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Snowshoe

At a Glance

The personality of the Showshoe is as unique as their appearance. Like snowflakes, no two have the same personality. Some are shy, some bossy and others caregivers. All, however, are uncannily intelligent, amusing and loyal. As they mature, the contrast of the white against the point colors darkens. They are a great choice for families with young children or other cats, and weekly brushing keeps them easy to maintain. Find out more about this breed and if a Snowshoe is right for you and your family.

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All About Cats

Temperament

Playful

Height/Weight Range

Adult females

small-sized, weighing approximately 7 to 10 pounds

Adult males

medium-sized, weighing approximately 9 to 12 pounds

Life Expectancy

15 – 20+ years depending on many factors including environment and nutrition.

Colors

Snowshoe kittens are born totally white. Point coloring begins to develop in a few weeks, and the tail, legs, head and ears darken as the kitten ages. The body is a lighter color ranging from a light cream color with the shading darkening with age. Seal point and blue point are the most common colors. Specialized breeding to produce chocolate and lilac makes these lighter colors less common. They also don’t produce as good a contrast between the point color and the white feet.

Similar Breeds

Opposite Breeds

About The Breed

The Snowshoe personality is a unique combination – sometimes shy, other times bossy, due to their desire to lead their humans. However, all fall under a mellow breed that thrives on interaction, companionship, and affection. They express themselves vocally and love to talk with their humans, but do so in a soft, melodic voice. Demure around strangers, they show great devotion and love toward their family. They often attach themselves to and serve as a constant companion to one family member.

They love being around people, making them ideal for families, and will get along well with children and other pets. The Snowshoe is very social, so don’t leave them alone for long periods.

The Breed Standard

The Snowshoe breeding program produces a cat that is unique because of its combination of short hair, modified wedge, semi-foreign build and particolor points. This combination sets the Snowshoe apart from other breeds. The Snowshoe is a strikingly marked cat in a variety of unique patterns. It may be vocal or non-vocal; when vocal, the voice is generally soft and melodic.

The Snowshoe has an outgoing personality, although some cats may be somewhat shy with strangers. Most Snowshoe are outgoing, loyal and ideal companions and generally get along well with other cats. Full colors, points, and white area development may take up to 2 years, especially in dilute colors.

Activity Level

Aside from being extremely active, the Snowshoe is very smart and easy to train. They enjoy learning new tricks such as walking on a leash, playing fetch and opening doors. Their speed and intelligence is also a good match for the feline agility courses.

Though very energetic, they are not restless or easily agitated. However, they can cause a bit of mischief if left unoccupied. Athletic and speedy, they love to chase toys around the house, especially when they are home alone.

Snowshoes love water, so don’t be surprised if one jumps in the tub with you. While many cats like to play with water by sticking their paws under a running faucet, the Snowshoe likes to swim. A shallow container of water to splash around will keep them entertained for hours.

TICA Regions, Clubs & Rescues

Want to connect with fellow cat lovers and those who love the same breed as you?
TICA is a large resource made up of smaller regions and clubs around the world.
Click here to find a club near you and contact information for your regional director and website.

Wherever you are, you’re in TICA’s world!®

Find a Kitten: TICA Breeders

The TICA website is the only place where you can find TICA member breeders who have signed the TICA Code of Ethics.

Did You Know?

Snowshoe kittens are born completely white. As they age and reach maturity, their point color begins to develop.
The internet celebrity Grumpy Cat was a mixed-breed cat with possible Snowshoe traces.
People nicknamed one cat “Dusty the Klepto Kitty” after he brought home more than 600 items from the gardens he prowled at night in San Mateo, California, including bathing suits and dish towels. Dusty appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman in February 2011.
Instagram sensation Burton the Cat is a famous Snowshoe rescue and CEMeow of “Burton’s Pride” (Oceanside, CA). Burton the cat helps raise orphaned kittens and promotes awareness and education relating to cat rescue. He also walks on a leash and famously flies Southwest Airlines.

Breed Information & Characteristics

For the perfect recipe to make a Snowshoe cat, take the splash of pointed colors with the lighter colored body coat from the Siamese, and a white tuxedo look with white feet from the American Shorthair side of their ancestors. The result is white feet (with or without a white face), blue eyes, medium body with long legs and shorthair – the unique Snowshoe look. But the Snowshoe is not ‘just another pretty face’. That unique look also packs a unique personality.

Now add the Siamese intelligence along with many of the other Siamese traits that make the Snowshoe what it is today. This is the reason breeders still breed it back to the Siamese to maintain that inheritance. Then add a dash of the American Shorthair to round off the edges of the body. This contributes a bit of a less exotic build and personality, getting you close to the final product. When selecting the ingredients, take care not to overwhelm the blue eyes or the pointed colors. Carefully select a color and build that does not eliminate the look or distort the personality, and you have a Snowshoe cat.

