Siamese 1 & judge Louis Coste

Siamese 1 & judge Louis Coste, a photo by quatre mains on Flickr.

The photographer wrote the above title, which is incorrect (no criticism intended) but this cat has white spotting on the legs and face. That makes this cat a Snowshoe or a Seychellois. As this cat was in a cat show in Europe (it seems to me), I presume that this is a Seychellois. A rare cat.

I like the photo as it shows the relative small or "petite" size of this cat and the cat show judge strikes a typical pose.

Snowshoe Siamese Cats

Snowshoe Siamese cats are in fact Snowshoe cats. This is just an alternative non-technical name.

Snowshoe cat

Photo copyright Helmi Flick

I have a nice page on Snowshoe cats so I won't go over the same ground her save to provide and overview and something on the genetics.

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The Seychellois is a similar looking but rarer cat breed by the way:

Seychellois cat photo © Gunnel Hedberg

The Snowshoe is a pointed blue eyed cat with feet that appear they have been dipped in white paint ("gloves"). There is great contrast between the dark points and white fur on the limbs and face. The greatest contrast is between seal points and the white.

This is a Siamese hybrid: a cross between the Siamese and bicolor (two colors) American Shorthair. It dates back to 1960.

Selective breeding resulted in the familiar and interesting V shape of the white fur against the dark points on the face. This is not always present and is not obligatory. I am sure it is very difficult to produce in breeding. The ears should not have any white.

The body shape is not as slender as the modern Siamese and is described as "semi-foreign-type". The coat is short.

The "gloves" are produced by the "heterzygous expression of the white spotting also called the piebald gene S". Ss produces white toes and "small streaks on the face and stomach".