There are so many varieties of cats in the world that we have never heard of many of them. Today we want to introduce you to an amazing American beauty - snow shu. Translated, the name of the breed sounds like “snow shoe”. These are calm, playful and very friendly cats. The breed was bred by a complex crossbreeding of American Shorthair and Siamese cats. It does not require special care, ideal for maintenance in a city apartment.
A bit of history
The breed of cats is still very young. Her name speaks for itself. The paws of these animals are shod in white shoes. In the sixties of the twentieth century in Philadelphia (USA) in the Siamese cats cattery, purebred representatives of the breed appeared kittens that differ from their parents in their white paws. The owner of the nursery was very pleased with the kids. She tried to repeat the result, but all attempts were in vain. Then Hinds-Dolerty (the mistress of the nursery) decided to pick up another breed for crossbreeding with the Siamese. Her choice fell on American Shorthair cats. So a new breed was born - snow shu. Soon, her representatives began to participate in exhibitions, and Dorothy began to prepare a breed standard and come up with a name for her pets. However, the new animals did not arouse public interest. Only in the nineteen seventy-fourth year was the newly created breed officially recognized. And in 1982, it was recognized by TICA and ACFA.
Today, white-footed cats are becoming more popular in America. In Europe
there are still very few specialized nurseries professionally involved in snow shu. This fact greatly affects the price of animals.
Breed description
In our country these are rare animals. Cats and cats snow shu outwardly very attractive. They have a rounded head of medium size, the correct proportions. Cheekbones high, nose not too wide. Small ears are rounded at the tips, wide enough at the base. The eyes are shaped like walnuts, very large. The eye is slightly longer than its width. Usually blue, they contrast beautifully with the color of the animal.
Torso
In shape, it resembles a medium-sized rectangle. Cats are a little smaller than cats. But they should not be too fragile. The muscles of the animal are powerful. The back is slightly arched.
Wool
It can be either very short or half-long. In a healthy animal, the coat adheres tightly to the body and shines well. There is a slight undercoat. Recognized colors are Seal Point and Blue Point. The weight of animals varies, but can reach five and a half kilograms.
Character
Snow shu is a curious and playful, calm and smart cat. Her character is much milder than her Siamese counterparts. She is very friendly, and this allows her to become the darling of the whole family. These animals are very smart and smart. They adapt easily in unfamiliar surroundings. Very quickly, these cats adopt house rules, especially if they were explained to them at a young age. Cats are easy to train, they can easily be taught some tricks. Snow shu, like no other cats, need to communicate. Perhaps this is the basic need of these beauties. If an animal often and for a long time remains in the house alone, it can negatively affect its health. Therefore, owners who are not at home for a long time, it is better to choose a different breed. If you need exactly this white-footed beauty, then you can get two animals. So it will be easier for them to bear separation from the owner.
Snow shu are great for everyone in the host family. In addition, these charming creatures easily converge with other animals, especially if they are just as active and funny. These animals are characterized by a unique ability - not to cross the permitted line in games. They can stop in time and not turn the game into a booth. These cats are completely devoid of vindictiveness and harmfulness. They will not take revenge on a person or intentionally harm him. However, they will not tolerate bad attitude towards them, they will try to run away as soon as possible.
These beauties have a slight drawback - they can steal. But this does not apply to food. It is unacceptable for them to climb onto the master table and steal a piece of meat or sausage. But small things for games cause them great interest. But, as a rule, this happens only in those cases when the animal does not have its own toys, and he has to play with what he finds on his own.
Care and maintenance
Snow shu is very unpretentious in content. Its rules are slightly different from those for other breeds, in particular for Siamese cats, but are simpler.
The coat of these animals is thick and does not shed very intensely; therefore, it is enough to comb the cat once a week with a special brush. But given the incredible cleanliness of these animals, you can be sure that your pet will keep her coat in order. By the way, snow-shu kittens are born completely white, and darken with age.
There is another characteristic feature of these cats - an incredible love of water. Do not be surprised if in a small amount of warm water collected by you in the bathroom your cat will climb up on her own. In a word, there are no problems with bathing these animals. Otherwise, the content of these cats is standard. The house should have a tray with filler. It’s not difficult to accustom an animal to it - we have already said that these are very smart creatures. In addition, your pet will need a scratching post.
Food
Snow shu is picky about food. However, it will be useful to consult with a veterinarian or breeder on how to make a proper and healthy diet. This is especially important during moulting and during gestation of kittens.
Health
By nature, snow shu are endowed with very good health. Thanks to the hard work of breeders, animals are devoid of the vices inherent in their ancestors. It is necessary to regularly vaccinate. The owner needs to monitor the condition of the eyes and ears of his pet. Representatives of this breed live, on average, 12 years.
"Snow shoe" is a cat that does not cause problems to the owner. He just needs to love his beauty, play with her and not push him away when she wants to take part in his household chores.