Snowshoe Siamese cats

What's in a name?

The Snowshoe cat is often called the Snowshoe Siamese cat. But are Snowshoe cats really Siamese?

Well, it's complicated. And, as usual, it's all about their breeding.

The Snowshoe Siamese cat

Snowshoe cats are related to Siamese cats as they were first developed by crossing the Siamese with the American Shorthair cat.

They were first bred in the USA, and combine the stocky body shape of the American Shorthair with the longer body of the Siamese.

This makes them medium-sized (not too big, not too small), short-haired, well-muscled, athletic cats, with medium-length legs and a body type more like the American shorthair or Applehead than the very slim, long, modern-day Siamese.

They have two principal defining features

White noses (they should have a white upside-down V-shape that extends down between the eyes and out over the nose and muzzle) and four white boots (the front ones should be more like mittens, shorter than the hind ones).

This gives their feet the appearance of having been dipped in snow – hence the 'Snow Shoe' Siamese name.

Champion Snowshoe - Mr. Slinky
See the white feet and perfect inverted 'V' on the face?

photo: © Cooseman22 at the English Wikipedia project

Like their full-blooded cousins, they have bright blue eyes that should be walnut-shaped (rather than the Siamese almond-shape) and lively personalities.

They are intelligent, sociable cats with an extremely friendly temperament that makes them ideal as family pets, and they have softer voices than most Siamese cats (which many might consider a blessing!)

Snowshoe registration

Snowshoes are recognized by the American Cat Fanciers' Association, Cat Fanciers' Federation, TICA, and the British Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.

Championship status was granted to the breed in 1990 by the ACFA.

They are produced in all the Siamese point colors, including tabby (lynx) and tortie, although not all colors are accepted by all registries for showing purposes.

The breed is not currently recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association, although efforts are being made to have the Snowshoe cat breed accepted by the CFA.

Which name is correct?

Because of their ancestry, Snowshoe cats are very commonly referred to as Snowshoe Siamese, but this name isn't really right.

This is because many cat associations rule that when new breeds are accepted, they must have a breed name that is unique to them, and quite different to other already registered breeds.

So, in order for the Snowshoe to be accepted as a breed in its own right, it couldn't be called the Snowshoe Siamese because there was already a Siamese breed.

So the correct name is just Snowshoe.

And incidentally …

When this type of cat was first bred in the 1950s, it went by the name of 'Silver Laces'. If that name had been kept, it might have saved a lot of confusion!

Like to know more? Other relatives and friends:

• Himalayan Persian Cats
• Javanese Cats
• Ragdoll Cats
  

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