Snowshoe Cat Association

THE ORIGIN OF THE SNOWSHOE

Snowshoes were first introduced to the Cat Fancy by a breeder in Philadelphia in the late 1960's. Three kittens of Siamese parentage that were born with white feet formed the foundation of the breed. American Bi-coloured Shorthairs were used to develop the breed
In 1986 a Snowshoe breeding project was started in the UK Snowshoes are registered with the Cat Association of Britain and are recognised for competition at medallist level

BREED TYPE

A medium to large cat, the Snowshoe combines the heftiness of the American Shorthair with the length of the Oriental. It is well balanced with sound conformation and strong muscle The unusual combination of pointing, the white pattern, and the moderate body build sets the Snowshoe apart from all other breeds
It has a sparkling personality and is human orientated and affectionate, making it attractive to the new pet owner or breeder and ideally suited to the cat-show scene

PATTERNS AND COLOUR

The Snowshoe pattern is complex, with the white markings superimposed on the Siamese pointing. The preferred pattern being white to the ankles in front, white to the hocks at the back and an inverted 'V on the face
All recognised point colours allowed.
Coat of medium short hair of medium texture, glossy and lying close to the body
Eyes of bright sparkling blue with good contrast against points colour and walnut shape

Standard of Points for Snowshoes

The Snowshoe is a medium cat, first bred in the USA, of Foreign type. The Snowshoe combines the heftiness of its Shorthair ancestors with the length of its Siamese ancestors. It should be well balanced; neither too large nor too small: it should be firm, muscular, deceptively powerful and agile. A long cat, which has the appearance of a runner rather than a weightlifter. The unusual combination of pointing, the white pattern and the moderate body build set the Snowshoe apart from all other breeds. It has sparkling personality and is human orientated and affectionate.

Head - Medium in size, proportionate to the body. A broad wedge with slightly rounded contours. The top of head should be slightly rounded and the forehead slightly flat. Cheekbones set high with rounded contours. The nose to be straight of medium length, in proportion with the rest of the head, with a slight slope to the forehead creating two distinct planes when seen in profile and without a sharp break or stop. The muzzle should be of good length, neither extremely broad nor pointed nor square. Bite level and chin firm.

Ears - Medium to medium large. Broad at the base, with slightly rounded tips. Alert, continuation of the modified wedge with sparse furnishings.

Eyes - Walnut shaped with slightly greater length than width. Of medium size and slanted to the base of the ears. They should be set one width apart and not protrude nor be bold or deep set. The outer edge should be level with the base of the ears. Blue in colour, the deeper the blue the better, bright, sparkling and expressive.

Body and Neck - Body long and firm but not extreme. Medium in size with medium bone and musculature. Females are slightly smaller than the males. To be well knit and powerful, but not bulky. Medium length of neck in proportion with the head and body. Well balanced. Heavier than appearance indicates.

Legs and Paws - Good length in proportion to the body and of medium bone. Paws short oval in shape

Tail - Medium at base, tapering slightly towards the tip, medium to long.

Coat - Medium-short with no noticeable undercoat. Smooth, glossy and close lying. Texture resilient.

SCALE OF POINTS

Head 20
Ears 5
Eyes 15
Body, Neck & Bone structure 20
Legs & Paws 5
Tail 5
Coat length, texture and condition 10
Colour and Markings 20
100

Withhold Certificates or First Prize in Kitten Open Classes for :
1. Persian or Siamese head type
2. Complete hood of point colour, i.e. no contrast on head
3. Incorrect or dull eye colour
4. Small round ears
5. Any abnormality of bite or very weak chin
6. Neck which is too long and too slender
7. Body which is either cobby or of extreme length, sleek or dainty
8. Short legs
9. All four feet do not show some amount of white
10. White on the ears and or tip of tail
11. Lack of contrast between body and points
12. Double or plush coat
13. Any defect as listed in the preface of the SOP booklet

Withold all awards:

Longhair

SNOWSHOE

Colour of mask, ears, legs and tail to be dense and clearly define (except in kittens) and in harmony with the body colour where it is not overlain by white. On maturity the mask is connected to the ears by tracings. The preferred White Pattern is a balanced inverted 'V' of white on the face starting on the bridge of the nose, extending downwards covering the nose, whisker pads and chin, but not extending beyond the outer aperture of the eye. The chin should be white. A white bib on the chest and white on the stomach is normal. Nose leather should be pink. Body colour should be even with shading to a lighter tone. Allowance should be made for darker shading in older cats, provided that there is a definite contrast between body colour and the points. Paws pads should be pink. The two front paws should have white mittens that are evenly matched and preferably extending to the angle formed by the paw and the leg. The back legs should have white evenly matched boots to just below the level of the hock. The foregoing description is ideal.

