Siamese vs Snowshoe

Verdict

Both are pointed, short-coated and dislike long hours alone. The thing that decides it is voice and energy. The Siamese is slender, active and very talkative. The Snowshoe has a gentle, mellow nature, a more moderate voice and the white feet that give it its name, and it is bred from Siamese and bicolour American Shorthairs. The Siamese is also easier to find and has a recognised show history. Choose the Siamese for a talker, the Snowshoe for a calmer pointed cat.

Choose the Siamese if

• You want the most talkative cat, with a voice score of 5 against 3.
• You want the more active, clever cat; it scores 4 for energy and 5 for intelligence.
• You want a common breed, a CFA championship breed since 1906.
• You want to ask your vet about progressive retinal atrophy and amyloidosis.

Choose the Snowshoe if

• You want a calmer cat, with energy at 3 against 4.
• You want white feet on a pointed cat.
• You want a mellow companion for a household with children or other pets; it scores 4 for both, and 4 for apartments.
• You accept a rare breed that the CFA does not recognise.

Where they are alike

Both are short-coated cats with grooming scores of 1 and shedding scores of 2. Each does badly with long hours alone, scoring 1 or 2 for independence.