The Snowshoe is distinguished from other breeds by its short hair, modified wedge, semi-foreign build, and particolor points. The Snowshoe is a beautifully marked cat with a wide range of distinct markings.
Personality
Anyone wishing for an aloof, standoffish cat should avoid Snowshoe ownership; proponents argue that Snowshoes don’t recognize they’re cats and instead consider themselves small, furry people.
The Snowshoe has an outgoing attitude, and while some cats may be shy around strangers, the majority get along well with other cats. They are friendly, loyal, and make excellent friends. They enjoy perching next you on the couch and gently touching you with their paws until you get the message and give them some of the attention and pampering they deserve.
Snowshoes are quite bright and can be taught a variety of behaviors such as retrieve, but they frequently turn the tables and teach their owners a few tricks of their own, such as pulling out the treat sack on demand. Snowshoes are also known for their affinity with water, especially rushing water. When you turn on the faucet or flush the toilet, your Snowshoe will appear and stare in awe at the flowing water.
They also enjoy stealing tiny personal things and dunking them in the sink or water dish. If you’re missing a sock, a pen, or another tiny thing, check your Snowshoe’s water bowl first; it’s a favorite area for their treasures. Snowshoes, while not as loud or vociferous as Siamese, never lack for words, but their voices are generally delicate and melodic.
History
The Snowshoe is a stunning blue-eyed breed that combines the greatest characteristics of the talkative, fluid Siamese and the easy-going, strong American Shorthair. This shorthaired breed is an excellent companion.
The breed began at the end of the 1960s, when Dorothy Hinds-Daugherty of Kensing Cattery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, produced a litter of three Siamese kittens with pure white mittens. Instead of putting the mittened kittens away, she opted to breed these outliers. She attempted to replicate the look by mating one of her sealpoint Siamese with a bicolor American Shorthair. Because both parents must have the recessive gene for the pattern to express in children, the ensuing progeny lacked the Siamese’s pointed pattern. Hinds-Daugherty got the intended result by breeding the resulting kittens back to Siamese mates: a pointed pattern cat with a middle-of-the-road body shape and four white mittens.
Continued crossings with American Shorthair bicolors resulted in some kittens with a white inverted V pattern on the nose and muzzle, which Hinds-Daugherty believed was a delightful variant. She christened the new breed “Snowshoe” since the kittens appeared to have just romped through gleaming snow.
Physical Attributes
BODY
Long but not excessively so; not cobby or delicate. Overall proportionally well-balanced, well-built, powerful, and nimble; no extremes. Boning is medium, and the musculature is firm and muscular. Well-knit, strong but not bulky, and not fragile. When raised, it has a surprising amount of weight for its small.
HEAD
Wedge that has been widened. High cheekbones with soft curves The overall shape is about as long as it is wide, resembling an equilateral triangle. Size in relation to the body and legs. Firm chin. The muzzle should be proportional to the head, with a smooth break; it should not be very broad, square, or pointed. Nose width is medium, not too wide or narrow, with a flat or little nose hump.
EARS
Medium-broad at the base; continuation of the modified wedge; slightly rounded tips in comparison to the body
EYES
Oval to larger oval or rounded oval shape with more length than breadth angled to the base of the ears Not sticking out. Any shade of blue will do.
LEGS & PAWS
Legs of a runner or jumper’s length, medium boning, and proportionate to the torso. Feet that are proportionate to the legs and torso. The tips are oval.
TAIL
Medium at the base, gradually tapering to the end; length proportional to the torso.
COAT
Short to medium-short length. The texture is soft to the touch. The coat’s density allows it to lie somewhat close to the body.
COLOR
Patterns are optional and bicolor; some white is necessary on the paws. Color patches on white spaces are okay. Shape and detail of point and white regions dominate the overall appearance. There is a strong contrast between the point colors and white. Mitted: just the paws, rear legs, chest, and chin are white. Cats are normally one-quarter white. Bicolor: a white facial pattern is required. Various white and pigment marks may occur. White spots are most commonly found on the legs, thighs, chest, and chin. Cats are normally one-quarter to one-half white.
Disclaimer
While the qualities listed below are common for this breed, cats are individuals with unique personalities and appearances. For more information about a specific pet, please contact the adoption group.
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