Your guide to finding and caring for a Snowshoe in Scottsdale
A Snowshoe fits Scottsdale's apartment and condo life well, as long as someone's around to keep it company. Whether you rent in Southern Scottsdale or own near the Shea corridor, this is a cat that wants to follow you from room to room and watch the street from a window perch. Summer heat keeps cats indoors here anyway, which suits a Snowshoe fine. Most Snowshoes you'll meet here are pointed domestic cats with white mittens, and they share the breed's easygoing charm.
Adopt a Snowshoe today
While we don't have enough cats near Scottsdale, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 3-7 y., 1399 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
F, 2 y., 1423 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
M, 0-6 mo., 1434 miles
Snowshoe, Domestic Short Hair
M, 3 y., 1436 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
M, 6 y., 1436 miles
Snowshoe, Siamese
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 1441 miles
Snowshoe
M, 8 y. +, 1495 miles
Snowshoe
M, 8 y., 1502 miles
Snowshoe, Tabby
M, 4 y., 1522 miles
Snowshoe, Domestic Short Hair
M, 0-6 mo., 1557 miles
Snowshoe
The Snowshoe began in 1960s Philadelphia, when three kittens in a Siamese litter were born with white feet. Siamese were later crossed with bicolor American Shorthairs, producing a medium-sized, athletic cat, usually 7 to 12 pounds, with a short, smooth coat, bright blue eyes, Siamese-style points and crisp white mittens. The white pattern is hard to reproduce, so the breed remains rare.
Many Snowshoes are affectionate and gentle, often choosing one favorite person. They're intelligent and curious, and some learn to open doors or play in water, which is worth remembering with a bathroom sink in a small apartment. Their voices are soft and melodic. Shedding runs low to moderate, and a typical lifespan of 14 to 19 years makes adoption a long commitment. Cats vary, and Snowshoe-pattern mixes may not match every detail of the breed description.
Having a Snowshoe in Scottsdale
Snowshoes combine Siamese-style smarts with a people-loving nature. Company, play, easy coat care and generally sturdy health matter most, and in Scottsdale the heat adds one more point: this is a cat that will live almost entirely indoors.
Snowshoes tend to be sweet and companionable, often following a favorite person from room to room. Some are shy with visitors but devoted at home, and most chat in a soft voice. That suits Scottsdale condo living, where a quiet talker is welcome. Personalities vary, especially in Snowshoe-pattern mixes, so read each listing's description closely.
Most Snowshoes are moderately active and enjoy wand toys, fetch and food puzzles. Because Scottsdale's summer afternoons make the outdoors unsafe, plan two short indoor play sessions, ideally in the cooler morning and evening, plus a tall cat tree and a window perch for watching birds. A bored or lonely Snowshoe may turn demanding.
Snowshoes are generally healthy, but studies suggest urate bladder stones may be overrepresented, so hydration matters, and a water fountain helps in a dry desert climate. Dental disease and heart conditions are worth watching for, and some have cosmetic Siamese traits like crossed eyes. A veterinarian can check for these at the first visit.
A Snowshoe adapts well to apartments, condos or houses, valuing company more than square footage. Cat trees and wall shelves add vertical territory to a small unit. Many dislike long stretches alone, so homes where someone is often around, or with another friendly pet, usually suit them best. Keep upper-floor window screens secure.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Pet insurance | $25 to $50 per month | $300 to $600 |
| Routine vet care | $150 to $350 per year | $150 to $350 |
| Other* | $450 to $1,150 per year | $450 to $1,150 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,200 to $2,700 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Litter, flea prevention, a yearly dental cleaning allowance, toys, scratchers and bedding, and occasional brushing for a short coat.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have Snowshoes available.
Scottsdale's adoptable cats come through a county adoption center and local nonprofit rescues, with sterilization and microchipping typically included. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Scottsdale area where you can find Snowshoes and other cats available for adoption.
Yes. Nothing about the Snowshoe breed is restricted in Scottsdale, and what matters more is your lease or HOA. Because the breed is rare, many adoptable Snowshoes are pointed domestic cats with white mittens, so watch the listings on this page, save a search and come back often, since availability changes.
Often, yes, for people who are home a fair amount. Snowshoes crave company and do well in condos and apartments, and an indoor life suits desert heat and local coyotes. They fit less well in households where a cat is alone all day. Long work days might call for a pair of cats or a more independent cat.
Yes, as indoor cats with air conditioning. Summer afternoons run well above 100 degrees, but a Snowshoe's short coat copes better than a heavy one. Keep the thermostat steady, offer fresh water and never shave the coat. Heavy panting, drooling or lethargy are signs to cool the cat down and call a veterinarian.
Yes, Snowshoes do well in apartments because they care more about company than space. Give the cat a tree, a window perch and daily wand-toy play. Their soft voices rarely bother neighbors. Keep upper-floor screens secure, and remember that curious Snowshoes sometimes learn to open doors and cabinets.
Very little. The short, smooth coat with little undercoat needs a weekly brush at most, a bit more during a heavier shed. Heat doesn't change the routine, because an indoor cat in air conditioning needs no clipping. Occasional brushing is covered by the Other line in the cost table, so it adds little.
Yes, in an enclosed carrier. Valley Metro buses allow pets only when stowed in a carrier that fits on your lap or beneath the seat, and a Snowshoe of 7 to 12 pounds usually fits a standard one. The free Scottsdale Trolley states no pet rule, so check current policy before boarding. Scottsdale has no rail.
A Snowshoe cat is a rare American breed developed in the 1960s from Siamese and bicolor American Shorthair cats. It has a short coat, Siamese-style color points, blue eyes and distinctive white paws that look like snowshoes, often with a white inverted V on the face. Many are affectionate, intelligent and soft-voiced companions.
We have 1 rescue with Snowshoes available: Ranilla's Rescue. You can see every rescue with Snowshoes available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Snowshoes near Scottsdale.
Expect roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for a Snowshoe in Scottsdale. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and other costs at $450 to $1,150 a year. Emergencies and illness are extra, and adoption fees vary by listing.
Expand your search to find Snowshoes available for adoption near Scottsdale.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Scottsdale.