NB: The balanced inverted 'V' of white on the face may start on the forehead and the face may be a combination of white with point colour nose spots with the nose leather being point coloured or mottled. The paw pads may be pink, point colour or mottled. The amount of white may vary from paw to paw and leg to leg and cover only the toes or extend above the knee on the front paws or may cover only to the ankles or may extend to the mid leg area above the hock on the back legs, all of which are acceptable and should not penalise an otherwise good specimen.

Seal Point - Points should be deep seal brown and all of the same shade. Nose leather may be dark seal brown. The body colour should be beige. Shading, if any, to tone with points.

Blue Point - Points should be bluish grey and all of the same shade. Nose leather may be slate grey. The body colour should be blueish white. Shading, if any, to tone with points.

Chocolate Point - Points should be milk chocolate and all of the same shade. Nose leather may be chocolate. The body should be ivory. Shading, if any, to tone with points.

Lilac Point - Points should be pinkish grey and all of the same shade. Nose leather may be pinkish/faded lilac. The body colour should be magnolia. Shading, if any, to tone with points.

Red Point - Points should be orange/red and all of the same shade. Nose leather to be pink. The body colour should be pale cream with a slight golden hue. Shading, if any, to tone with points.
Notes: 1. Tabby markings, barring and tail rings shall not be considered a fault especially in kittens.
2. 'Freckles' may occur on nose, lips eyelids and ears. Slight freckling in a mature cat should not be penalised.

Cream Point - Points should be cream. Nose leather pink The body colour should be off-white with a faint golden hue. Shading, if any, to tone with points.

