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The Ultimate Guide to Hygiene Essentials for Snowshoe Cats: Dental Care and Claw Trimming

Good to know: general information, not veterinary advice. Read our disclaimer.
Brushing a Snowshoe cat’s teeth with a small cat toothbrush

Short answer: a Snowshoe's short, close-lying coat is easy to keep, so hygiene time is best spent on the teeth and claws. Brush the teeth with a cat-specific toothpaste in short, calm, reward-based sessions, and trim claws with cat clippers, cutting a couple of millimetres short of the pink quick. Go slowly, never force your cat, and ask your vet for help if either job proves difficult.

The coat first, briefly

Your Cat describes the Snowshoe's coat as short and close-lying with a slight sheen, low-maintenance, and says occasional brushing helps during moulting. VetWest suggests about a weekly brush to remove loose hair and dirt. That is enough for most Snowshoes; the GCCF adds that most cats of the breed groom themselves unless they are unwell or stressed. A cat that stops grooming is worth a vet check. Our short-coat brushing guide for the Singapura covers technique that works for any short-haired cat.

Dental care

FirstVet explains that brushing helps prevent tartar, gum disease and bad breath, and that cat toothpaste contains enzymes that break down plaque before it hardens into tartar. For a fuller picture of dental disease and its warning signs, see our cat dental care guide.

How to start brushing

  1. Choose a tool your cat accepts. FirstVet lists a finger, a finger brush, a small pet toothbrush or a used child's toothbrush.
  2. Use cat toothpaste only. It comes in poultry and peanut butter flavours. Avoid human toothpaste, which can cause stomach upset.
  3. Pick a calm moment, not straight after play or exercise.
  4. Start small. Let your cat lick a little toothpaste first, then touch the outside of the upper molars. You do not need to brush every surface every time.
  5. Be consistent. Use the same spot at home and the same cue word each time.
  6. Reward. Praise your cat, offer some petting or ear scratches, then give a treat kept just for dental and grooming time.

The page does not set a frequency, so ask your vet what suits your cat. Many owners aim for a short session most days, but any brushing is better than none. If your cat will not tolerate it, your vet can suggest alternatives, and a professional dental check can find problems below the gumline.

Claw care

The PDSA explains how to clip claws safely. Cats have 18 claws: five on each front paw and four on each back paw. Here are its key points:

  • Use cat-specific clippers. Avoid scissors and human clippers, which can crush the claw and cause splitting.
  • Wait until your cat is calm, and have treats ready. A helper stroking your cat can make it easier.
  • Hold the paw gently and press the top of a toe to expose the claw.
  • Find the quick. It is the pink inner part with blood vessels and nerves, usually easy to see. Cut a couple of millimetres short of it.
  • Remember the dew claws on the front paws.
  • Reward your cat afterwards.

If you cut the quick, the PDSA suggests dipping the claw in cornflour or pressing on cotton wool until the bleeding stops. Never force your cat to have its claws cut; if you struggle, ask your vet or a vet nurse to show you. Our claw trimming guide has more detail, and giving your cat a post helps too: see why cats scratch furniture.

Ears and eyes

Look at the ears every week or two. Healthy ears are clean with little visible wax. Redness, a strong smell, dark debris or head shaking should be checked by a vet, and you should not put anything into the ear canal; see our guide to cleaning ears safely. Squinting, discharge or redness in the eyes also needs veterinary advice; our eye health guide lists the signs.

Make it easy: build a routine

  1. Handle your Snowshoe's paws, mouth and ears from kittenhood, with treats.
  2. Keep sessions short and stop on a good note.
  3. Use the same place and time each week.
  4. Use reward-based methods, as in our training guide, which applies to any breed.

When to see the vet

  • Bad breath, drooling, red gums or reluctance to eat.
  • A claw that is torn, bleeding or growing into the pad.
  • Head shaking, ear discharge or a smell from the ears.
  • Any hygiene task that your cat resists strongly or that causes obvious pain.

Mention these at your yearly check-up or sooner.

Quick checklist

  • Brush the coat weekly and during moulting.
  • Use cat toothpaste in short, rewarded sessions.
  • Clip with cat clippers, short of the quick.
  • Check ears and eyes every week or two.
  • This is general information, not veterinary advice.

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Sources

Further reading

Reminder: Kittyslovers (The Best Kitty Corner) is an independent blog. Our authors are not veterinarians and this article has not been reviewed by a veterinary professional. Always consult a licensed veterinarian about your cat's health, diet, supplements and medication. Found an error? Let us know.