Can asthma people have ferrets

Answer 1

The cat specific protein (fel d1) that people who are allergic are responding to in cats is different that the allergens that are going to be produced by ferrets or rabbits or birds (yes believe or not they produce allergens). You can be allergic to one type of allergen and not others. So you can be allergic to cats but not dogs; or you could be allergic to dogs and not ferrets, and so on. Or if you are highly allergic, you might be sensitive to all of them. I have awful seasonal Allergies, and I've had Asthma since I was a toddler, but I don't have an allergic reaction to cats (I don't sneeze, get stuffed up, watery eyes or itchy when they are sleeping on my head). I may have be become sensitized to cats over the years, since I've had them since I was an infant. I also recently acquired two ferrets that I don't seem to have an allergy to; but let me warn you, ferrets are not for everyone. They are adorable, but you have to really research them to decide if they are for you. I thought long and hard about getting ferrets and read about them online, and I knew that I would have to make alot accomodations for them. You have to "ferret-proof" an area of your house because they are supposed to be let out of their cages to run and play for four hours a day. If you are still interested in ferrets, I would go to a pet store that sells them and play with some of the older ferrets (sometimes allergens are more potent in older animals) and see how you react afterward (you might want to do this a few times). Or if their is a Ferret Rescue organization in your area (look online) you might be able to help them with rescued adult ferrets to see if you have a reaction (ferret allergens are also in their urine so you'd want to have some contact with that). Incidentally if you are allergic to cats but you like them, the cat breed "Siberian" produces much less fel d1 than other breeds, so some allergic people can own them without ill effects.