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Exotic Shorthair

Exotic Shorthair

Known as the lazy man’s Persian, the Exotic Shorthair has the body type and easygoing nature of the Persian but without the coat length and need for daily grooming. With her thick, dense, plush short hair and round face, the Exotic Shorthair has a soft teddy bear look. This sweet feline is affectionate and loyal. The breed is athletic, fun-loving, yet also quiet and sensitive.

DID YOU KNOW? Originally the Exotic Shorthair was named Sterling due to the breed’s beautiful silver coat. They later were named Exotic Shorthair because the silver wasn’t a colour previously found in American Shorthairs, making it exotic.

The need-to-know
  • Highly active and inquisitive cat
  • Sociable and dependent cat
  • Average build cat breed
  • Requires grooming every day
  • Great family cat

Pet Card

  • Living Considerations: Not hypoallergenic, good for multi-pet households
  • Size: Medium to large, with males weighing 3 to 6.5 kilograms and females weighing 2.5 to 4.5 kilograms
  • Coat: Short, plush, thick
  • Temperament: Sweet, affectionate, loyal
  • Grooming: Yes
  • Shedding: Yes
  • Vocalisation: Quiet

Personality

The Exotic Shorthair cat has the same gentle affectionate nature as it's longhaired cousins and is not as boisterous as many shorthair breeds. Exotic cats are quite happy to be left at home on their own and to lead a quiet life.

History and Origins

Country of Origin: America/Britain

The Exotic Shorthair cat breed is in every way a shorthaired Persian cat breed, so much so that it is included in the longhair section of cat shows. In America selective breeding of American Shorthair cats and Persian longhairs was undertaken to produce a cat that looked like the Persian cat in every way except for the coat. In Britain, British Shorthair cats were crossed with longhaired Persian cats in the same way. The coat, which is of medium length, is much easier to care for but still has the huge range of colours and patterns. The Exotic Shorthair cat was first seen in the 1960s and is becoming a very popular cat.

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