Exotic shorthair Cat: A descendant of the Persian cat, very special.

With laid-back personalities and an expressive face, the exotic shorthair cat is also known as the Persian exotic cat due to their strong resemblance to that breed, but despite having similar characteristics, they are differentiated by their large eyes, short hair, and round head.

In fact, based on this, the appearance of the exotic short-haired cats Garfield's creator Jim Davis created in 1978 one of the most adorably lazy cats in the world...

So do you want to know a little more about them? Stay here

Origin of the Exotic Shorthair cat

The main - and most surprising - characteristic of the exotic shorthair cat is that this is a pet "manufactured" from different cat breeds, a "fruit of crossbreeding".

The Exotic Shorthair cat is a breed obtained by hybridization between the American Shorthair and the British Shorthair with Persian cats, which is why they have a similar build and a short coat.

During the '50s and '60s, it was common among some American breeders to cross these cats.

Jane Martinke, a cat breed judge, in her eagerness to create a new breed of cat, crossed an American Shorthair with a Persian cat, silver in color and green eyes.

But it expected the result to be different so it was considered a mistake.

In the United States the Exotic Shorthair cat came to be called the lazy man's Persian because although it has all the characteristics of the Persian, they are easier to take care of.

In 1967 it was accepted as a pure breed. The International Feline Federation (FiFé) recognized the exotic cat as a short-haired variant of the Persian in 1983, and since 1987 they can only be crossed with Persians.

Physical characteristics of the Exotic Shorthair cat

Size: between 25 - 30 cm

Weight: they weigh between 3.5 and 6 kg.

Eyes: large, round and wide apart.

Ears: small, not too open at the base, and rounded at the tip.

Coat: as their name indicates it is short, soft very abundant, thick, and slightly longer than any shorthaired cat. With colors such as white, blue, black, brown, or orange with patterns such as brindle, bicolor, Smoke, Silver shaded, or Golden among others.

Their thick undercoat makes the top coat stand out, giving them a furry appearance.

Body: they are really robust and have short and thick legs that end in big and round paws, their head is rounded, and flat with a quite wide skull, their nose is also flat, short, and wide with big and open orifices.

Their tail is short, thick, bushy, and rounded at the whore.

Life span: they live between 13 to 15 years on average.

The character of the Exotic Shorthair cat

The Exotic Shorthair cat have a very special character, sociable, and quite independent, they are more playful and more active, without being a whirlwind like other cat breeds.

They adapt to all kinds of environments so they can be ideal for single people, couples, or families with children and have no problems with strangers.

Even so, it is said that this breed chooses preferably one person from the family group, with whom the bond will be stronger.

They also get along well with other cats, even getting along well with some dogs, especially if they have been raised together since puppies.

They do not like to be alone, on the contrary, they are very attached to their owner, and enjoy being involved in daily activities.

They love to be petted and groomed and are not noisy in fact, their meow is soft and relaxed.

Exotic Shorthair Cat Care

• Regular brushing will be enough to remove dead hair and help maintain their natural oils.
• Since their face is flat, their tear ducts are particularly sensitive, so it is necessary to periodically wipe their eyes and the sides of their nose with moistened and, if possible, sterilized gauze.
• Their ears should be checked regularly to prevent otitis.
• Their teeth should be brushed weekly to avoid periodontitis.

Exotic Shorthair cat nutrition

This breed tends to put on a lot of weight due to their lack of activity and partly due to their genetic disposition.

In their case, the best thing to do is to give the, a diet rich in animal protein, avoiding feed with cereals or proteins of low nutritional value. It will also be necessary to feed them with adequate amounts according to their weight.

Exotic shorthair cats are big eaters, so you must not give in to their demands.

If you decide to give homemade food, it should be periodically supplemented with mineral and vitamin complexes prescribed by veterinarians.

Due to their predisposition to renal problems it is important to have fresh water available next to their food so that they can access it at any time.

Health of the exotic shorthair cat

Because they are the result of crossbreeding with a Persian cat, they are prone to certain diseases or conditions such as ophthalmologic and respiratory disorders.

Their flat face causes them to suffer from excessive tearing and spots near the eyes, they are also prone to nasal flaring, oily seborrhea, dental malocclusions, ringworm, and polycystic kidney disease.

These cats are also relatively prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is due to incorrect development of the heart, as well as being prone to renal failure (called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease), a hereditary condition typical of the Persian breed, in which cysts are produced in the kidney and can lead to renal failure.

Also Dystocia, consisting of slow and laborious deliveries, which may be due to the large head size of Exotic Shorthair kittens. They may require veterinary assistance.

Excessive breeding can worsen this problem, so be sure to ask the breeder before bringing home your Exotic Shorthair kittens.

The Exotic cat is a very special breed

Exotic shorthairs are ideal for all types of families, you just need to know their daily care and have time available as they are not good at spending time alone. Even so, many owners point out how adaptable this breed is to new situations and, in most cases, they will adapt to your lifestyle and not the other way around.