British Longhair is originated from United Kingdom but Snowshoe is originated from United States. Both British Longhair and Snowshoe are having almost same weight. Both British Longhair and Snowshoe has almost same life span. Both British Longhair and Snowshoe has same litter size. British Longhair requires Moderate Maintenance. But Snowshoe requires Low Maintenance
The British Longhair cat hails from Great Britain. The cat is a longer-haired variety of the British Shorthair.
These British Shorthairs were interbred with imported long-haired varieties with the idea being to bring about a cat that was more compact and stout and with a rounder face. Today the British Longhair is an established longhair breed in its own right.
The Snowshoe is a short-haired, natural breed of cat. It is a bit similar in looks to the Siamese cat.
It was in the late 1960's that Dorothy Hinds-Daugherty from the USA devoted her time to developing a breed which was a mix of Siamese cat and American Shorthair. There was much enthusiasm for the new breed – the mesmerizing blue eyes and the lean, lithe, athletic body, .
This rare cat has been approved for championship status. In 1982 the Snowshoe was approved for championship status by the CFF and later by the American Cat Fanciers Association in 1990.
This beautiful cat has strict standards laid down for breeding.
The beautiful British Longhair cat is a medium-sized feline, leaning towards being a large cat with semi-long hair.
The cat, whether males or females can weigh between 4 and 8kg. It is robust and muscular with round paws and legs of medium length. The ears are smallish and round at the tips.
The color of the eyes can be different - browns, greens, blue, and grey. The colors of the coat can be blue, white, black, grey, calico, tabby, bi-color and tortoiseshell. The coat can be a solid color or it can be in different patterns. The fur is always medium length and silky with an undercoat.
The British Longhair has much the same personality as the British Shorthair – being calm, amicable cats who appreciate their human owners.
They’re adaptable cats too and are willing to get along with any other pets in the home as well. They’re playful and affectionate with their owners but don’t particularly like being held for too long.
Even though this is a docile cate, it is intelligent and will require mental stimulation. You’ll need to invest in a few ‘intelligent’ type of toys to keep your cat physically and mentally active. Take a look at the kinds of games where your cat will be required to ‘hunt’ for his food.
The Snowshoe is a medium-sized cat, with the body being longer than many other cat breeds.
A distinctive feature with him is the white paws.
The cat can weigh between 5 to 7 kg. The legs of the cat are long and strong and the medium-length tail gradually tapers to a tip. The ears are fairly large with rounded tips. The smooth, short coat is white, brown, tan, and black and without an undercoat. He reminds you of a sweet treat - hints of chocolate and coffee shades with vanilla or light cream. He is pure white at birth, but after a few weeks, the coat undergoes a significant color change.
The face, ears, tail, and legs are darker in color than the rest of the body. The eyes of all Snowshoe cats are a sky blue.
Snowshoes are friendly, docile, and affectionate. They lap up the company of their human family, getting on well with children and other pets. They tend to be shy of strangers.
The Snowshoe is a fairly vocal cat and will let you know when he is hungry or he just wants to talk to you.
These cats are intelligent too and he can be taught a few tricks. He is very sociable and doesn’t like to be left on his own for long periods of time. Ideally, these cats should have a constant companion. They are active cats and like to be busy. You’ll need to spend some time with your Snowshoe as these cats love fun and games.
The British Longhair makes an awesome pet and can live happily with children, other dogs, and cats and all of his human family.
He isn’t a cat that wants to be picked up too often – he is independent but is willing and loving towards his humans.
For the friendship he offers, you’ll want to reward him for the joy he brings by providing well for him.
People who have already owned Snowshoes will tell you that they make splendid pets. They’re loyal and devoted to their human family, usually choosing a favorite person.
The fact that the Snowshoe is social and becomes so attached to people, makes him an awesome pet but just because he is fairly docile and amicable doesn’t mean he should be left alone for hours at a time. You’ll hear him voicing his displeasure at this.
