Animals

The Exotic or the Exotic Shorthair is the only hybrid cross recognized in the US. The Exotic is a relatively new hybrid created by crossing American Shorthairs with Persians. The intent of the breeders was to create a Persian type cat that didn’t require excessive grooming. These breeders could see that a Persian in short hair would make a valuable addition to the cat fancy.

The hybrid breed ran into a lot of resistance from American Shorthair breeders who wanted to keep their breed true. Therefore in 1966, it was decided to create a new breed called the Exotic Shorthair which was recognized in 1971. The first Exotic Shorthair achieved the status of Grand Champion in 1971. In 1991 an Exotic was named the CFA’s Cat of the Year. The only crosses allowed are Persian to American Shorthair, Exotic to Exotic or Persian to Exotic. Approximately 50 % of the kittens from Exotic/Persian crosses can have long hair if the Exotic carries a recessive long hair gene.

The Exotic has the body and head type of the Persian, but has a short, plush coat.

The breed was developed during the 1950s and 1960s by crossing Persians and various shorthaired breeds, although early in their development, CFA restricted outcrosses to the American Shorthair when it was accepted for championship status in 1967.

The breed is called the Exotic Shorthair in most associations. It is called the Exotic here because some longhaired offspring of Exotics are called Exotic Longhairs, and at least a few organizations recognize this as a separate breed. Exotics are available in the same rainbow of colors and patterns as the Persian breed.
Like the Persian, the Exotic is a docile, gentle cat with a soft voice. They are sweet-tempered pets who enjoy sitting on laps and the refined comforts of home.
The Exotic is sometimes called the “lazy man’s Persian”, as it has the same body and head type, but without the daily grooming requirements.

The Exotic or Exotic Shorthair cat is a plush, shorthaired version of the Persian with the same body shape and the same small and squeaky Persian voice. They have the sweet, flat face of the Persian but have a wonderfully thick, dense, soft and glossy coat that is slightly longer than a shorthair but is even in length and stands out from the body because of the thick undercoat. The breed is nicknamed “the teddy bear cat”. The Exotic has a medium to large, cobby body that sits low on the legs with a broad and deep chest, large shoulders and rump.

The Exotic’s temperament is docile, laid-back and extremely affectionate. Most breeders say it has a similar personality to the Persian.