Description: Exotics
The Exotic Shorthair is a breed of cat known for its charming, plush teddy bear appearance and relaxed personality. Often described as the 'lazy man's Persian,' Exotics share the Persian’s sweet temperament and loving nature, but with a low-maintenance, dense, and soft short coat that requires less grooming. They are affectionate and adaptable companions, fitting well into most households, including those with children and other pets. Exotics are playful yet gentle, enjoying quiet moments as much as brief bursts of activity. With their round faces, big expressive eyes, and sturdy bodies, they retain a kitten-like look throughout much of their lives. This breed is perfect for those seeking a cuddly and gentle feline friend with minimal grooming needs.
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Properties
The Exotic Shorthair, often simply called 'Exotics,' is a distinct breed of cat that was developed as a short-haired variety of the Persian. Known for their round faces, large eyes, and plush coats, Exotics are affectionate, docile, and make excellent companions for a variety of households. Their most distinguishing feature is their dense, soft coat, which is much shorter than that of the Persian but just as plush, giving them a teddy bear-like appearance.
Originating in the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, Exotics were created by crossing Persians with American Shorthairs and other short-haired breeds to produce Persians with shorter fur. The breed quickly gained popularity for its easy-going nature, playful personality, and lower-maintenance grooming compared to its long-haired relatives.
Exotics have large, round heads with full cheeks and a short nose, set low on the face. Their eyes are big, round, and expressive, often giving them a sweet, gentle expression. The body is medium to large, muscular, and cobby, with short legs and a thick neck. Their boning is solid and structure compact, making them look sturdy and well-balanced.
One of the hallmarks of Exotics is their affectionate and loving temperaments. They tend to form close bonds with their families and enjoy participating in daily household activities. While Exotics are quieter and less demanding than some other breeds, they are playful, curious, and enjoy interactive play. They adapt well to different living situations, whether in apartments or larger homes, due to their calm disposition.
Grooming requirements for Exotics are moderate. While their coats do not mat as easily as those of the Persian, regular weekly brushing is recommended to remove loose hair and keep the coat healthy and shiny. Due to their brachycephalic (flat-faced) features, Exotics may be prone to some health issues, such as respiratory problems and excessive tearing of the eyes, so attention to facial cleanliness is important.
Overall, the Exotic is an excellent choice for individuals and families seeking a gentle, affectionate, and visually stunning companion cat that combines the beauty of the Persian with the easy-care coat of the shorthair breeds.
Appearance
The Exotic Shorthair is a distinct and instantly recognizable breed of cat, developed as a shorthaired version of the Persian. The most defining aspect of the Exotic’s appearance is its rounded, heavily-built body and plush, dense coat, giving it a unique teddy bear-like look. Exotics exhibit a sturdy, medium-to-large frame with considerable bone structure, and their bodies are generally compact, low to the ground, and broad in the chest and shoulders. Their legs are short and thick, ending in large, rounded paws, which enhance their overall cobby body type.
The head of an Exotic is massive and round, featuring prominent cheeks and a well-developed chin. One of the breed’s hallmarks is the flat face and snub nose, known as brachycephaly, which closely resembles that of the Persian but is slightly less extreme. Their noses are short and broad with a definite break; this gives them their characteristic flat-faced, ‘sweet’ expression. Eyes are large, round, and set wide apart, contributing to their appealing and open facial expression. Eye color typically matches the coat color, and copper is a particularly common shade in many variations, but blue and green can also be seen, depending on the coat pattern.
The ears are small, rounded at the tips, and set far apart and low on the head, which enhances the rounding of the skull. Exotics have a thick, short neck and a broad, strong chest, giving them a rather solid and well-muscled appearance overall.
Perhaps the most notable departure from the Persian breed is their coat. Exotics have a short to medium-length coat that is plush, soft, and dense due to a thick undercoat. The coat stands out from the body rather than laying flat, which gives them a fluffy, padded look. This breed comes in an extensive variety of colors and patterns, from solid hues and tabby markings to bicolors, calicos, and shaded or pointed variations. Their tails are short, thick, and rounded at the tip, well in proportion to the body.
The overall impression of an Exotic should be one of roundness, balance, and sweet expression, making them adorable to many fanciers. Their gentle look and overall plush, rounded build are essential breed characteristics, and they require minimal grooming compared to their Persian ancestors because of their shorter coat.
History
The Exotic Shorthair is a breed of cat that was developed to be a shorthaired version of the well-known Persian cat. Its origins trace back to the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Breeders originally aimed to create a cat that maintained the Persian’s characteristic appearance—large, round face and distinctive flat nose—but with a shorter, plush coat that required less maintenance. This goal emerged from the desire of American Shorthair breeders who wanted to improve their breed's body type and introduced Persian cats into their breeding programs, hoping to import the Persian's roundness and gentle disposition.
However, the offspring produced from these matings often retained the plush coat and robust body, but with a coat shorter than a Persian’s yet longer and denser than the typical American Shorthair. These cats, initially shown in American Shorthair colors, quickly gained popularity, and it became clear that they represented a distinct appearance and temperament.
The breed was formally recognized as the Exotic Shorthair by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1967, after much debate and refinement. The CFA set strict breed standards, requiring Exotics to closely resemble Persians in every respect except for the coat. Over time, breeders have worked to perfect the Exotic’s appearance, often using Persians in their breeding programs, which has helped to maintain the breed’s signature look and gentle personality. Today’s Exotics come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, sharing the Persian’s expressive eyes and sweet, affectionate nature.
The Exotic Shorthair’s heritage is thus deeply intertwined with that of the Persian, leveraging decades of careful selection and crossbreeding. Although the Exotic is best known for its ‘teddy bear’ look and manageable coat, it retains the laid-back and loving temperament that made the Persian one of the world’s most popular pedigree cats. Its history is one of deliberate, thoughtful breeding, resulting in a cat beloved by pet owners and show enthusiasts alike.