A ginger Exotic Shorthair lying on a blanket

Exotic Shorthair Cat Insurance, Care and Health Advice

The Exotic Shorthair breed was developed in the USA in the 1960s by crossing an American Shorthair with a silver Persian. The aim was to create a shorthaired version of the Persian. The new breed was intended to be silver only and was initially named the Sterling breed. But after Burmese and Russian Blue cats were also used to cross with Persian cats, all colours were accepted, and the name was changed to the Exotic Shorthair.

In the UK, British Shorthairs were used to cross with longhaired Persians. After the initial outcrosses, the offspring are only allowed to be bred with Persians. Exotic Shorthairs are a relatively new breed that is gaining in popularity. This breed guide contains all you need to know about the Exotic Shorthair.

Exotic Shorthair Cat Facts

Cat breed type icon
Type
Domestic
Cat breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
12 - 15 years
Cat breed size icon
Size
Medium
Cat breed weight icon
Weight
3.5 - 6 kg
Cat breed height icon
Height
25 - 30 cm
Cat breed temperament icon
Temperament
Easy-going, affectionate, playful
Cat breed exercise icon
Exercise
15 - 30 mins per day
Cat breed grooming icon
Grooming
Low maintenance

Is an Exotic Shorthair Right for Me?

Exotic Shorthairs love to be near their owners. They’ll always be ready to curl up on your lap for a cuddle or nap. They’re happy to lead a quiet life indoors. While they share many similar features of the Persian, their Shorthair ancestry means that they also like to play.

Compared to the Persian, their short, plush coats need little grooming. All this makes them an ideal pet for most households, especially first time cat owners.

A white Exotic Shorthair cat licking its lips

What Are Exotic Shorthair Kittens Like?

Exotic Shorthair kittens are curious and playful. Like all kittens, early socialisation is important so that they grow to be friendly, confident adults. Start training early, and because they’re an intelligent cat breed, they should get the hang of their litter tray in no time.

A white Exotic Shorthair cat lying in the garden

Life with an Exotic Shorthair

The Exotic Shorthair is best kept as an indoor cat. They enjoy playing so make sure they have lots of toys to keep them both physically and mentally stimulated. This will also stop them from getting up to mischief. Being kept inside doesn’t mean that they have given up their prey drive. They can be good mouse hunters.

Caring for Your Exotic Shorthair

Exotic Shorthairs should be fed a nutritious, balanced diet. If you buy your kitten from a breeder, ask if they can give you the feeding schedule they used. Try to keep to this schedule by feeding at the same time every day. Any changes to their diet should be made gradually over a week or so to avoid any stomach upsets.

Your vet will also be happy to recommend the best cat food to fit the needs of your cat, and how much to feed to keep them at a healthy weight.

Exotic Shorthair cats have short coats with a soft, dense undercoat that can come in all colours and patterns. You’ll be relieved to know that, compared to Persians, they’re low maintenance. They’ll just need grooming with a brush, comb or grooming glove once a week. More grooming will be needed during the shedding seasons of spring and autumn.

As Exotic Shorthairs have flat faces, their tear ducts can’t drain properly and can overflow. Tears running down their faces can cause staining, but the stains can be removed using a damp cloth. Their eyes and ears should also be cleaned regularly.

And their teeth should also be brushed at least three times a week to prevent dental disease. Don’t worry about bath time, they’ll only need an occasional one if they get very dirty or if your vet recommends a medicated bath due to a skin issue.

Exotic Shorthairs are intelligent, and toilet or litter training will be picked up quickly. They'll soon understand the meaning of ‘no’ with some positive, reward-based training using their favourite toys and treats. You could even try some ‘clicker’ training.

They’ve low exercise needs, and their favourite place is likely to be on your lap or very close next to you. As they also enjoy playing, provide them with lots of interactive toys and a perch or cat tree for climbing. They’ll also like a sunny windowsill to sit on and watch the world go by.

Exotic Shorthair Insurance

Cute as they may be, these adorable bundles of fluff are known to suffer health issues. That’s why it can be a good idea to think about insurance for your Exotic Shorthair. With policies starting from 8 weeks old, Everypaw’s Lifetime Cat Insurance can be there for you and your cat as soon as you get them home.

With a range of cover levels to choose from and additional benefits as standard, Everypaw could be the one to look after your Exotic from kitten in to cat-hood.

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Common Exotic Shorthair Health Problems by Vetstream

As the Exotic Shorthair has Persian ancestry, they can have several breed-related problems associated with this breed. Like Persians, they are flat faced (brachycephalic) with short noses which can lead to a higher risk of breathing problems. Everypaw has teamed up with veterinary experts Vetstream, to give you an idea of what to keep an eye out for in your Exotic Shorthair.

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease,  AD-PKD or just PKD is an inherited condition that can affect the Exotic Shorthair. Most cats are around 7 years when they start to show signs of the condition. Cysts form in the kidneys and can cause kidney failure.

There’s no cure, but there are treatments that may improve the quality of life of affected cats. A DNA test can identify cats that carry the gene responsible for the condition. Make sure your breeder has removed any cats with the gene from their breeding lines.

Brachycephalic Upper Airway Syndrome (BUAS or BOAS) is the name given to the group of congenital anatomical defects present in brachycephalic breeds. Flat-faced breeds like the Exotic Shorthair have shortened noses and jaws. This means that the same amount of soft tissue in their nose and throat is squashed into a smaller space and airflow through these tissues can be obstructed.

This leads to respiratory distress problems. Exotics may have breathing difficulties, especially in hot weather and when exercising. Being brachycephalic can also cause eye and dental problems.

Exotic Shorthairs can be affected by Epiphora, a condition where there’s an overflow of tears from the eye. As they’ve flat faces, so the tears can’t drain properly into the tear ducts and can lead to staining of the hair coat around the eyes. Wiping the eyes daily will help prevent the staining.  

Flat-faced cats such as the Exotic Shorthair can have Dental Malocclusion, a condition where one or more teeth are in an abnormal position. If the jaw is shortened, teeth can become overcrowded. This increases the risk of periodontal disease and the need for teeth extraction.

Quick Exotic Shorthair Q&A

Yes, they’ll scratch your furniture if they haven’t been trained not to! Provide them with a scratching post instead to sharpen their claws on.

An Exotic Shorthair cat can cost from £450 upwards. The cost will vary depending on age, sex and pedigree.

No, having short hair doesn’t mean that these cats are hypoallergenic. There's no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat. Exotic Shorthairs still produce the cat allergen Fel d1 that is present in the cat’s saliva and dander. This is what allergy sufferers are sensitive to.

Exotic Shorthairs should have their eyes cleaned regularly. A gentle wipe with a clean, damp cloth will do the job.

The Exotic Shorthair typically has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years with proper care.

That’s All You Need to Know About Exotic Shorthairs

Exotic Shorthairs have short, plush coats that need little grooming. They’re easy-going, affectionate cats, happy to lead a quiet, indoor life. You’ll find them on a sunny windowsill or relaxing on a perch, but their favourite place is likely to be on your lap or by your side. They have a playful side too from their American Shorthair ancestry but, due to being crossed with Persians, they can be affected by breed-related health issues.

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis.

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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