Your guide to finding and caring for a Snowshoe in Franklin
A Snowshoe suits Franklin's townhomes and condos, as long as someone is home a good part of the day. In a place like Berry Farms, where many homes are townhouses and condos near a walkable retail district, an indoor cat with a tall cat tree by a window has all the space it needs. Snowshoes attach closely to their people and talk in a soft voice, which works well for remote workers and busy households. Expect blue eyes, white mittens and a knack for opening doors.
Adopt a Snowshoe today
While we don't have enough cats near Franklin, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1927 miles
Snowshoe
F, 0-6 mo., 1931 miles
Snowshoe
M, 8 y. +, 1933 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
F, 4 mo., 1934 miles
Domestic Long Hair, Snowshoe
M, 1 y., 1940 miles
American Shorthair, Snowshoe
M, 11 y., 1940 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1943 miles
Snowshoe
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 1947 miles
Snowshoe
M, 0-6 mo., 1947 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
F, 0-6 mo., 1947 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
The Snowshoe's look traces back to 1960s Philadelphia, where Siamese kittens were born with pure white feet. Today it's a medium-sized, athletic cat, usually 7 to 12 pounds, with a short, smooth coat, Siamese-style points, bright blue eyes and crisp white mittens, often with a white inverted V on the face. The true breed is rare, and most Snowshoes adopters meet are pointed domestic cats with white feet that share the look and the sociable charm.
Many Snowshoes are gentle and people-focused, often bonding closely with one favorite person. They're smart and curious, and some learn to open doors or play with water, so a cat tree and puzzle feeders keep them busy. Their voices are soft and melodic rather than loud. Expect low to moderate shedding and a cat that would rather be in the same room as you than alone.
Having a Snowshoe in Franklin
A Snowshoe pairs Siamese-style looks and curiosity with a mellow, people-loving nature. In Franklin's townhomes and apartments, its need for company and its easy short coat matter far more than square footage.
Snowshoes tend to be sweet and devoted, often picking a favorite person and following them from room to room. Many are reserved with visitors but relaxed at home, and they chat in a soft voice. Personalities vary, especially in Snowshoe-pattern mixes, so watch how each cat behaves when you meet it.
Most Snowshoes are moderately active. Plan a couple of daily play sessions with wand toys and food puzzles, and put a cat tree by a window so it can watch Franklin's birds and squirrels. Smart cats bore easily, so rotate toys and teach a simple trick or two.
Snowshoes are generally healthy and often live 14 to 19 years. Urate bladder stones show up more often in the breed, so ask your vet about water intake and diet. Dental disease and heart conditions are worth watching in any cat, and yearly checkups catch problems early.
A Snowshoe does well in a Franklin townhome, condo or apartment when it has vertical space like a cat tree or wall shelves. Company matters more than room: homes where someone is around often, or where a friendly pet is already living, tend to suit it best.
| 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.
Franklin's rescue community includes the county animal center and private nonprofits, all working to match cats with local homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Franklin area where you can find Snowshoes and other cats available for adoption.
Yes. No breed-specific rules are known in Franklin or Williamson County, and the city has no separate pet license. Tennessee law requires cats six months and older to be vaccinated against rabies. If you rent, you'll need your landlord's permission. Snowshoe-pattern cats are more common than purebreds, so watch the listings on this page.
Yes, a Snowshoe adapts well to apartments. Its soft voice is unlikely to bother neighbors, and a cat tree or window perch gives it room to climb. Many Franklin apartments charge a pet fee and monthly pet rent, so confirm the terms in your lease. Plan for time at home, since Snowshoes dislike long stretches alone.
A Snowshoe fits Franklin well if you're home often, such as remote workers or families, since it craves company. It's less ideal if you're away long days. Plan for spring storms with a carrier by your safe room, and set up a quiet room for fireworks around July 4 and New Year's.
Yes, indoors. Franklin averages about 45 days a year at 90°F or higher, with humidity, but a Snowshoe in an air-conditioned home is comfortable. Keep fresh water in several spots, block hot afternoon sun, and watch for panting or drooling, which signals overheating. Leaving a cat in a parked car can be prosecuted as cruelty in Tennessee.
Very little. A Snowshoe's short, smooth coat needs a brush about once a week, a bit more during seasonal shedding. Franklin's humidity and rain don't affect an indoor cat much. Add regular nail trims and dental care. Home grooming costs little and falls within the Other line of the cost table.
Franklin Transit runs fixed-route buses and TODD on-demand vans, but no pet policy is published, so confirm current rules with Franklin Transit before riding. Service animals are covered by the ADA. If pets are allowed, use a secure, ventilated carrier. Franklin has no subway, and Snowshoes can be shy, so quieter times are easier.
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: Williamson County Animal Center. You can see every rescue with Snowshoes available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Snowshoes near Franklin.
Plan on roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for a Snowshoe in Franklin. 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 about $450 to $1,150 a year in other costs such as litter and dental care.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Franklin.
