blend some of the best traits from the Siamese and the American shorthair , snowshoe cats are beautiful , devoted kin companion .
The snowshoe cat breed beautifully combines traits from both theSiameseandAmerican shorthair . The result is this endearing cat who is simultaneously evocative of both sides of her lineage — both in feeling and in personality — while remaining wholly alone .
A intermediate - large , healthy , long - lived strain , the snowshoe is a devoted family companion and a cat who openly indulges in the fellowship and affection of her multitude .
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We talk with a veterinary surgeon for everything you need to hump about the snowshoe ’s disposition , living needs , care , and wellness concerns .
Appearance
The snowshoe looks almost exactly like a marriage of the Siamese and American shorthair might suggest . Maintaining much of the body duration of the Siamese , but sum up a little more of the American shorthair ’s heft to it , the snowshoe is amedium - declamatory , middling built cat . Their heads can be either triangular or apple - shaped , and many of these beauties have markings on their faces , with an upper side down " quintet " distinguish that is one of thestandardsfor the stock . ear are wide - determine and pointed , eye are walnut - influence and always some shade of blueness .
The snowshoe ’s fur is short , single - coated , and color - place . Darker colour like fawn , chocolate , and spicy are the most common , butblack , orangish , and lilac are also possible . Their paws are white , giving the stock the expression from which their name was gain . The white can offer up the leg to varying grade , though too much or too little snowy can banish a purebred snowshoe to pet status rather than show or breeding stock .
Temperament
Snowshoes can march a number of different personality traits , but whichever temperament your snowshoe cat winds up have , wait her to commit to it full . Some are playful showoffs , eager to pick up tricks and gamesto give your attention and keep you laughing . Some become devoted family members , weigh themselves equal married person in the family moral force and await to be involve in all activities . Still others will adopt the role of shielder , bonding most strongly to one somebody in the household and often beingloath to leave that individual ’s side .
However your snowshoe ’s personality shapes up , they ’re all deeply social cats , interacting well with children , other computerized axial tomography , andcat - favorable dogs . They do not tend to do well on their own , so single - favourite snowshoesmay develop separation anxietyif they are entrust home alone for prolonged period .
When you are around , your snowshoe will make her presence known — either with cuddlesor animated chatting(though , even the most talkative snowshoes tend to be a little quieter than their Tai ancestors ) .
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" Snowshoes can be very outspoken like the Siamese , or they may be more hushed like the American shorthair , " enjoin Chyrle Bonk , DVM , veterinary author withHepper . " It will all depend on which breed the individual takes after . "
snowshoe arehighly intelligent cats , can betrained to walk on leash , apprize a well game of fetch , andoften enjoy splashing around in water .
Living Needs
snowshoe tend to be active , acrobatic cats who answer well to games and activities that keep them moving , Bonk says . Getting amulti - level cat treeor even arunning wheelwill be a much - appreciated gift . They bask toysbut might grow bored if you ’re not there to play alongside them . Keep a assortment on hand to keep your smarty snowshoe entertained .
Snowshoes get along well with baby , cat-o'-nine-tails , and dog , so homing them in big family or multi - favored homes should be a air . In fact , fellow furry booster are encouraged due to the snowshoe ’s humbled tolerance for being alone .
Whether you have hotdog or African tea for your snowshoe to bring with , former and proper socialising will be a game modifier .
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" [ When]introducing a kitten to other pet , if we ’re not mindful of how those other animals are going to interact , we ’ll want to control the environment as much as we possibly can , " tell Carol Margolis , DVM , DACT , of theGold Coast Center for Veterinary Careon Long Island , NY . " Being home 24/7 for the first workweek is a dandy idea , so you may be home to interrupt any behaviors that you need to stop . Patience is give-up the ghost to be the name of the secret plan . "
Care
The short - hirsute , individual coating of your snowshoe is croak to be very easy to conserve , Bonk say . A brush once a hebdomad should be all it take to keep these kat shiny , happy , and looking great .
Snowshoesdon’t shake off much , so you do n’t have to worry about pulling out the lint roller every time you give the house . But take note : Just because they ’re a low - shedding breed does n’t mean thesekitties are hypoallergenic(in fact , no dog or cat iscompletelyhypoallergenic ) . If you lean to snivel or sneeze around CAT , spend clock time with this breed to see how you react before bringing a Snowshoe kitten home .
Like all cats , snowshoes need theirnails on a regular basis trimmed(so it wo n’t hurtwhen your kitty is making biscuitsin your lap ) and theirlitter box should be keep clean .
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Health
The snowshoe stock has proven to be fantastically hardy and healthy . " This is a breed that can well reach the late teens or even 20 [ years older ] , " Bonk say . " They lean to be very healthy , but may have some Tai progeny such as crossed center and kinked tails . " But these outlet are purely cosmetic and do n’t affect the cats ' health at all .
alfresco of the common cat-o'-nine-tails outcome such askidney diseaseandheart disease , the snowshoe should be a fairly abject - trouble breed .
History
As is the case with a great number of cat breeds , the snowshoe live because a breeder once found a cat with a recessive trait and thought , " Hey , this could be a thing . " In the face of the snowshoe , that breeder was Dorothy Hinds - Daugherty of Philadelphia , and that trait was the white feet on three Thai cats from a litter in the early sixties .
Looking to spring up a color - pointed cat with blanched understructure , Hinds - Daugherty breed those cat to an American shorthair , thenthosecats back to a Siamese . With some endeavor , the desired impression was indeed produced .
Yet , snowshoesremained a rare , difficult breedto reproduce , because all of their elemental stock traits rely on recessive genes . vex cats to produce the coloration and patterns most desired is still a routine of a " luck of the draw " situation , and even today no two snowshoe cats wait exactly likewise .
Hinds - Daugherty gave up the fosterage programme in the 1970s , and Vikki Olander clean up the mantle . It was Olander who wrote the first breed standard and worked to have the snowshoe take into the Cat Fanciers Federation ( CFF ) , American Cat Association ( ACA ) , and The International Cat Fanciers Association ( TICA ) . It was a retentive road , but the snowshoe was grant champion condition by the CFF in 1983 , and by TICA in 1993 .
