Snowshoe

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, single-layer coat with no undercoat

A balanced, medium-sized cat with the lean, firm muscles of a runner and a rectangular body. It is a pointed cat with white 'snowshoe' feet and often a white inverted V on the face. The short, glossy coat lies close and has no undercoat. Kittens are born all white, and the points colour in gradually, taking up to two years to finish.123

Personality what they are like

Sweet-natured and steady, often forming a special bond with one person while staying friendly with the whole family, including children, dogs and other cats. Snowshoes like to talk in a soft, pleasant voice. Each one has its own personality, from shy to bold.123

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. Energetic and clever; enjoys chasing toys, learning tricks such as opening doors or walking on a leash, and splashing in shallow water.13

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low. A weekly brush removes dead hair, plus regular nail trims and tooth brushing.12

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A good-quality complete cat food with suitable protein, and fresh water every day.1

Company who they like around

Thrives on company and interaction; accepts other cats, dogs and children.12

The story where it all began

In the early 1960s, Siamese breeder Dorothy Hinds-Daugherty in Philadelphia found three kittens with white feet in a Siamese litter. She crossed them with bicolour American Shorthairs to fix the look, and Vikki Olander later wrote the first standard and gained experimental status in 1974. International recognition followed through the 1990s and 2000s.123

Recognised by the official bits

CFF / ACA

Experimental status 1974; CFF championship 19833

ACFA

Recognised 19903

TICA

Championship breed; 1993 per Wikipedia, 1994 per TICA1

FIFe

Recognised 20043

GCCF

Section 4, Foreign, Group 12

WCF

Breed standard in place3

Popularity 44th of 54 breeds in FIFe kitten registrations (0.04% of the total)3