Exotic Shorthair

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, dense and plush

A heavy-boned, compact cat built like a Persian, with short sturdy legs, big round paws and a short tail. The head is round and broad with full cheeks, a short snub nose, large round eyes set wide apart and small, low-set ears. The coat is short but very thick, with a soft, dense undercoat that makes it stand away from the body and gives the breed its teddy-bear look.241

Personality what they are like

Calm, sweet and devoted without being demanding. Exotics like to trail their people from room to room and ask for attention with a look rather than a meow. Mostly laid-back, but a bit livelier than the Persian and prone to sudden bursts of playful zooming. Usually good with children and other animals, though they may be shy with newcomers at first.23645

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Low to moderate. They enjoy short play sessions on the ground, such as batting toys, chasing catnip mice or using food-dispensing toys, rather than high climbing and leaping. Regular gentle play helps keep them fit.456

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Far easier than a Persian, but the dense undercoat still needs regular combing with a metal comb, weekly at minimum and more often during seasonal shedding (some guides advise daily). A bath can help lift loose undercoat in moulting season. Wipe around the eyes and face daily and check the ears regularly.2546

Home where they are happiest

Well suited to indoor life in a calm home, ideally with safe access to a secure garden or enclosed catio.4

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete, animal-protein-based cat food. Kittens eat three to four meals a day; adults do well on several small portions. Because the breed is fairly inactive, portions should be measured to keep a healthy weight.56

Company who they like around

A people-focused cat that prefers company and does best in homes where someone spends plenty of time with it, though it can cope with ordinary working hours.542

The story where it all began

In the 1950s some American Shorthair breeders quietly crossed their cats with Persians to improve body type and bring in silver colouring and green eyes, with Russian Blue and Burmese also used at times. The kittens had short coats but Persian-like bodies and faces, which caused friction in the show hall. In 1966 CFA judge and American Shorthair breeder Jane Martinke proposed treating these cats as a new breed. It was named Exotic Shorthair, partly because many were shaded silver or chinchilla, colours then unknown in shorthair breeds. CFA granted championship status in 1967, TICA followed in 1979 and FIFe in 1986. In 1987 CFA closed the breed to shorthair outcrosses, leaving the Persian as the only allowed outcross, so the Exotic today is essentially a short-coated Persian. In Britain the breed was also developed from Persian and British Shorthair crosses.1234

Recognised by the official bits

CFA

Breed established in 1966 and granted championship status in 19671

TICA

Championship status since June 1979; part of the Persian Breed Group with the Persian and Himalayan3

FIFe

Fully recognised, Category 1, breed code EXO (recognised 1986 per Wikipedia); standard last revised 20247

GCCF

Has a GCCF breed standard1