of the type of fur a cat has or the quantity it sheds, the true allergen is always present.
  
  

Bottom Line

• LaPerm cats do not require grooming as frequently as other breeds, which may reduce airborne dander and thus the spread of saliva. However, no concrete evidence supports this breed's being hypoallergenic or causing reduced allergic reactions.