The Exotic Shorthair was first recognized in the 1960's. In the past, Persians were bred with various shorthaired breeds in order "improve" the look of specific shorthaired breeds. The results were not what breeders expected and the resulting kittens didn't really look like the original shorthaired breed at all. Eventually, the appeal of these unusual kittens was recognized and efforts were made in order to strengthen the creation of this new breed. The Exotic Shorthair was originally named the "Sterling" because of their silvery coloring. The cat looked like a Persian except with a short coat. This should not be confused with the current breed called the Sterling. This is an entirely distinct breed.

The Exotic Shorthair cat is a sweet, loving cat that enjoys being near people without being demanding or pushy. The Exotic Shorthair cat is an ideal animal for those people who really like the appearance of the Persian, but doesn't have the time necessary to groom a Persian. There is a great deal of debate on whether or not males or females make "better" pets. However, one point of view is that if one is looking for a cat that likes to "cuddle" and is affectionate, it is in most cases, better to go with a male Exotic Shorthair, as it seems that they are more affectionate than Exotic Shorthair females. Exotic Shorthairs are known to be quite playful and pretty easy-going and known to get along well with children and the family as a whole.

The Exotic Shorthair looks very much like a Persian, the only difference being that the Exotic Shorthair has a short, "plush" coat, whereas the Persian has a long, fluffy coat, therefore making it slightly easier to care for. The coat of the Exotic Shorthair, while originally bred to be silver, is now seen in a wide array of colors. The body of the Exotic Shorthair, like the Persian, is large. There are also a few slight personality differences between the Exotic Shorthair and the Persian. The Exotic Shorthair is said to be slightly more playful and inquisitive than the Persian is.

While the Exotic Shorthair is generally healthy, it can suffer from the same ailments that a Persian can. Such ailments can include the following: tear overflow constricted nostrils (this can cause the cat to breathe noisily), dental malocclusions (the teeth of the cat do not line up with each other), seborrhea oleosa (this causes the skin of the cat to itch, be dry or can cause the loss of hair), cherry eye and polycystic kidney disease. Additionally, the cat can be prone to ringworm. While the Exotic Shorthair doesn't need as much grooming as a Persian, it is important to brush the cat two or three times a week.

There is currently no special breeding information in our databases for this animal. To submit breeding / propagation information that is specific to this animal please click here.