Your guide to finding and caring for a Snowshoe in Reno
A Snowshoe suits a Reno home where someone's around a lot. These soft-voiced, people-loving cats do well in a Wells Avenue bungalow or a Midtown apartment, as long as there's a sunny window to watch from and a cat tree to climb. Snowshoes tend to bond closely with their person, and some get bored or clingy when left alone all day. If you work from home or keep a flexible schedule, a Snowshoe will happily keep you company.
Adopt a Snowshoe today
While we don't have enough cats near Reno, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
M, 1 y., 191 miles
American Shorthair, Snowshoe
M, 11 y., 191 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
F, 7 mo., 196 miles
Snowshoe
F, 2 y., 355 miles
Snowshoe, Domestic Short Hair
M, 6 mo., 376 miles
Siamese, Snowshoe
M, 0-6 mo., 402 miles
Snowshoe
F, 6 mo.-2 y., 413 miles
Snowshoe, Domestic Short Hair
F, 0-6 mo., 413 miles
Snowshoe
M, 2 y., 429 miles
Snowshoe
F, 4 y., 369 miles
Snowshoe
Snowshoes are medium-sized cats, usually 7 to 12 pounds, with a short, smooth coat, Siamese-style points, blue eyes and white mittens. The breed began in 1960s Philadelphia, and because the white-foot pattern is hard to reproduce, true Snowshoes remain rare. Many cats described as Snowshoes are pointed domestic cats with similar markings and a similar sociable streak.
Most are affectionate and clever, often picking a favorite person and learning tricks or how to open doors. They talk in a soft, melodic voice rather than a loud yowl. In Reno, that adds up to an indoor companion who enjoys puzzle feeders, a perch in the sun and plenty of attention. With lifespans of 14 to 19 years, adopting one is a long commitment, and each cat's personality varies.
Having a Snowshoe in Reno
Snowshoes combine Siamese-style smarts with an easygoing, people-loving nature. In Reno, company, daily play and an indoor routine matter most, since dry air, hot summers and smoky stretches make a comfortable home the center of life.
Snowshoes are usually sweet, companionable and devoted to a favorite person, though many are a little reserved with visitors. They chat softly and enjoy interactive play. Personalities vary, especially in Snowshoe-pattern mixes. A cat that dislikes long stretches alone suits a Reno household with a home office or staggered schedules.
Most Snowshoes are moderately active and enjoy daily sessions with wand toys, balls and food puzzles. Trick training and fetch suit their intelligence. Reno's hot afternoons and smoky days keep cats inside, so tall cat trees, window perches and two or three play sessions a day carry most of the exercise load.
Snowshoes are generally healthy, but studies suggest they may be overrepresented in urate bladder stones. Dental disease and heart conditions are worth watching in any cat. Reno's dry air makes fresh water and wet food useful for hydration, and a veterinarian can advise on checkups, dental care and urinary health.
A Snowshoe adapts well to Reno apartments, bungalows and larger suburban homes, because it values company more than square footage. Cat trees, shelves and window perches add vertical territory to small spaces. Homes where someone is around often, or where another friendly pet lives, tend to suit the breed 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 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.
Reno's shelters and rescues care for cats of every coat and age, including pointed, white-footed Snowshoe types. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Reno area where you can find Snowshoes and other cats available for adoption.
Yes, nothing in Reno limits owning a Snowshoe. Cats need current rabies vaccination, there's no city cat license, and a household can keep up to seven cats without a variance permit. Because true Snowshoes are rare, many adoptable cats are Snowshoe-pattern domestics, so watch the listings on this page and save a search.
Yes, a Snowshoe adapts well to apartments as long as it has company and things to do. Give it a tall cat tree, a window perch and daily play, and expect a soft voice rather than loud yowling. Confirm pet terms with the landlord in writing before you sign a lease.
A Snowshoe fits Reno best with people who are home often and want a cat that follows them around. Hot summers and smoky wildfire days keep cats inside anyway, which suits an indoor breed. If your schedule keeps you out all day, a second friendly pet or extra play helps.
Reno works for Snowshoes as long as they live indoors. Their short coat with little undercoat feels the cold, so provide warm bedding for freezing nights. In summer, keep rooms cool and water available during stretches of 90-degree days. Dry air and wildfire smoke are further reasons to keep a cat inside.
Yes, but only in a secure carrier. RTC's posted rule says service animals ride freely while pets must be contained, and it doesn't publish a carrier size. Pick a sturdy, well-ventilated carrier that fits under your seat, and practice at home first so your Snowshoe is calm on trips to the vet.
A Snowshoe's short coat needs only a weekly brush, a bit more during seasonal shedding. Reno's dry air and dusty afternoons can leave a coat dull, so a quick wipe-down helps. Trim nails every few weeks. Grooming costs stay small and fall under the Other line in the cost table.
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: Nevada Humane Society. You can see every rescue with Snowshoes available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Snowshoes near Reno.
Plan on roughly $1,200 to $2,700 a year for a Snowshoe in Reno. That covers food at $25 to $50 a month, pet insurance at $25 to $50 a month, routine vet care at $150 to $350 a year, and other costs of $450 to $1,150 a year, including litter.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other cats available for adoption in Reno.
