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Snowshoe

The Authority on All Things Cat • December 2012

The Ultimate People Cat

Breed Profile

Paws

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Besides its beautiful coat of solid and white patterns, it is the balanced Snowshoe Siamese personality that has added to the popularity of this cat.

By Stacy HackettPhotos by Helmi Flick

Paws

Fans of the Snowshoe credit this gently,

loving behavior to the cat’s tendency to

form a close relationship with its chosen

person. “Most Snowshoes will bond with

a person, and that person becomes the

‘responsibility’ of the Snowshoe for the

rest of the cat’s life,” says Hellen Pounds,

a breeder from Louisiana. “Snowshoes

provide love and comfort for their person

at all times, especially when it’s needed.”

The Snowshoe also provides plenty of

entertainment for its family. Words used

to describe the breed include “hilarious,”

“intuitive,” “interactive,” “playful” and,

quite frequently, “water baby.” This one

cat that is not afraid of water! “Many

Snowshoes prefer drinking from a water

fountain rather than a water dish but

some take this even further and prefer

drinking from the water faucet,” Pounds

explains. “These ‘water babies’ have

learned to find a person to turn on the

water faucet for them when they need a

drink for a personal hydration.”

The intelligent breed also seeks out its

favorite people when it wants to watch

television, play with its toys or have

a feline companion removed from a

favorite snuggle spot—even if the urge

to do so strikes in the wee hours of the

morning. “My Snowshoe used to wake

me up in the middle of the night,” Pounds

says. “Not to play, but to remove a cat

that was sleeping on his private pillow.”

In the 1960s, a cat, owned by Siamese

cat breeder Dorothy Hinds-Daugherty,

produced a litter of Siamese kittens in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Three of the

kittens had unique markings, consisting

of white points and feet. The offspring

of those cats lacked the Siamese points,

but by breeding the offspring to Siamese

cats, the desired look was accomplished.

Hinds-Daugherty named this new breed

“Snowshoe” because of their white feet.

Hinds-Daughtery eventually abandoned

the Snowshoe breeding program, and it

was taken up by Vikki Olander.

30 Breed Profile

hite paws of a Snowshoe add to the breed’s striking and original appearance, but Vicki McCarroll, an avid Snowshoe lover for 18 years, appreciates those mitted feet for an

additional reason. “My Kirkland knew when I was getting a migraine,” explains the breeder.

Breed Profile 31

PawsWhite feet are the

hallmark of the Snowshoe. Those

white paws—enhanced by a careful breeding program—add to the Snowshoe’s unique

appearance.

MarkingsOther highlights include the cat’s popular white V

on its face and the distinctive tuxedo

markings.

PatternsThe Snowshoe comes in bi-color and mitted patterns, combined

with a variety of point colors, including tortie

and tabby point.

EyesBlue eyes, ranging from pale blue gray to sparkling blue, complement the

Snowshoe’s distinctive coat.

Breed Info

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GroomingThe Snowshoe requires minimal grooming. Still, the breed will not turn

down the attention from its favorite

people.

HealthThe Snowshoe enjoys general overall good health, and breeders reported no known

particular health concerns.

BuildThe Snowshoe is a

well-balanced cat. It is firm and muscular, without being bulky,

and deceptively powerful and agile.

BalanceThe TICA standard limits white to the breed’s paws, back legs, chest, and chin

(about one-quarter of the cat’s coat coloring).

Breed Info

32 Breed Profile

was ahealer.He

Such confidence and intelligence likely

were inherited from the Snowshoe’s

parent breeds” the Siamese and the

American Shorthair. “The origin of the

Snowshoe can be traced to the early

1960s, when Dorothy Hinds found

three kittens in a litter of Siamese,

each with white feet,” Pounds explains.

Hinds liked the combination of white

feet on the pointed coat and began a

breeding program using Siamese and

an American Shorthair with tuxedo

markings. The program eventually

resulted in the Snowshoe’s distinctive

dark tuxedo mask and white facial V.

Today, The International Cat Association

accepts the Snowshoe in championship

competition. Olander wrote the first

breed standard for the Snowshoe, and

succeeded in obtaining the Cat Fanciers

Federation (CFF) and the American

Cat Association’s (ACA) “experimental

breed” status for the Snowshoe in 1974.

Cat lovers recognize—and appreciate—

the Snowshoe’s unique “dressed up”

appearance. Combined with the breed’s

moderate activity level and very sweet

personality, it’s no wonder Snowshoes

adapt so well to all and any types of

owners. “They’re good with gentle kids,”

McCarroll says. “They are playful but not

hyper. It’s the perfect cat for a family. ”

Pounds agrees. “Being owned by this

cat is something you have to experience

to appreciate,” she says, noting towards

potential owners should make sure they

have time to give the breed plenty of

attention. As for the ideal Snowshoe

owner? “I would say any cat lover who

likes to interact with their cat.”

Stacy N. Hackett writes frequently about

cats and other pets. She has a special

affection for the Cornish Rex breed and

any cat with red tabby markings.

Breed Profile 33