SnowshoeCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

In the 1960s, a cat belonging to the Siamese breeder Dorothy Hinds-Daugherty of Philadelphia gave birth to three kittens with white paws. Fascinated, Dorothy began breeding them, crossing seal point Siamese with bicolour American Shorthairs, then again with Siamese. She named the breed “Snowshoe”, after the white paws.

The programme was taken over by Vikki Olander, who wrote the first standard and obtained “experimental breed” status in 1974. By 1977 she was the only breeder left in the USA, but other breeders joined her. The breed received champion status with CFF in 1983 and with ACFA in 1990, and was recognised by TICA in 1993 and by FIFe in 2004. It remains rare, because the correct coat pattern is hard to achieve.

How the breed developed

• The 1960s – the first white-pawed kittens, in Philadelphia.
• 1974 – experimental breed status.
• 1983 – champion status with CFF.
• 1993 – recognised by TICA.
• 2004 – recognised by FIFe.

• Families with children and other pets. It gets on with them.
• Homes with two cats. It copes better with a working schedule if it has another cat.
• People who want an affectionate, quiet cat.
• People who will not be surprised by a cat in the bath. It likes running water.

It is a medium-sized cat that combines the strength of its shorthaired ancestors with the length of its oriental ones. It has a long, firm body, powerful but without extra bulk, looking like a runner rather than a weightlifter. German Wikipedia gives 2.25–5 kg.

General appearance

The points (ears, mask, legs, tail) must be well defined, and the paws and muzzle have white tips, in strong contrast. The eyes are blue.

FIFe and TICA accept all point colours: seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, red and cream; FIFe also with tortie and tabby patterns. Kittens are born white, and the markings appear within 1–3 weeks. A double or plush coat is a fault.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Siamese and the American Shorthair are the breeds it was created from. The Birman also has white paws and blue eyes, but semi-long hair. The mitted Ragdoll looks similar, but is much larger, with semi-long hair.

Wikipedia describes it as affectionate, gentle and quiet. It likes human company and attention and is very devoted to its owners. It is intelligent: it can learn to open various kinds of doors and to do tricks, especially fetching toys.

Socialisation

It gets on with children and other animals. It does not like being alone for long and copes better with its owners' working schedule if it has another cat.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is moderately active. It likes water, especially running water, and sometimes swims.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The short coat without undercoat changes with the seasons, but does not need much care: French Wikipedia says one brushing a week is enough.

Common health problems

Wikipedia shows that urate urinary stones are more common: in an analysis of over 5,000 cases, 3 out of 16 Snowshoe cats had them.

Recommended genetic tests

There is no genetic test required for the breed. Plenty of water and wet food help prevent urinary stones.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

Because the breed forms urinary stones more easily, water is even more important; wet food helps.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• White kittens. Kittens are born completely white; the markings appear within 1–3 weeks.
• It nearly disappeared. In 1977, Vikki Olander was the last Snowshoe breeder in the USA.
• Rare because of its pattern. White paws and correct points are hard to achieve.
• It swims. It likes water and sometimes even swims.

Where does the name come from?

From its white paws, which look like snowshoes.

Is it rare?

Yes, because the correct coat pattern is hard to achieve.

Can it stay alone?

It does not like to; it copes better with being alone if it has another cat.

How much does it weigh?

German Wikipedia gives 2.25–5 kg.