Exotic shorthair
The exotic shorthair is a Persian in a short coat.
It was created accidentally in the 1950s when American shorthair breeders outcrossed to Persians to improve type, and the resulting short-coated kittens were recognised as their own breed in 1966.
It has the Persian's cobby body, broad round head and flat face, with a dense plush coat that stands off the body but needs a fraction of the work. The temperament comes from the Persian too: quiet, placid and undemanding, though the American shorthair ancestry leaves most exotics a little more playful than their long-coated relatives.
- Origin
- United States, 1950s
- Size
- 3–6.5 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Short, very dense and plush
- Temperament
- Placid, quiet, gently playful, indoor-inclined
- Grooming
- Twice weekly
Related: American shorthair · Persian
3 exotic shorthair photos, newest first
Living with a exotic shorthair
Twice-weekly combing keeps the dense coat from packing down — far less than a Persian but not nothing.
The flat face is the real consideration. Shortened tear ducts overflow, so most exotics need their eyes wiped daily, and the flatter the muzzle the more likely breathing is compromised, particularly in heat. Moderate-faced lines avoid much of this and are worth seeking out.
Polycystic kidney disease is the significant inherited risk and has a reliable DNA test — ask to see the parents' results. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dental crowding also occur.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual cats vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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