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 the face. This is the Snowshoe cat, which emerged from the cross between the Siamese and American Shorthair breeds and which is now very popular.
Find out how Snowshoe came about
Originated in Philadelphia (USA) in the late 60’s, this feline breed was conceived by a professional breeder, Dorothy Hinds-Daugherty. The woman tried and managed to create a cat with white paws and a unique inverted “V” of the same color on the face.
Hinds-Daugherty also strived to maintain the colorpoint scheme , with darker coloration on the face, ears and tail. In this way, this precious feline appeared, which, in addition, has a body longer than the Siamese and a muscular physique like the short-haired Americans.
However, much of the history of this animal has not been recorded. For this reason, it is not known how they managed, among other details, to keep their unique white paws. It is known that, in the beginning, many creators had difficulties to develop the original designs.
In spite of 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 in Europe. Even though it is a recent breed, the Snowshoe is now very popular .
Other physical characteristics of this beautiful breed
The Snowshoe is an athletic animal, with proportional measurements, muscular and elegant. Among its physical characteristics, we must highlight:
- Average size
- Weight: between three and five kilos
- Head: triangular with round lines
- Chin: strong and prominent
- Neck : Firm and erect, which gives it a graceful appearance.
- Eyes: Oval and large. Blue in color and piercing eyes.
- Ears: Medium or large and with a wide base.
- Feet : A little wide and with rounded feet.
- Tail : Wide base, tapering to tip.
- Hair : Short, dense, shiny and very soft.
- Colors: solid points and tabby points, with well-defined marks and in harmony with the tone of the body, which is always clearer.
Snowshoe: a prankster who meows a lot
Like the short- haired American, the Snowshoe has a peaceful, quiet, and affable character. Active, intelligent and curious, it is an animal that likes to explore its surroundings and play with its owner.
This playful and affectionate feline is ideal for family life and adapts very well to living with small children and other pets. In general, they usually choose a member of their human group to show more affection.
But as nothing is perfect, it inherited its frequent meowing from the Siamese, which can be uncomfortable for the family and for strangers. Males, moreover, have a strong personality and are very territorial.
A cat that doesn’t need special care
With a life expectancy of between 10 and 18 years, this beautiful animal has no serious health problems. It is a healthy, strong breed that tends to live long and not have disease.
Furthermore, Snowshoe is a cat that does not require great daily care. A weekly brushing with a soft-bristled comb will be enough to keep your fur in good condition.
Also, if you prefer, one bath a month with shampoo for short-haired cats will be more than enough for him to always look beautiful. It is very convenient to take care of hygiene.
As with any pet, feeding according to its characteristics, periodic visits to the veterinarian and following the vaccination and deworming card will ensure that the Snowshoe lives healthy and content.
