The Authority on All Things Cat • December 2012
Snowshoe The Ultimate People Cat
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Breed Profile
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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 Hackett Photos by Helmi Flick
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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. 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 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.”
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.”
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.
Breed Profile
Breed Info
Paws White feet are the hallmark of the Snowshoe. Those white paws—enhanced by a careful breeding program—add to the Snowshoe’s unique appearance.
Markings Other highlights include the cat’s popular white V on its face and the distinctive tuxedo markings.
Patterns The Snowshoe comes in bi-color and mitted patterns, combined with a variety of point colors, including tortie and tabby point.
Eyes Blue eyes, ranging from pale blue gray to sparkling blue, complement the Snowshoe’s distinctive coat.
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Breed Profile
Breed Info
Grooming The Snowshoe requires minimal grooming. Still, the breed will not turn down the attention from its favorite people.
Health The Snowshoe enjoys general overall good health, and breeders reported no known particular health concerns.
Build The Snowshoe is a well-balanced cat. It is firm and muscular, without being bulky, and deceptively powerful and agile.
Balance The TICA standard limits white to the breed’s paws, back legs, chest, and chin (about one-quarter of the cat’s coat coloring).
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Breed Profile
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healer. 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.
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