The Exotic Shorthair cat is the short-haired version of the Persian cat. The exotic is comparable to the Persian cat in many aspects, including the temperament, the shape of the nose, and flat face.
This breed is the result of selective breeding using the best American short hairs and the best Persian long hairs. The Exotic Shorthair first appeared in the 1960s and became a very popular cat.
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Exotic Shorthair Cat Characteristics
The Exotic Shorthair has all the requirements of the Persian breed, except for the coat.
- Head: The head is oval, solid with a very broad skull. The forehead is round, and its cheeks are round and full, with a short muzzle. The nose is short and wide with a pronounced stop. The chin is strong, and the jaws powerful.
- Ears: The ears are small, rounded at the tip, not too open at the base.
- Eyes: The eyes are large, round, and well separated, with pure and deep color.
- Neck: Short and thick.
- Body: The body is medium in size, compact against the ground. The chest is broad, and the shoulders are massive. Its weight ranges between 7.7 – 13.2 pounds. (3.5 – 6 kilograms).
- Legs: The legs are short, straight, and large.
- Tail: The tail is short and thick with a rounded tip.
- Coat: Short-haired, but slightly longer than other short-haired breeds. Dense, fluffy, and upright hair.
- Color: The breed comes in all 96 colors of Persians. Including Black, white, cream, blue, Himalayan, and tortoiseshell with the appropriate eye color.
- Life expectancy: The Exotic short-hair life expectancy is 10 to 15 years.
Exotic Shorthair Health
The Exotic Shorthair cat; is a robust and healthy cat and does not have specific health problems. However, it is advisable to have an annual health checkup starting at the age of eight or nine to check the teeth and the function of the liver and kidneys.
Exotic Shorthair Temperament
The Exotic shorthair has a soft, calm personality similar to Persians but are generally more active than their long-haired ancestors.
These cats are curious and playful, friendly with children, other cats, and dogs, but they do not like to be left alone and need the presence of their owner.
They are very affectionate and loyal and make excellent lap cats. Due to their calm nature, they are ideal apartment cats.
Care and Grooming
Unlike the high-maintenance Persian cat, the Exotic can keep its coat tidy with little human help, although weekly brushing and combing is necessary to remove loose hair and reduce shedding and hairballs.
As with other flat-faced animals, the tear ducts of exotics are prone to overflowing and can moisten and stain the face. Cleaning the cat face with a cloth dampened in water or with a commercial cat eye cleaner will prevent the stains.
This breed reaches maturity around two years of age and enters puberty quite late.
Feeding
The Exotic Shorthair is not particularly active and can be prone to obesity, so she needs special attention to its diet.
To maintain her ideal weight, she needs approximately 70 Kcals of food per kg of body weight.