| Country of Origin: | United States |
| Colors: | White, Red, Cream, Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Silver, Golden Cameo, |
| Average Size: | Tortoiseshell, Bluecream, Brown, Lilac Cream, Calico |
| Life Span: | weight: 7-14 lbs ( 3- 6.3 kg) Length: Medium to Large |
| Coat: | 12-14 years |
| Personality: | Short |
| Characteristics: | An exciting, fun cat, does not mind changes in routine and is generally friendly with anyone and everyone. |
| Energy: Calm Talkative: Little Kid Friendly: No Allergic: No |
The Exotic Shorthair cat has a very exotic look and shorthaired fur, or in other words – this is a shorthaired version the long-haired Persian cat! These cats have a compact body structure of long-haired cats, along with a flat face and “teddy bear ears”, but also quite original and thick double coat which is not even long neither is very short, but still needs to be combed twice a week to keep it in top condition. Beautiful exotic shorthair cats are a rather new breed and are still quite rare, partly because many litters have long-haired kittens.
Over the years, breeders in North America crossed the American Shorthair cat with Persian cats. In the 1960’s was decided that should be specified a name of the new breed of cats that have mixed ancestry – longhaired Persian and American Shorthair. As a result, parents of Exotic Shorthair cats must be either a long-haired/Persian and American shorthair, two Exotic Shorthair, or a long-haired/Persian and an Exotic Shorthair.
No matter what kind of a mixture from the mentioned 3 it is, the result is a cat that has a rounded shape of head (from ears to mouth), perfect for cuddling! However, below the cuddly soft hair there are powerful muscles that give the curves to this cats breed.
Exotic Shorthair is often described as “big” as it has a great and tight body and short but strong legs. The head is large and rounded with full cheeks and nose, which is shorter than with the British and American shorthair cats.
The Exotic Shorthair cats also inherited some of the “bad” characteristics of long-haired/Persian cats, such as blockage of tear ducts, narrow nostrils and problems with teeth, etc. Nonetheless, like many hybrids, the Exotic Shorthair cat is very durable and has the best combination of parental traits, making it the affectionate and relaxed cat.
Exotic striped cats can be classic, tiger or pointed – unlike the long-haired/Persian in which are recognizable only the classic patterns.
