Snowshoe or Thai, which Cat Breed is best for you

There are so many beautiful colour point breeds around that it can be hard to choose which breed would be best for you. If you have made up your mind to share your home with a feline friend and are unsure which type to choose, this article compares two delightful colour point breeds, namely the Snowshoe and the Thai and it might help you make your final decision.

Snowshoe origins

The lovely Snowshoe was created in the United States during the 1960s by Dorothy Hinds Daugherty and it happened a little by accident. She found three kittens in a litter she bred that boasted having four white feet. She decided to develop a unique breed by introducing domestic cats with unusual tuxedo markings and the result is the breed we see today with distinct V"" markings on their faces and four white paws which makes the Snowshoe such a charming cat when it comes to their appearance. The bonus being that Snowshoes also boast wonderful personalities.

Thai origins

Thai cats boast an interesting origin, they are a result of crossing two Korats in 1989 which produced a pink coated kitten. A few years later more pink and white coated kittens were born to other Korats which led to breeders understanding that it was specific recessive genes that were responsible for the unusual colours. It was discovered that these genes had lain dormant for generations, but as time would tell they were responsible for creating cats with Lilac and Blue Point colouring which were to become the Thai Lilac and the Thai Blue Point.

Snowshoe care and maintenance

Snowshoes have dense, close-lying short coats with very little or no undercoat. These charming cats come in lots of different colours which includes seal point, tortie, tabby and tabby/tortie to name but a few. They are low maintenance on the grooming front, but some cats do enjoy being brushed from time to time because they enjoy the attention they are given when they are being groomed. Like other breeds they shed steadily throughout the year only more so in the Spring an Autumn.

Thai care and maintenance

Thais have single, close-lying coats too with the difference being that their coats can be short to medium in length. They come in two colours which are the Thai Blue Point and the Thai Lilac Point. They too shed steadily throughout the year and again like other cats this tends to be more in the Spring and Autumn.

Snowshoe personality

Easy-going, laid-back, affectionate, the Snowshoe thrives in a home environment and they form strong bonds with one person in particular, although always loving to other members in the home. Snowshoes are known to be quite talkative having lovely quite ""soft"" voices. They are better suited to families where at least one person stays at home when everyone else is out.

Snowshoes are clever and quickly learn how to please their owners. They love following the person they love around the home so they can keep an eye on what they are doing. Being so intelligent, Snowshoes like to be doing things and they really enjoy playing interactive games too. They are also known to get on with children of all ages and providing they have grown up with a dog in the home, they get on well together. Care should be taken when a Snowshoe is around smaller animals and pets just to be on the safe side.

Thai personality

Thais are incredibly people-oriented and thrive on being in a home environment. As such they really don't like spending too much time on their own which in short, means they best suited to homes where one person stays at home too. Like the Snowshoe, Thais form strong ties with their families and love being involved in all that goes on in their environment. Outgoing and confident, they adore exploring the great outdoors although cats should only be allowed outside if it is safe for them to do so.

They are quite vocal much like their cousins the Siamese and will happily hold long conversations with the people they love. Being intelligent cats, Thais learn how to please their owners very quickly and will follow them around the home to keep an eye on what they are doing too. They are known to be affectionate and gentle around children, but are better suited to families where the kids are slightly older. Providing a Thai has grown up with a dog in the home, they get on well together, but care should be taken when they are around smaller pets and animals although some Thais have been known to get on with pet birds and small pets they have grown up with.

Snowshoe health

The Snowshoe is known to be a healthy breed, but one condition that seems to affect the breed the most is as follows:

• Autosomal dominant Polycystic kidney disease - test available

Thai health

The Thai is known to suffer from the following health issues:

• GM1 and GM2 Gangliosidosis - DNA test available

Snowshoe life expectancy

The average life span of a Snowshoe is between 9 and 15 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate, good quality diet to suit their ages.

Thai life expectancy

The average life span of a Thai is between 12 and 15 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate, good quality diet to suit their ages.

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