Dorothy Hinds Daugherty of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania traced the origin of the Snowshoe back to the early 1960’s, when she found three kittens in a litter of Siamese, each with four white feet. Dorothy liked the unique combination of pointed colors and white feet and began the process to establish a breed. In developing the breed, Dorothy bred the kittens to a domestic (American Shorthair) cat with tuxedo markings. She eventually developed the popular white ‘V’ facial markings. The American Shorthair was still pending recognition as a breed at that time. The breeding to a domestic cat produced a cat unlike either of the two ancestors, combining the personality of both.

Poorly kept records over time cost much of the Snowshoe’s history. The original pattern restrictions also discouraged both new and old breeders because of the inconsistencies of the white patterning. Between 1960 and 1977, interest in the breed declined until there was only one breeder in 1977. By 1989, though, there were close to thirty documented breeders. The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted the Snowshoe as a championship breed in 1994.

The Snowshoe personality is as unique as their appearance and is never boring. The personality is a complicated mix of mystical aloofness along with a slight dash of ‘normal’ cat. Like snowflakes and coloring, no two cats have the same personality. Some are shy, some are bossy (but nice), and some are caregivers. These caregivers take on worrying about their adopted person as though it were their lifelong ambition. Generally a ‘talker’, with a soft, melodic voice, the Snowshoe normally habitats well in a multiple cat family. Some, though, are loners and prefer your total attention. Almost all are inquisitive and active, offering many hours of delightful entertainment and a cat’s lifetime of affectionate companionship.

Most Snowshoes form a primary bond with their chosen person while still maintaining friendship with other people. They know what you are going to do long before you know it. They like to be near you, but unlike a dog, they prefer to lead you than to follow you. The resulting personality is not for every cat owner, and being ‘owned’ by a Snowshoe is something you have to experience to appreciate. Once ‘owned’, you will probably never want to be without one.

Snowshoe kittens are born totally white. Point coloring begins to develop in a few weeks, and the tail, legs, head and ears darken as the kitten ages. The body is a lighter color, ranging from a light cream color, with the shading darkening with age. Seal point and blue point are the most common colors. Specialized breeding to produce chocolate, lilac, and other lighter colors makes them less common. Those lighter colors also don’t produce as good a contrast between the point color and the white feet.

The Snowshoe eye color ranges from a sparkling blue eye color to a pale blue-gray color. Paw pads may be a combination of point color or pink, or a combination of point color and pink.

The Snowshoe is a well balanced cat, neither too small nor too large. It is firm, muscular without being bulky and deceptively powerful and agile. Rather than a weightlifter’s build, the body has the appearance of a runner and jumper. It is moderately but not extremely long, giving the body the appearance of a rectangle. Medium-large ears continue the triangular shape of the head. Muscular without being bulky, the body carries oval paws that taper to the toes and are medium in size.

The Snowshoe male is a medium sized cat weighing approximately 9 to 12 pounds. A certain heftiness makes it seem heavier when lifted. The Snowshoe female is usually much smaller in size, weighing approximately 7 to 10 pounds. Some females match the male in size, though not always in heftiness.

The Snowshoe is a shorthair cat. Don’t confuse it with either a Birman or a Ragdoll – it is not related to either of these breeds. The coat is a single layer with no evidence of an undercoat and is usually smooth to the touch. This short hair makes for an easy to groom coat. Most Snowshoes will groom themselves unless they are not feeling well or are stressed.

Most consider the Snowshoe an overall healthy breed. However, we recommend keeping their vaccinations and parasite treatments up to date.

The Snowshoe’s shorthair makes them easy to groom. While most will groom themselves, brushing their coat once a week is a good idea to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils.

As with all cats, regularly trim their nails and brush their teeth with a vet-approved pet toothpaste. This keeps up their overall health and fresh breath. Schedule regular veterinary check ups and dental cleanings.

Similar to any cat, Snowshoes require proper protein and nutrients. We recommend a high-quality diet.

As with all cats, it is important to give your cat fresh, clean water daily. Fresh, clean water is best, so cats don’t hesitate to drink. If you worry about your cat drinking enough water each day, here’s a tip from some cat behaviorists: place the water bowl at least three feet away from any food. Cats’ noses are sensitive, and an overwhelming smell of food may cause them to drink less. You can also use filtered drinking fountains in place of a water bowl.

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Snowshoe Breed Committee (2)

Name	Email
Chair: Sandra McAllister	[email protected]
Claudia Peters	[email protected]

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