SNOWSHOE
Standard of Excellence

GENERAL DESCRIPTION


The Snowshoe is a medium cat that combines the heftiness of its domestic shorthair ancestors with the length of its oriental ancestors. It is a well balanced cat overall, firm and muscular. It gives the appearance of great power and agility, yet has the look of a runner rather than a weight lifter. The unique combination of the pointed pattern, the white spotting and the moderated body type sets the Snowshoe apart from other breeds. When the white pattern is symmetrically marked against the dark points, the cat is most striking. The Snowshoe possesses a sparkling and affectionate personality.

Head

The head is as wide as it is long, slightly rounded, of medium size, and in good proportion and visual balance with the rest of the body. Cheekbones are set high. The nose should be of good length, neither extremely broad nor pointed, and in proportion with the rest of the head. The forehead should be a flat plane rising slightly above the muzzle giving the appearance of two distinct, parallel planes. No less than the width of an eye between the eyes. When the whiskers are smoothed back, the underlying bone structure is evident. Allowances are to be made for stud jowls in older males.

Jaws A well developed bite.
Nose

The nose should be of good length, neither extremely broad nor pointed, and in proportion with the rest of the head.

Chin Firm and full and strong, forming a perpendicular line with the upper lip.
Ears

Medium in size, alert, slightly rounded at the tip, and broad at the base. Set forward from the outside of the head giving a continuing line from the head to the ears.

Eyes

Large and walnut shaped with rounded end larger in diameter than the almond eye, but still with greater length than width. Should be slanted in line with the flow from the nose to base of ear.

  • Eye Colour: Bright, sparkling blue.
    • Body

    The rectangular body should be of medium size; females may be slightly smaller than males, but not frail or dainty in appearance. The body should be medium boned, well muscled, powerful and heavily built. Long, but not too extreme. Neck length should be medium, in proportion with the head and body.

    Legs & Paws

    Legs should be of good length, in proportion with the body; with medium boning. Feet should be medium in size with a short oval shape; five toes on the front and four on the back.

    Tail

    Thick at the base, tapering slightly and gradually to the end. Length should be medium to long, appearing to be at least as long as the body and should be measured along the back leg, and Should in proportion with the overall size of the cat.

    Coat Short to medium short and healthy in appearance.
    Condition

    Hard and muscular with no indication of fat or emaciation. An appearance of good health and vitality. When lifted, the cat should have heft.



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    SNOWSHOE
    Standard of Excellence

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    Colour Description

    The body colour should be of an even coloration with subtle shading allowed on shoulders, back and hips, toning to a lighter shade near the chest and stomach. A few white hairs in the points possibly caused by past illness are not to be confused with definite patches or spots. White on the underside of the head, throat, body and uppermost part of the inner thighs commonly occurs and should not be penalized or credited. Allowances should be made for darker colours in older cats as they generally darken with age. There must, however, always be a definite contrast between the body colour and the points. Kittens generally are lighter in colour.

    PATTERN NOTES
    Points

    The colour of the mask, tail, ears and legs should be dense and clearly defined. They should all be of the same shade. The mask will cover the entire face [except in the white pattern areas] and may be connected to the ears by tracings. Colour patterns consist of the 'preferred white' patterning and 'accepted minimum/maximum' white patterning. Amount of penalty shall be determined by the amount of deviation from the preferred pattern.

    Face

    The preferred facial pattern shall consist of a white muzzle in the shape of an inverted "V" extending from the mouth to the whisker tufts above the eyes. Acceptable minimum/maximum patterns shall allow for as little white as only a pronounced moustache or an unbroken blaze, to a "V" as broad as halfway under the eyes [directly below], no pink eyelids, and with or without a white chin. Facial white may extend downward from the chin in a white bib which may also extend the length of the stomach in a narrow white band. If white extends to the throat, the throat area normally shows a wider band of white than that of the stomach area.

    Feet, Legs & Body

    The predominant requirement is for as symmetrical a pattern as possible, with all four feet having at least white toes, simulating white shoes.
    Acceptable minimum/maximum on the front feet may consist of just toes only, to extending high on the front legs and may join to any white extending from the chin or bib down onto the chest or stomach.
    Acceptable minimum/maximum on the back feet shall consist of white from ¼ inch above the toes to as high as half way up the hock.
    White on the feet/legs should be even [i.e., both front feet/legs for the same height and both back feet/legs of the same height] and as regular as possible. Patterning should be solid white.

    Although not generally desirable, allowance may be made for areas of white in the middle of the back in “high white” exhibits of a generally high standard, but this should be limited to as small an area as possible and if present, should be symmetrical. In cases of equal quality, preference should be given to the exhibit which has no white on the back.

    Nose Leather & Paw Pads

    The nose leather and paw pads may be either pink or point colour, or a combination of the two. In case of a tie, preference should always be given to the preferred pattern.

    Balance

    A medium cat with an overall well balanced appearance. While being a long animal, the look should not be svelte, but rather suggest great power and activity as well as agility.

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    SNOWSHOE
    Standard of Excellence

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    Penalise
    • Extreme head length, muzzle either too pointed or too broad, extreme rounded or "apple headed" appearance, extreme muzzle pinch.
    • Small rounded ears.
    • Small or severely slanted eyes, round eyes. Pale or dull eye colour.
    • Long, slender neck. Body of extreme length. Sleek, dainty or small in appearance.
    • Fine boning in legs or legs of extreme length out of proportion with the rest of the body.
    • Thin or whip-like tail.
    • Unduly double or overly plush coat.
    • Irregularities or runners in or outside the pattern outlines or asymmetrical markings. Also penalize point colour, or spots inside the pattern, or lack of point colour above the white pattern on any leg. Amount of penalty shall be determined by the amount of deviation from that which is the preferred pattern.
    Withhold First Place
    • Crossed Eyes.
    • Eye colour other than Blue.
    • Incorrect number of toes.
    • Kinked tail.
    • Long coat.
    • Less than the minimum preferred facial pattern. Point colour so extensive within the pattern that the pattern is obscured. Lack of white, or white higher than the maximum described in the pattern descriptions for legs, feet and body.


    SCALE OF POINTS
    TOTAL 100 Points
    Head incl. Size, shape of Eyes, Ear shape & set 25
    Body incl. Size, shape, bone & tail 25
    Coat 5
    Condition 10
    Colour & Pattern 30
    Eye colour 5


    RECOGNISED COLOURS:
    All Traditional Himalayan Pointed Colours accepted, with white.

    ALLOWABLE OUTCROSSES:
    Siamese to NZ Shorthair for first filial cross.
    Experimental Register cats with pre-approved programme submitted to Board of Directors and Genetics Advisory Board.

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