The Snowshoe began in 1960s Philadelphia, when three kittens in a Siamese litter were born with pure white feet. Crosses between Siamese and bicolor American Shorthairs then kept the look, producing a medium-sized, athletic cat with a short, smooth coat, Siamese-style points, bright blue eyes, crisp white mittens and often a white inverted V on the face. Because that pattern is hard to reproduce, the breed remains rare.
Many Snowshoes are affectionate, people-focused and gentle, often attaching to one favorite person. They tend to be intelligent and curious, learning tricks or how to open doors, and some enjoy playing with water. They usually talk in a soft, melodic voice rather than the loud calls of a Siamese. Most cats adopters meet are Snowshoe-patterned domestic cats, which can share the same sociable charm.