Description: Snowshoe
The Snowshoe is a unique and captivating cat breed, recognized for its striking appearance and charming personality. Developed in the United States during the 1960s, the Snowshoe is a cross between the Siamese and the American Shorthair, resulting in a medium-sized cat with a short, smooth coat. This breed is easily identified by its pointed coloration (most commonly seal or blue) and distinctive white 'boots' on the feet, along with an inverted white 'V' marking on the face. Snowshoes are renowned for their affectionate and playful nature—they enjoy being part of family activities and are often described as social and vocal. These cats are intelligent, quick to learn tricks, and love engaging in interactive play. They generally get along well with children and other pets, making them a great choice for families. Despite their Siamese ancestry, Snowshoes tend to have a softer voice and a gentle temperament, adding to their appeal as loving companions.
Snowshoe ratings
Properties
The Snowshoe is a rare and distinctive breed of cat, instantly recognizable by its unique markings and charming "boots" on each paw. Developed in the United States during the 1960s, the Snowshoe is the result of crossbreeding Siamese cats with American Shorthair or other domestic shorthair cats that carried the white spotting gene. This breed was intended to combine the elegant body type and striking blue eyes of the Siamese with the endearing white feet and more robust build of the American Shorthair. The Snowshoe typically features a short to medium-length, soft and silky coat, which is easy to groom and maintain.
One of the most characteristic features of the Snowshoe is its colorpoint pattern (similar to Siamese), typically appearing in seal, blue, chocolate, or lilac points, combined with defined white markings on the face, chest, and all four paws. The facial pattern often forms an "inverted V" shape on the muzzle, which is especially prized in the show ring. Eye color is always a vivid blue, adding to the breed’s captivating appearance.
Snowshoes have a medium build with a well-proportioned, muscular body, giving them a sturdy but graceful presence. Males generally weigh between 9 and 12 pounds, while females typically range from 7 to 10 pounds. Their temperament is highly regarded among cat enthusiasts; they are known for being affectionate, gentle, and highly social with their families. Snowshoes thrive on human interaction, forming strong attachments and often following their owners from room to room. Their intelligence and curiosity make them easy to teach tricks or even play games of fetch.
The Snowshoe adapts well to indoor environments and is well-suited to families, singles, and seniors alike. However, due to their social needs, they may not fare well if left alone for prolonged periods. Overall, the Snowshoe is admired for its striking appearance, delightful personality, and relatively easy maintenance, making it an excellent companion for a variety of homes.
Appearance
The Snowshoe cat is a uniquely striking breed, noted for its appealing combination of distinct markings and expressive features. Its name is derived from the characteristic white feet that resemble tiny snowshoes—a hallmark of the breed’s appearance. This cat typically presents a medium-sized, well-balanced, and muscular body, which reflects both elegance and strength. The overall impression is that of a graceful but sturdy feline, with an athletic build that is not overly stocky nor excessively slender.
The head of the Snowshoe is a moderate, slightly rounded wedge, with softly contoured cheeks and high cheekbones, lending the face a gentle, appealing look. The eyes are large, oval or walnut-shaped, and a radiant blue in color, set at a slight slant to enhance the breed’s alert and intelligent expression. The ears are medium to large, set wide apart, and taper towards the tips, harmonizing with the outline of the head and contributing to the breed’s attentive demeanor.
The most eye-catching feature of the Snowshoe is its color-point pattern, inherited from its Siamese ancestry, overlaid with the distinctive bicolor or mitted pattern resulting in the signature white markings. The body is typically a pale, creamy color, which contrasts beautifully with darker points on the ears, tail, and face—these points can be seal, blue, chocolate, or lilac, among others. The snow-white paws are mandatory for the breed—each foot is dipped in white, and this often extends up the legs in a glove or sock-like effect. Additional white markings may appear on the chest (often in a reversed 'V' pattern), chin, and underbelly. The degree and placement of white can vary but symmetry is highly prized.
The coat itself is short to medium in length, dense, and silky to the touch, lying close to the body but not as tight as the Siamese. This low-maintenance fur showcases the breed’s rich coloring and markings unmistakably. The tail is moderately long and tapers to a fine point, usually mirroring the darker color of the points. Overall, the Snowshoe’s distinctive appearance blends the elegance of the Siamese with unique markings and a robust physique, making it one of the most visually captivating breeds in the feline world.
History
The Snowshoe cat is a relatively modern breed, celebrated for its striking appearance and gentle temperament. Its history dates back to the late 1960s in the United States, specifically in Philadelphia. The breed originated when Dorothy Hinds-Daugherty, a Siamese breeder, discovered three kittens in one of her litters that exhibited unique white mittens and boots, alongside the classic pointed pattern of Siamese cats. Fascinated by this novel combination, she set out to develop a new breed that combined the best qualities of the Siamese with distinctive white markings.
To achieve this, Hinds-Daugherty began crossing her Siamese cats with American Shorthairs and, later, with domestic shorthairs possessing tuxedo (black and white) coat patterns. This produced a cat with a strong, muscular body, medium build, and beautiful blue eyes reminiscent of its Siamese ancestry, but further enhanced by symmetrical white markings on its paws, feet, chest, and face. Breeding these desired characteristics has proven challenging, and even today, not all Snowshoe kittens are born with the ideal pattern or features. As a result, the Snowshoe remains a relatively rare breed.
The breed’s recognition was slow and met with some skepticism among cat registries. The Cat Fanciers’ Federation (CFF) granted it official status in the mid-1970s, and the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) recognized it in 1982. The International Cat Association (TICA) followed suit in 1994. Despite these milestones, the Snowshoe continued to be plagued by a small breeding pool, which sometimes hindered its popularity and consistency in physical characteristics.
Today, the Snowshoe is valued for its charming looks, friendly demeanor, and outgoing personality, traits that likely stem from its Siamese roots. It has carved a niche among cat enthusiasts who appreciate a blend of elegance, intelligence, and unique beauty. The story of the Snowshoe illustrates the dedication of breeders to preserving distinctive feline features and the challenges faced in establishing new and stable breeds. Although still less common than many traditional breeds, the Snowshoe is increasingly recognized for its allure and loving companionship.