Exotic Shorthair Cats: Loving Companions with Charm

The Cat Exotic Shorthair is a fairly young breed. It has been created by man by crossing a Persian with a British Shorthair and the aim is to create a cat very similar to the Persian but with short hair, which is much less demanding in terms of grooming.

And it was precisely in the United States that a selection was started in the 1950s to create a short-haired Persian cat. Since the kittens born from this selection were not only short-haired but also very sociable and affectionate, many Persian breeders started to breed this new breed, which was called Exotic Shorthair.

This cat is also jokingly called ‘the lazy man's Persian’. They do not need much attention as far as their coat is concerned and are cats that like to lounge a lot, although play plays an important part in their day.

Character of the Cat Exotic Shorthair

The Cat Exotic Shorthair has a fairly complex personality. It is quite independent in nature, but very attached to people. As already mentioned, he is lazy and therefore likes to spend hours sleeping on a sofa or on his human's lap. Do you know the cat Garfield from the famous comic strip? Garfield is a fat, lazy and opportunistic cat. His main occupations are lounging in front of the TV, eating in large quantities and playing with a teddy bear.

I think it was Exotic Shorthair that suggested Garfield, although in truth our kitty is not exactly like that. He likes to take an active part in family life and activities, from which he never shies away. Strangely enough, it is the males of the species who are characterised by a more developed sensitivity than the female, who is considered somewhat more aloof.

It is very sociable, loves both young and old and has so much patience that it is often chosen for pet-therapy programmes, as it is very easy to train and handle. It does not get along well with other pets, so it is a good idea to try to modify this natural predisposition of his through an early form of socialisation. He is not afraid of strangers, so much so that it is best to keep this kitten constantly at home because he trusts everyone.

It seeks and solicits with meows contact with its chosen human, of whom it becomes the shadow, but at the same time it is never very intrusive even though it likes to be cuddled and admired very much.

Appearance of the Cat Exotic Shorthair

As soon as you see him, you think of a placid and sly cat, rather robust and well-rounded. In fact, its build is stocky and muscular, with short paws and a strong structure. The neck is massive and short and the tail not very long and thick.

The head is rather massive but softened by an evident roundness. The nose is characteristic as in Persians, i.e. flattened and short.

The eyes are large and somewhat protruding; most subjects have orange or copper eyes, the white ones may also have blue or uneven eyes, i.e. of two different colours. The ears are small, have a rounded tip and are well spaced.

The coat of the Exotic Shorthair is short, but very thick and soft. Underneath its thick fur this cat has a thick undercoat, which does not make the fur stick to the body, giving it the characteristic ‘plush’ look. The colour of the fur can be two-tone, shaded, smoked, striped tabby, colourpoint.

The Exotic is a medium-sized cat, the male can weigh up to 7-8 kg.

Care and health of the Cat Exotic Shorthair

This cat has a life expectancy of 13 to 15 years. As far as health is concerned, particular attention must be paid to the care of the coat, as it can suffer from excessive shedding as a result of skin disorders such as oily seborrhoea. Another point requiring attention are the eyes, as they are slanted and protruding and tend to tear frequently, so they should be cleaned almost daily with a gauze soaked in lukewarm water. It would also be good to get him used to bathing from an early age, at least three or four times a year.

As far as the hair is concerned, it is sufficient to brush it a couple of times a week to remove dead hair. A little more during the moulting period.

Lastly, as regards diet, given their sedentary lives, they tend to eat more than they need and thus develop obesity problems.