Cat
Breed Description:
The Exotic Shorthair breed of cats will appeal to owners looking for the personality of a Persian breed of cat without the responsibility of grooming a long-haired cat. This breed of cat has been referred to as "The Lazy Man's Persian." The Exotic Shorthair breed of cat has a compact, rounded, powerfully-built body with a short, thick neck. Its large round eyes, short snub nose, sweet facial expression, and small ears give it a highly exotic pout that some people may consider cute.
Temperament:
The Exotic Shorthair breed of cat has a gentle and calm personality reminiscent of the Persian, but it is livelier than his longhaired ancestor. Curious and playful, it is friendly to other cats and dogs. It rarely meows. It doesn’t like being left alone, and needs the presence of its owner (or of voices or smells reminiscent of its master-such as a radio kept on). They tend to show more affection and loyalty than most breeds and make excellent lap cats. Their calm and steady nature makes them ideal apartment cats for city dwellers. Nonetheless, Exotics retain some of the energetic spark of their American Shorthair forebears and they are often capable mouse hunters.
Weight:
Medium in size 5 - 6 kilogram
Health Problems:
Exotic Shorthair breed of cats, as is the case of Persians and other Persian derived cats, have a high chance of inheriting PKD, a disease that can lead to kidney failure. DNA screening for PKD is recommended for all Exotic shorthair cats used in breeding programs, to reduce the incidence of kidney disease by spaying and neutering PKD positive cats.
Grooming:
Much less than the Persian, twice a week is perfect.
Origin:
Breeders crossed the American Shorthair breed of cats with the Persian breed of cats in the United States around 1960. Thus were born Shorthaired Persians, called Exotic Shorthairs and recognized by the C.F.A in 1966. During the breeding program, crosses were also made with the Russian Blue and the Burmese. Since 1987, the only allowable outcross breed is the Persian. The F.I.Fe. recognized the Exotic Shorthair in 1986. 