cat fancy magazine redesign
Post on 09-Mar-2016
272 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
The Sweet, Petite Singapura • Make This Holiday Safe and Fun!
23 Best New Products of 2012 • How Many Words Can Your Cat Learn?
Strange Behavior Explained • Happy Kitty Holiday Contest Winners
Snowshoe
The Authority on All Things Cat • December 2012
The Ultimate People Cat
Breed Profile
Paws
Effectfor
Besides its beautiful coat of solid and white patterns, it is the balanced Snowshoe Siamese personality that has added to the popularity of this cat.
By Stacy HackettPhotos by Helmi Flick
Paws
Fans of the Snowshoe credit this gently,
loving behavior to the cat’s tendency to
form a close relationship with its chosen
person. “Most Snowshoes will bond with
a person, and that person becomes the
‘responsibility’ of the Snowshoe for the
rest of the cat’s life,” says Hellen Pounds,
a breeder from Louisiana. “Snowshoes
provide love and comfort for their person
at all times, especially when it’s needed.”
The Snowshoe also provides plenty of
entertainment for its family. Words used
to describe the breed include “hilarious,”
“intuitive,” “interactive,” “playful” and,
quite frequently, “water baby.” This one
cat that is not afraid of water! “Many
Snowshoes prefer drinking from a water
fountain rather than a water dish but
some take this even further and prefer
drinking from the water faucet,” Pounds
explains. “These ‘water babies’ have
learned to find a person to turn on the
water faucet for them when they need a
drink for a personal hydration.”
The intelligent breed also seeks out its
favorite people when it wants to watch
television, play with its toys or have
a feline companion removed from a
favorite snuggle spot—even if the urge
to do so strikes in the wee hours of the
morning. “My Snowshoe used to wake
me up in the middle of the night,” Pounds
says. “Not to play, but to remove a cat
that was sleeping on his private pillow.”
In the 1960s, a cat, owned by Siamese
cat breeder Dorothy Hinds-Daugherty,
produced a litter of Siamese kittens in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Three of the
kittens had unique markings, consisting
of white points and feet. The offspring
of those cats lacked the Siamese points,
but by breeding the offspring to Siamese
cats, the desired look was accomplished.
Hinds-Daugherty named this new breed
“Snowshoe” because of their white feet.
Hinds-Daughtery eventually abandoned
the Snowshoe breeding program, and it
was taken up by Vikki Olander.
30 Breed Profile
hite paws of a Snowshoe add to the breed’s striking and original appearance, but Vicki McCarroll, an avid Snowshoe lover for 18 years, appreciates those mitted feet for an
additional reason. “My Kirkland knew when I was getting a migraine,” explains the breeder.
Breed Profile 31
PawsWhite feet are the
hallmark of the Snowshoe. Those
white paws—enhanced by a careful breeding program—add to the Snowshoe’s unique
appearance.
MarkingsOther highlights include the cat’s popular white V
on its face and the distinctive tuxedo
markings.
PatternsThe Snowshoe comes in bi-color and mitted patterns, combined
with a variety of point colors, including tortie
and tabby point.
EyesBlue eyes, ranging from pale blue gray to sparkling blue, complement the
Snowshoe’s distinctive coat.
Breed Info
“ was ahealer.He
GroomingThe Snowshoe requires minimal grooming. Still, the breed will not turn
down the attention from its favorite
people.
HealthThe Snowshoe enjoys general overall good health, and breeders reported no known
particular health concerns.
BuildThe Snowshoe is a
well-balanced cat. It is firm and muscular, without being bulky,
and deceptively powerful and agile.
BalanceThe TICA standard limits white to the breed’s paws, back legs, chest, and chin
(about one-quarter of the cat’s coat coloring).
Breed Info
32 Breed Profile
was ahealer.He
Such confidence and intelligence likely
were inherited from the Snowshoe’s
parent breeds” the Siamese and the
American Shorthair. “The origin of the
Snowshoe can be traced to the early
1960s, when Dorothy Hinds found
three kittens in a litter of Siamese,
each with white feet,” Pounds explains.
Hinds liked the combination of white
feet on the pointed coat and began a
breeding program using Siamese and
an American Shorthair with tuxedo
markings. The program eventually
resulted in the Snowshoe’s distinctive
dark tuxedo mask and white facial V.
Today, The International Cat Association
accepts the Snowshoe in championship
competition. Olander wrote the first
breed standard for the Snowshoe, and
succeeded in obtaining the Cat Fanciers
Federation (CFF) and the American
Cat Association’s (ACA) “experimental
breed” status for the Snowshoe in 1974.
Cat lovers recognize—and appreciate—
the Snowshoe’s unique “dressed up”
appearance. Combined with the breed’s
moderate activity level and very sweet
personality, it’s no wonder Snowshoes
adapt so well to all and any types of
owners. “They’re good with gentle kids,”
McCarroll says. “They are playful but not
hyper. It’s the perfect cat for a family. ”
Pounds agrees. “Being owned by this
cat is something you have to experience
to appreciate,” she says, noting towards
potential owners should make sure they
have time to give the breed plenty of
attention. As for the ideal Snowshoe
owner? “I would say any cat lover who
likes to interact with their cat.”
Stacy N. Hackett writes frequently about
cats and other pets. She has a special
affection for the Cornish Rex breed and
any cat with red tabby markings.
Breed Profile 33
top related