Persians are one of the most recognizable and popular breeds of cat, but they are also one of highest-maintenance. That luxurious coat comes at a price. Since their debut in the 1960s, a breed has been gaining in popularity that compromises between the appearance and personality of a Persian and the ease of grooming a short coat. The Exotic Shorthair, sometimes called simply the Exotic, now regularly takes a spot as one of the Cat Fanciers’ Associations’s (CFA) most popular breeds (1). There was a time when the cat fancy community was not a fan of this cute and cuddly cat, however.
History
The idea of breeding a shorthaired Persian had been around for a while, and at least one breeder was working on just that in the 1950s when another breeding plan accidentally arrived at that goal (2). American Shorthair breeders wanted to introduce the coloration of the silver, green-eyed Persian into their breed. However, when they crossed their American Shorthairs to the silver Persians, the beautiful silver kittens looked more like shorthaired Persians than American Shorthairs. They forged ahead anyway, but other American Shorthair breeders were not pleased at how the hybridization changed the breed (3). They wanted any American Shorthairs with evidence of hybridization to be barred from the cat fancy, but a CFA judged named Jane Martinke had another idea (3). In 1966, she petitioned the CFA to induct the hybrid cats as a new breed (2).
Originally, the idea was the call the breed “Sterling” and only accept the silver coloration. After all, that was what the breeders had been going for. However, the CFA chose to allow all colors and patterns, and the name Exotic was chosen instead. At first, breeders of these new cats needed to make crosses between Persians and shorthairs regularly to get the shorthaired trait into their stock, but because the trait for short hair is dominant, once they had shorthaired cats, they would breed to Persians or other Exotics. At first, American Shorthairs, Russian Blues, and Burmese were a big part of the background, as all were used to bring in short hair. That, and many established Persian breeders refused to let their cats be used in this new breed in the beginning (2).
As Exotics grew in popularity, Persian breeders warmed to them, and with the short hair trait established, most outcrosses were made to Persians (2). Over time, Exotics came to resemble Persians more and more strongly. Now, the breed standard for Exotics is the same as that for Persians, except for the coat. This causes some cat fancy controversy about how to classify Exotics, and they have been shuffled around a bit over the years.
Breed Characteristics
Exotics are a brachycephalic breed. Brachycephaly means “short head.” Brachycephalic animals have a shorter skull than normal, resulting in the characteristic smushed-face appearance we associated with Pugs and Persians, for example, although the condition can occur in other animals, including humans.
The Exotic breed is a medium-sized cat, but its fur and its build make it look larger. It has a stocky body and round face with small ears. The legs are short and thick. Combined with their flat face, this gives Exotics a somewhat teddy bear-like appearance. Their plush coat only adds to the illusion. Like Persians, Exotics have a double coat. This means that their undercoat is unusually thick, making them very fluffy (3). However, because their fur is short, it’s a very different kind of fluff than the incredible mane of a Persian. The coat on an Exotic is dense and soft, standing out from their body.
If these cats look so cute you just want to pick them up and squeeze them, well, maybe don’t do that, but they actually might let you give them a hug. Exotics are very affectionate, especially toward their person or people. These are very much lap cats, mellow and snuggly. They tend to be pretty laidback and friendly, so they often do well with children and other pets. This is not an athletic breed, but they are known for being playful. So Fluffy probably won’t run up and down your stairs for two straight hours, but they would love to bat around a crinkle ball or hunt a wand toy. Despite being quite social, Exotics are not very vocal at all, and when they do speak they have a quiet voice.
Some people say that Exotics are more active than Persians, and some say that the typical breed personality is really the same. Regardless, due to their affectionate nature, Exotics can be prone to separation anxiety (4). Making sure they have an animal companion they get along with might help prevent that. If not, separation anxiety can be managed, although the approach differs depending upon the cat (4).
Exotic Life
Part of the popularity of the breed is that Exotics are fairly low-maintenance as purebred cats go. In fact, they’ve gained the nickname “the lazy man’s Persian.” They’re calm, they’re adaptable, and they don’t require a lot of grooming. That plush coat isn’t prone to mats and tangles, but weekly brushing is still recommended to remove any dead hair. Compared to the daily grooming routine needed by a Persian, it’s much less of a commitment. Like all brachycephalic breeds, Exotics need to have their faces wiped clean every day to prevent tear stains and infections in their wrinkles.
Cats are usually concerned with being warm, but because of that extra-thick coat and flat face, Exotics are actually more likely to overheat. They need to have places where they can cool down and may even appreciate ice cubes in their water. Any surface that tends to stay cool can serve as a chill-out spot.
As with all breeds, there are some known health concerns to be aware of. Brachycephaly can cause problems all by itself. The cats have the same amount of tissue but less space to put it, resulting in narrowed airways that may lead to a variety of respiratory problems (4). Cats that have serious complications may need surgery to remove excess tissue that is causing them problems (4). Brachycephalic cats also have a higher risk of eye disease and jaw deformities (5).
There are a few diseases that appear with greater frequency specifically in Exotics (and sometimes also in Persians). They have an increased risk of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common form of heart disease in cats. The breed also has an increased incidence of hip dysplasia, which leads to early arthritis in the hip joints (4). Exotics may have polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PKD was first discovered in Persians, so it’s no surprise that the disease found its way into Exotics.
Kittens with PKD are born with tiny cysts in their kidneys and sometimes liver (4). The cysts grow over time until they destroy the organs (4). Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure, but the progress of the disease can be slowed, especially if it’s caught early (4). There is also a genetic test available for PKD now, so responsible breeders are testing their cats and trying to prevent the disease from being passed to new kittens.
It makes sense that the Exotic has become so popular, even though it is a fairly new breed that was barely given a chance. It’s appearance carries the elegance and class people associate with Persians, but with a much lower degree of grooming more suited to busy people in the modern world. Not only that, but the Exotic has a winning personality and fits into a lot of different homes with ease. Just be prepared for lots of lap time.
Fun Facts
- It’s said that male Exotics are more affectionate than females (1, 6).
- Famous parents of Exotic Shorthairs include Blasko, Justin Bieber, and Rich Juzwiak (7).
- Famous Exotic Shorthairs include Pudge the Cat and Snoopybabe.
Works Cited
- PetFirst Pet Insurance. (2019). Breed spotlight: The exotic shorthair. PetFirst. https://www.petfirst.com/breed-spotlights/breed-spotlight-the-exotic-shorthair/
- Sims, B. (n.d.). Breed article: Exotic. Cat Fanciers’ Association. https://cfa.org/exotic/exotic-article/
- Petfinder. (n.d.). Exotic shorthair. https://www.petfinder.com/cat-breeds/exotic-shorthair/
- Johnson Animal Clinic. (n.d.). A mixed bag of a mixed breed. https://www.johnsonanimalclinic.com/services/cats/breeds/exotic-shorthair
- International Cat Care. (2018, September 18). Exotic shorthair. https://icatcare.org/advice/exotic-shorthair/
- Cat Fanciers’ Association. (n.d.). About the exotic. https://cfa.org/exotic/
- Trupanion. (n.d.). Exotic shorthair. https://trupanion.com/breeds/cat/exotic-shorthair
- The International Cat Association. (2018, August 13). Exotic shorthair breed. https://tica.org/breeds/browse-all-breeds?view=article&id=841:exotic-shorthair-breed&catid=79
Published September 20th, 2020
Updated December 7th, 2020
