Cat Breeds: Exotic Shorthair Cat

Exotic Shorthair Cat is not the most exotic cat you can find today. These cats are closely related to Persians and still today the kittens which have longer coat can be registered as Persian cats by many associations.

In early 1960s breeders of American Shorthair cats were out-crossing their breed to Persians to strengthen their own breed. Resulting cats did not resemble American Shorthairs, they looked more like Persians without all that fur.

Many cat lovers instantly loved the new look but obviously this was not what American Shorthair breeders had in mind. On the early litters some of the cats were registered as American Shorthairs but many went under the new exciting breed name The Exotic Shorthair. By the 1965 breeders of these "shorthaired Persians" mixed Persians also with other shorthaired breeds like Burmese and British Shorthairs.

1967 CFA formally accepted the Exotic Shorthair as a breed. Most famous early Exotic Shorthair catteries include New Dawn Cattery and Lion House Cattery. Until 1980 only Persian or American Shorthair cat coloring was acceptable but today even ACFA and CFA approve pointed colors in Exotic Shorthair cats. TICA also regognizes sepia and mink tones.

The Exotic Shorthairs are sweet and quite mild mannered cats like their Persian cousins. They are tad more active due to crossing to different active short haired breeds but still very easy cats to have as a house pet.

Like Persians these cats should be heavily boned and well balanced with that same sweet expression and large round eyes set wide apart.

Top of the list of medical concerns in the Exotic Shorthair cat is asymmetrical jaw. This can affect the bite and lead to eating difficulties and dental problems. They also have some sinus problems, tear duct problems and several eye problems. Most of these problems will surface by careless inbreeding or overbreeding for the extreme look.