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| Alaskan Snow Cat | ||
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| Information | ||
| Origin |
United States | |
| Common Nicknames |
Persian Somali, Snow Cat | |
| Cat (Felis catus) | ||
| List of Cat Breeds | ||
The Alaskan Snow Cat was an experimental domesticated breed derived from the Somali; this time crossed to silver Persians. It was created in the 1990s by several breeders throughout the United States, and breeding was concentrated around Minnesota and Florida among this breed’s very development. The breeders were working towards creating a breed standard and gaining recognition of the breed. They aimed to produce a cat with the grace and beauty of the Somali, but with a heavier body and head through outcrossing to Persians.
Information[]
[1]The desired colors included a very pale or white underbelly, while the body color was brown, rust (Somali red) or black (Somali ruddy), and most had residual dark banding on the legs and tail. The most desirable color of the Alaskan Snow cat was a silver-grey with darker grey banding and a white underbelly and throat ruff - a colour familiar to European breeders of Somalis, but not then accepted in American Somalis, as "silver series". In terms of colour, breeders were reinventing the wheel. In terms of conformation, they heading along the same path as the Burmilla and or, Asian group of cats.
The Alaskan Snow Cat, due to its Persian ancestor, was bred to be stronger and more stable than the Somali. It was intended to be a good family pet; hardier than the Somali and more able to roughhouse with dogs and small children. Their cobbiness and weight meant they were less agile or acrobatic than the Somali. While they couldn't jump as nimbly or as high as A Somali, they were good climbers and liked high vantage points such as the tops of cupboards or bookshelves (and even curtains that could support their weight). From the Persian they got a laid back temperament, but they disliked loud or sudden noises. They were people-oriented and enjoyed the company of other family pets as well as the company of their own breed. However, it was difficult to standardize the look and color of the breed and it probably lost out to the silver series Somalis and the Burmilla, Asian cats whose traits were similar and which were already established breeds outside of North America.