History

The Exotic Shorthair is actually the result of "inadvertence". The breeders of the American Shorthair mated the American Shorthair with a Persian cat, intending to get a silver coat and green eyes, but the result was not quite what they had hoped for. But the new breed looked so cute that the breeders suggested they become a new breed called "sterling" (meaning silver). They look like Persians, but with a short, dense coat. At first only the silver colour was accepted at the event, but later all other colours were recognised and the name was changed to 'exotic shorthair'. Later breeders used different breeds, such as Maine and Russian Blue, to breed with Persian cats to obtain exotic shorthair cats of different colours. 

Physiological characteristics.

The Exotic Shorthair is a medium-sized cat with a large, round and flat face, ears positioned downwards, large and round eyes and a short nose, inheriting the Persian's head defects such as tear ducts that tend to overflow, overly narrow nostrils and dental problems. Their bodies are short, strong and square in shape, and their legs and tails are short and thick. The Exotic Shorthair is the most "rounded" of all shorthair breeds.

The coat of the Exotic Shorthair is not really short, but closer to medium length, and is prone to shedding and requires a certain amount of grooming.

 Personality traits.

The Exotic Shorthair is friendly, docile and has a quiet quality similar to the Persian. They will get your attention with a look that you can't refuse. Their short-haired cat ancestry makes them playful. They have a soft voice and can live in harmony with small children and other pets. They are afraid of unfamiliar people and are less caring towards humans.