Notes as for Red Point



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THE ORIGIN OF THE SNOWSHOE Snowshoes were first introduced to the Cat Fancy by a breeder in Philadelphia in the late 1960's. Three kittens of Siamese parentage that were born with white feet formed the foundation of the breed. American Bi-coloured Shorthairs were used to develop the breed In 1986 a Snowshoe breeding project was started in the UK Snowshoes are registered with the Cat Association of Britain and are recognised for competition at medallist level BREED TYPE A medium to large cat, the Snowshoe combines the heftiness of the American Shorthair with the length of the Oriental. It is well balanced with sound conformation and strong muscle The unusual combination of pointing, the white pattern, and the moderate body build sets the Snowshoe apart from all other breeds It has a sparkling personality and is human orientated and affectionate, making it attractive to the new pet owner or breeder and ideally suited to the cat-show scene PATTERNS AND COLOUR The Snowshoe pattern is complex, with the white markings superimposed on the Siamese pointing. The preferred pattern being white to the ankles in front, white to the hocks at the back and an inverted 'V on the face All recognised point colours allowed. Coat of medium short hair of medium texture, glossy and lying close to the body Eyes of bright sparkling blue with good contrast against points colour and walnut shape Standard of Points for Snowshoes The Snowshoe is a medium cat, first bred in the USA, of Foreign type. The Snowshoe combines the heftiness of its Shorthair ancestors with the length of its Siamese ancestors. It should be well balanced; neither too large nor too small: it should be firm, muscular, deceptively powerful and agile. A long cat, which has the appearance of a runner rather than a weightlifter. The unusual combination of pointing, the white pattern and the moderate body build set the Snowshoe apart from all other breeds. It has sparkling personality and is human orientated and affectionate. Head - Medium in size, proportionate to the body. A broad wedge with slightly rounded contours. The top of head should be slightly rounded and the forehead slightly flat. Cheekbones set high with rounded contours. The nose to be straight of medium length, in proportion with the rest of the head, with a slight slope to the forehead creating two distinct planes when seen in profile and without a sharp break or stop. The muzzle should be of good length, neither extremely broad nor pointed nor square. Bite level and chin firm. Ears - Medium to medium large. Broad at the base, with slightly rounded tips. Alert, continuation of the modified wedge with sparse furnishings. Eyes - Walnut shaped with slightly greater length than width. Of medium size and slanted to the base of the ears. They should be set one width apart and not protrude nor be bold or deep set. The outer edge should be level with the base of the ears. Blue in colour, the deeper the blue the better, bright, sparkling and expressive. Body and Neck - Body long and firm but not extreme. Medium in size with medium bone and musculature. Females are slightly smaller than the males. To be well knit and powerful, but not bulky. Medium length of neck in proportion with the head and body. Well balanced. Heavier than appearance indicates. Legs and Paws - Good length in proportion to the body and of medium bone. Paws short oval in shape Tail - Medium at base, tapering slightly towards the tip, medium to long. Coat - Medium-short with no noticeable undercoat. Smooth, glossy and close lying. Texture resilient. SCALE OF POINTS Head 20 Ears 5 Eyes 15 Body, Neck & Bone structure 20 Legs & Paws 5 Tail 5 Coat length, texture and condition 10 Colour and Markings 20 100 Withhold Certificates or First Prize in Kitten Open Classes for : 1. Persian or Siamese head type 2. Complete hood of point colour, i.e. no contrast on head 3. Incorrect or dull eye colour 4. Small round ears 5. Any abnormality of bite or very weak chin 6. Neck which is too long and too slender 7. Body which is either cobby or of extreme length, sleek or dainty 8. Short legs 9. All four feet do not show some amount of white 10. White on the ears and or tip of tail 11. Lack of contrast between body and points 12. Double or plush coat 13. Any defect as listed in the preface of the SOP booklet Withold all awards: Longhair SNOWSHOE Colour of mask, ears, legs and tail to be dense and clearly define (except in kittens) and in harmony with the body colour where it is not overlain by white. On maturity the mask is connected to the ears by tracings. The preferred White Pattern is a balanced inverted 'V' of white on the face starting on the bridge of the nose, extending downwards covering the nose, whisker pads and chin, but not extending beyond the outer aperture of the eye. The chin should be white. A white bib on the chest and white on the stomach is normal. Nose leather should be pink. Body colour should be even with shading to a lighter tone. Allowance should be made for darker shading in older cats, provided that there is a definite contrast between body colour and the points. Paws pads should be pink. The two front paws should have white mittens that are evenly matched and preferably extending to the angle formed by the paw and the leg. The back legs should have white evenly matched boots to just below the level of the hock. The foregoing description is ideal. NB: The balanced inverted 'V' of white on the face may start on the forehead and the face may be a combination of white with point colour nose spots with the nose leather being point coloured or mottled. The paw pads may be pink, point colour or mottled. The amount of white may vary from paw to paw and leg to leg and cover only the toes or extend above the knee on the front paws or may cover only to the ankles or may extend to the mid leg area above the hock on the back legs, all of which are acceptable and should not penalise an otherwise good specimen. Seal Point - Points should be deep seal brown and all of the same shade. Nose leather may be dark seal brown. The body colour should be beige. Shading, if any, to tone with points. Blue Point - Points should be bluish grey and all of the same shade. Nose leather may be slate grey. The body colour should be blueish white. Shading, if any, to tone with points. Chocolate Point - Points should be milk chocolate and all of the same shade. Nose leather may be chocolate. The body should be ivory. Shading, if any, to tone with points. Lilac Point - Points should be pinkish grey and all of the same shade. Nose leather may be pinkish/faded lilac. The body colour should be magnolia. Shading, if any, to tone with points. Red Point - Points should be orange/red and all of the same shade. Nose leather to be pink. The body colour should be pale cream with a slight golden hue. Shading, if any, to tone with points. Notes: 1. Tabby markings, barring and tail rings shall not be considered a fault especially in kittens. 2. 'Freckles' may occur on nose, lips eyelids and ears. Slight freckling in a mature cat should not be penalised. Cream Point - Points should be cream. Nose leather pink The body colour should be off-white with a faint golden hue. Shading, if any, to tone with points. Notes as for Red Point