Cat lovers who suffer feline allergies have long had to deny themselves the companionship of a cuddly moggie or risk the onset of sneezing fits and other unpleasant symptoms. Now, a research laboratory in the US claims to have solved the problem by breeding hypoallergenic cats. Allerca, the lab behind the scientific breakthrough, says its cats do not produce the protein found in kitty's skin and saliva that is responsible for causing allergic reactions. By identifying the gene that prompts allergy sufferers' autoimmune systems to go into overdrive, researchers were able to breed cats that produce a different, non-reactive, version of the protein. The first successfully bred batch of kittens (below) certainly look cute and are friendly, playful and affectionate, according to the Allerca website. They also 'come in all coat colours and patterns', with medium-long 'low-maintenance' hair and minimal shedding. You'd have to really love cats, however, to cough up the HK$110,000 printed on the price tag. But who can put a price on the lifetime devotion of a pet? For more information visit www.allerca.com .
