These little cats are just over 1.6 million distributed in 28% of households according to an estimate by the Society for the Feeding of Pets. But cats are also a source of allergic reactions for 4% of adults.

For these people, breeders offer so-called hypoallergenic cat breeds that naturally produce fewer allergens. In this category, we find Russian Blue, Balinese or Siberian. For this last breed alone, there are around twenty breedings in French-speaking Switzerland. More than its long fur or its accommodating character, it is its hypoallergenic quality that attracts buyers. "Half of my clients are looking for a Siberian for this reason," says Francesca De Simone, breeder at Bretonnières in the canton of Vaud.