Snowshoe
Siamese points with white boots and usually a white V across the face, and the markings are notoriously hard to breed true. Talkative, and many of them like water.
Overview
The Snowshoe was developed in Philadelphia in the 1960s by crossing Siamese with bicolour American Shorthairs, producing a pointed cat with white feet and usually a white inverted V on the face.
The white markings are the whole difficulty of the breed. They depend on several genes interacting and they cannot be reliably predicted, so a litter of Snowshoes produces relatively few cats that meet the standard, which is why the breed remains uncommon.
Temperament
Affectionate, vocal and strongly attached, sitting between the Siamese intensity and the American Shorthair's calm.
They bond hard, often to one person, and they follow that person around. Many of them like water. They are talkative but with a softer voice than a Siamese, and they do not enjoy being left alone.
Care and grooming
A weekly brush for the short close coat and nothing else demanding.
The Siamese ancestry brings the oriental group's concerns, including rdAc progressive retinal atrophy, which has a DNA test, and a tendency to dental problems. Kinked tails and crossed eyes appear occasionally and are cosmetic rather than harmful.
Living and exercise
An indoor household where somebody is usually about, with height and interactive play.
They are good with children and with other pets, and they do better with a companion than alone. Fourteen to twenty years is a genuinely good expectation for the breed.
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