He is certainly not a solitary cat, but an affectionate and most extraordinary cat.
These beautiful cats can be prone to obesity if kept as an indoor cat only and a cat that doesn't get enough exercise.
Obesity, an accumulation of excess body weight, is a preventable disease. It is necessary to prevent this obesity as it can reduce your pet’s life expectancy. Fat tissue is active, secreting inflammatory hormones and creating oxidative stress on the body’s tissue, and this is precisely what contributes to so many diseases.
The British Longhair cat can also be prone to renal polycystosis. This disease is where many pockets of fluid or cysts form in the kidney and if they grow large over time they can actually interfere with kidney function and this can bring on kidney failure.
Your Snowshoe may well be a healthy breed, but every cat is prone to some illnesses. We look at some cat diseases you need to be aware of -
This is a feline disease found more often in Siamese cat breeds. The cat develops this protein disease between 1 TO 5 years of age. Amyloidosis is when there is an abnormal deposit of the protein complex amyloid into the liver, spleen and kidneys, resulting in bacterial infections, inflammation, and cancer.
Your Snowshoe’s teeth are particularly prone to gingivitis which is inflammation of the gums. It can lead to more serious conditions if left unattended. Other dental problems to watch for are bleeding gums, broken teeth, and swelling of the gums.
Have your Snowshoe spayed or neutered. Spaying or neutering decreases the likelihood of some cancers. Both males and females are less likely to roam too, making them more domesticated. The cat is less likely to spray urine as a territorial gesture too. Spaying or neutering is imperative if you want to avoid your cats being parents.
Because of the long hair, the British Longhair is going to require brushing as the coat can easily become matted, particularly as the coat thickens in preparation for winter.
You’ll need to brush the hair once a week, but perhaps more in peak shedding times. A gentle but firm brushing keeps the cat’s fur and skin in good condition.
Have your pet spayed and neutered to avoid unwanted kittens.
Take your pet to the vet as soon as he is unwell. He is part of your family now and must be treated as such.
Provide your pet with human companionship especially if you buy one of the more social cats.
If your cat is an indoor pet, provide him with a litter box ad be prepared to clean it every day.
Provide a clean, dry, comfortable bed in a quiet area.
Provide your cat with stimulating toys.
Vaccinate your cat against the major feline diseases. Also, have your cat dewormed.
In terms of nutritional requirements, make sure that your British Longhair gets the very best cat food there is, whether you provide him with homemade food or you give him some of the excellent commercially manufactured cat foods there are.
There are wet- and dry foods and it's for your furry friend to decide which one he prefers.
Learn to read labels and make sure your cat is getting foods high in protein, after all, your cat is a carnivore.
Be sure that the food has lots of vitamins and minerals for his health. A cat also needs a constant supply of fresh, cool water.
Provide your Snowshoe with the best cat food that there is. Always be aware of excess weight with your cat and avoid it at all costs. Extra weight is an influential factor in the development of diseases such as diabetes and arthritis.
A proper diet for your Snowshoe will ensure that your vet expenses are less. The nutritional needs of your Snowshoe will be protein, minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and enzymes. Your cat is a carnivore and his food needs to be high in meat and protein. He isn't going to require any carbohydrates. Speak to your vet about the best food for your feline friend.
Provide your Snowshoe with a constant supply of fresh, cool water.
Your Snowshoe will appreciate some cooked meat once in a while. Some tasty tuna now and then which is rich in omega-3s will also go down well.
Cats are fastidious about cleanliness so ensure his litter box is always clean. Scoop out the feces every day.
The Snowshoe has a low maintenance short coat, and a weekly brush will keep his coat shiny and glossy and he’ll love the attention this brushing session provides.
Cats like to scratch, so provide your Snowshoe with a scratching post as this will save your furniture from being used as a scratching post.
The Snowshoe cat is regarded as a low maintenance cat in terms of his short coat which needs to be brushed once a week. Brushing the hair will remove dead, loose hair and distribute skin oils to keep the coat in tip-top condition.