Stone Cougar vs Snowshoe - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

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.

Once again the Stone Cougar, also referred to as the Mountain Cougar or Chausie, is a cat that was developed to resemble a wild cat but that is actually a domestic cat. The Stone Cougar is a rare domestic cat that is a cross between a domestic cat and the wild Jungle cat. It is referred to as a wildcat hybrid.

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.

Temperament:

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 Stone Cougar cat is thick-set with a thick tail. They are large cats too and can be anything between 7 and 13kg. The ears are small. The color’ stone’ is used to describe the color of this cat – a light fawn color. These cats can be a lot bigger than your regular cat and they are also referred to as Mountain Cougar or Jungle Curl. Because they are bigger than most domestic cats, they can take up to 3 years to reach maturity. Temperament: This is an active cat that is intelligent and adventurous. People who have kept this social cat as a pet say that he is trainable and also dog-like and even enjoys playing in water. Like many other hybrid cats, the Stone Cougar can have some endearing characteristics that tend to make it quite different from your regular cat.

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.

When it comes to bringing a Stone Cougar into your home, you need to be well prepared for such a large cat. They are also very energetic and you may be overwhelmed by his darting around. It is why so many of these hybrids land up in shelters – people don’t believe that they are different from your regular domesticated cat. Nonetheless, they can make loving pets and they like lots of attention too. Don’t just get a Stone Cougar because it is an exotic cat. Think carefully if you are ready to be totally devoted to the cat for 12 – 16 years possibly.

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 -

Amyloidosis:

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.

Dental problems:

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.

Spaying and neutering:

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.

The Stone Cougar is a fairly healthy cat and you aren’t going to have to worry about heavy vet bills if you look after him well. Remember that just like with humans, the health of a cat depends heavily on the food you give him. It needs to be high-quality food. Obesity is something you want to always watch out for as it can bring on a host of ailments of which joint problems and arthritis are ones to look out for.

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.

The Stone Cougar is easy to take care of in terms of grooming as it has a short coat. You want to brush the short coat at least once a week to remove dust and loose hairs. It isn’t a heavy shedding cat. Keep his nails short. Invest in a scratching post for him as all cats are natural scratchers. As also mentioned, the Stone Cougar is a large cat and the correct diet is of the utmost importance. There are some cat owners who like to prepare their cat’s food, but then you just have to be 100% sure that he is getting in all the vital nutrients he requires for health. The best, most high-quality commercial cat food manufacturers make sure that the cat food they manufacture is packed with everything a cat needs, with meat being the top ingredient. Remember, when in any kind of doubt with your Stone Cougar’s diet, rather speak to your vet. The Stone Cougar is prone to food allergies, and it is for this reason that you will need to provide these cats with a high-quality diet. Make sure you read the labels carefully because you want to avoid some of the junk additives added into some of the more inferior cat foods. They can often be prone to digestive issues. The Stone Cougar is an active cat and he will need to be well exercised. Such a large cat will require en outside enclosure where he can run, jump and climb without fear of him getting out and running away. If you don’t have an outdoor enclosure, the next best thing is to train him to walk on a leash. Unless you intend to be breeding, be sure to spay or neuter your Stone Cougar.