This month’s Cat Breed Corner casts its eye towards a kitty with a world-famous face: the Snowshoe. Read up on the Snowshoe’s history, personality, grooming needs, and more!
Quick Facts
Weight – 3kg – 5.5kg
Lifespan – 14 – 19 years
Best breed for:
- Work-from-home Owners
- Active Owners
- Families with children
Breed History ♜
At a glance, you might mistake the Snowshoe for the feline celebrity and meme fixture “Grumpy Cat“. Indeed, while breed experts believe Grumpy Cat is part-Snowshoe, there’s nothing grumpy about this fun-loving feline. A descendant of the Siamese, the Snowshoe is named for the white paws at the tips of dark legs. While records exist of white-footed Siamese kittens date back to Victorian England, the modern-day Snowshoe hails from the U.S. To be precise, this pointy-faced wonder shares a home with the cheesesteak, Rocky Balboa, and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
During the 1960s, a Philadelphia cat breeder found three kittens with white feet in her litter of Siamese. With her curiosity piqued, she set out to create a breed that showcased this endearing feature. Add a few Siamese, a few more American shorthairs, and some Barry White records, and you have the first Snowshoes.
Since then, experts have refined the breeding by crossing it with the Oriental Shorthair.
Personality Traits and Trainability ★
We said it above, and we’ll say it again: this kitty has personality. Whether they’re your court jester, demanding monarch, or faithful vassal, the Snowshoe carries themselves with a profound presence. They also take to play like a dugong to seagrass, and will relish cat toys – from top-shelf to DIY. This playful urge makes them well-suited to households with children, and they’ll even learn to live well with other cats. Even the most loyal Snowshoe will boast an independent streak, though, and they’ll often lead their Owners around the house.
Because of their social nature, the Snowy will struggle if left to their own devices. Like a dog, they depend on the company of their favourite people, and will miss you when you’re out. If your home is empty of Owners for 40+ hours a week, the Snowshoe may not be for you.
Health and Grooming ✄
While they can suffer from health issues common to most breeds, the Snowshoe is usually a very hardy breed. By brushing their coat weekly and their teeth daily (ideally), you’ll have one pretty kitty on your hands.
Fun Fact ♥
Unlike most breeds of domestic cat, the Snowy loves to swim. It’s a penchant which makes kitty bath time MUCH easier!
