Snowshoe Cat
A cat with luminous blue eyes and beautiful white paws, as if wearing snow shoes. And with a particular inverted ‘V’, also white, on his face. This is the Snowshoe, a kitten that emerged from the cross between the Siamese and American Shorthair breeds and that today enjoys great popularity.
Learn how the Snowshoe came to be
Originated in Philadelphia (USA) in the late 60s, this feline breed was created by a professional breeder, Dorothy Hinds-Daugherty. The woman searched, and found a pussycat with white legs and a unique inverted ‘V’ of the same color on its face.
Hinds-Daugherty also insisted on maintaining the colorpoint scheme, with darker coloration on the face, ears and tail. In this way, this precious feline emerged that, in addition, has the elongated body of the Siamese and a muscular physique like the Americans with short hair.
However, much of the history of this animal was not recorded. For this reason, it is unknown how it was achieved, among other details, that its unique white legs were maintained. It is known that, in the beginning, many breeders had difficulties developing the original drawings.
Despite everything, in the mid-1970s this cat had already been made official in its country of origin, and a short time later it was recognized throughout Europe. And, although it is a recent breed, the Snowshoe is very popular today.
Other physical characteristics of this beautiful breed
The Snowshoe is an athletic, proportionate, muscular and graceful animal. Among its physical characteristics we must point out:
- Size: medium.
- Weight: between three and five kilograms.
- Head: triangular and with round features.
- Chin: strong and pronounced.
- Neck: firm and upright, which gives it a graceful appearance.
- Eyes: oval and large. Blue in color and penetrating gaze.
- Ears: medium or large and broad based.
- Legs: moderately wide and with rounded feet.
- Tail: wide base, tapering towards the tip.
- Coat: short, dense and shiny. It has no woolly lint and is very soft to the touch.
- Colors: solid points and tabby points , with well-defined markings and in harmony with the body tone, which is always lighter.
Snowshoe, a good-natured who meows a lot
Like the American Shorthair, the Snowshoe has a peaceful, calm, and personable character. Active, intelligent and curious, it is an animal that enjoys exploring its environment and playing with its owner.
This good-natured and affectionate feline is ideal for family life and adapts very well to living with small children and other pets. In general, he usually chooses a member of his human group to show him greater affection.
But since nothing is perfect, he inherited from the Siamese his frequent meows, which can be annoying to both his own and strangers. The males also have a strong personality and are quite territorial.
A kitten that does not need specific care
With a life expectancy that ranges between 10 and 18 years, this beautiful animal does not present serious health problems. It is a healthy and strong breed with no known specific diseases.
On the other hand, the Snowshoe is a cat that does not require great daily care. A weekly brushing with a soft bristle comb will be enough to keep their coat in good condition.
Additionally, if you prefer, a bath a month with a shampoo for short-haired cats will be more than enough to always look splendid. It is always convenient to take care of hygiene.
As with any pet, a diet according to its characteristics, periodic visits to the vet and complying with the vaccination and deworming scheme, will ensure that your Snowshoe lives healthy and happy.
