Energy & Playfulness | |
Affection & Handling | |
Likes To Be Alone | |
Vocal | |
Intelligence | |
Health | |
Grooming & Shedding | |
Kid Friendly | |
Other Pets |
Size | Eye Color | Fur |
|---|---|---|
Male: 9-12lbs Female: 7-10lbs | Blue | Short Single-Coat, Smooth |
Colors | Patttern | Longevity |
|---|---|---|
White, black, tan, brown | White with dare tail, legs and ears. Eye Mast or inverted V facial marking. White Paws | 9-13 Years |
Overview
You may recognize this familiar face as the same breed of Grumpy Cat or Tartar Sauce. Famous cats and grumpy cat memes aside, the Snowshoe is one of the more affection and nice breeds given it’s Siamese ancestor. They Snowshoe is extremely rare due to the pointed color patterns it has. Their light body with dark areas on the tail, legs and mask around the eyes makes them hard to breed.
The “mittens” or white paws are another trait that go all the way back to the Victorian area as this cat has been highly sought after for over 100+ years. A breeder in the 60’s decided to accentuate this breed and call them Snowshoes due to their white paws. The original breeder gave up on it, but other breeders took up the slack. These cats are still bred back to Siamese or Orientals to keep their traits pure, but it’s difficult to produce kittens with the perfectly desired markings.
The Cat Fanciers Federation recognized the Snowshoe in 1982, followed by American Cat Fanciers Association in 1990 and The International Cat Association in 1994. The Cat Fanciers Association does not yet recognize the breed.
Personality
The Snowshoe is the type of breed that will choose a favorite person in the family while remaining comfortable with other members of the family. Don’t take it personally if this beautiful creature decides that she enjoys the company of your children or significant other more than you, that doesn't mean that you can’t garner her favor eventually and her decisions aren’t completely set in stone.
You can expect her to be affectionate and gentle with members of the family, but it will take some time for her to warm up to the guests in your home. Snowshoes are intelligent to learn how to open doors, perform tricks, play fetch and can even learn to be leash trained. Much like it’s Siamese relative, they enjoy high places and you will commonly find them on the highest points in your home.
Because they are closely related to the Siamese, they are quite the talker. This is not a cat for those among us that want peace and quiet. The Snowshoe is always open to telling you about her day, how she feels and anything else that is on her mind. As long as the food is good and you’ve given her ample enough attention, she should be more relaxed.
This is a cat that enjoys lots of interaction and one that shouldn’t be left alone for extended periods of time. The Snowshoe is a great cat choice for people who have a decent amount of time to dedicate to their pets.
Health
Both pedigreed and mixed-breed cats have varying incidences of health problems that may be genetic in nature. The Snowshoe is generally healthy, however. Occasionally, a Snowshoe may have a kink in her tail or crossed eyes — vestiges of her Siamese ancestry — but those cosmetic flaws don’t affect her health or ability to be a great companion.
Care
Brush a Snowshoe’s short coat once or twice a week to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils. Brush the teeth to prevent periodontal disease.
The ears are another place where dirt can build up. Make sure to use cotton balls with warm water and gently scrub the interior of theirs ears.
Children And Other Pets
The active and social Snowshoe is a perfect choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. She will play fetch as well as any Retriever, learns tricks easily, and appreciates the attention she receives from children who treat her politely and with respect.
