A Persian in a short, plush coat: the same round face and calm nature, with far less combing.
The Exotic Shorthair, or Exotic for short, is a short-haired Persian. It began in America in the 1950s, when breeders crossed Persians with American Shorthairs. It has the Persian's round face and small ears, but a thick, plush coat like a teddy bear's. It is calm and quiet, and likes to follow its people around.
Very attached to its people and follows them around, without being pushy.
Often naps on a lap or right beside you, though not every Exotic wants to be held.
Likes a quick chase after a ball, in short games, even as an adult.
Calm, with the odd playful burst; a touch livelier than a Persian.
Very quiet: at most a soft chirp or a small meow.
Clever enough to learn simple things, but not a cat that lives for tricks.
Usually friendly and rarely grumpy with visitors, though some are reserved at first.
Patient with calm children, but not one for rough games.
Can live with a calm dog, after a slow introduction.
Gets on well with other cats, especially if they meet young.
A few hours alone is fine, whole workdays are not. Company or a second cat helps.
Very happy indoors, ideally in a quiet home.
An Exotic is a Persian crossed with a British Shorthair.
No. The breed was made in America with American Shorthairs, plus a few Burmese and Russian Blues. Only in Britain were British Shorthairs used too, and that stopped in 2000.
The Exotic has always had the Persian's flat face.
No. The first standard did not ask for a dip in the nose. That was added in 1973, and only since 1990 has the standard matched the Persian's, apart from the coat.
Two short-haired Exotics always have short-haired kittens.
Not always. Many Exotics carry the hidden long-hair gene from their Persian ancestors. If both parents carry it, each kitten has a 1 in 4 chance of long hair.
In the 1950s American breeders crossed silver Persians into their American Shorthairs, for the silver colour and green eyes. But the kittens no longer looked like American Shorthairs; they looked like short-haired Persians. That is how a new breed began. After a few early crosses it was bred only with Persians.
American Shorthair breeders cross in silver Persians, for the silver colour and green eyes.
CFA judge Jane Martinke proposes a new breed. Its first working name is 'Sterling', after the silver colour.
America's CFA recognises the Exotic Shorthair and lets it compete for championship titles.
CFA now asks for a dip in the nose; the first Exotics did not have one yet.
The American registry TICA gives the breed championship status.
The European federation FIFe recognises the Exotic.
Britain's GCCF recognises the Exotic.
CFA closes the breed to shorthaired cats: from now on only Persians may be crossed in.
CFA makes the standard the same as the Persian's, apart from the coat. 89 percent of breeders vote for it.
An Exotic, Jovan the Legend, is CFA's Cat of the Year.
In Britain's GCCF the Exotic can now become a champion.
Built like a Persian: round, sturdy and low on its legs. Only the coat is different: short, thick and plush, like a teddy bear.
A long-haired kitten born to two Exotics that both carry the hidden long-hair gene. It looks like a Persian.
Recognition: Every registry handles it differently. TICA treats it as a Persian; America's CFA keeps it with the Exotic as a separate variety.
An Exotic with dark 'points' like a Siamese and deep blue eyes. The kittens are born pale and colour up over the following months.
Recognition: Not a breed of its own: FIFe, CFA and TICA treat it as a colour of the Exotic.
Cat registries write colours as an EMS code. The letter is the colour (n black, a blue, d red, f tortie), s means silver or smoke, y golden, and the numbers tell you about white (01–09), shading (11, 12), the tabby pattern (22–25) or colourpoint (33).
Blue(a)
Black classic(n 22)
Red classic(d 22)
Chinchilla(ns 12)
Black and white(n 03)
Tortie and white(f 03)Only Britain's GCCF also has pewter: silver shaded with copper eyes instead of green.
Only FIFe has golden tabby. Britain's GCCF has no golden shaded, but does have golden shell.
Britain's GCCF and America's CFA have bicolours, but no van or harlequin.
Cinnamon, fawn, ticked, sepia and mink are not in the FIFe, CFA or GCCF lists; WCF rules out sepia and mink. White on a colourpoint and a small white spot (locket) count as faults.
The first kittens were often shaded silver or chinchilla, colours no shorthaired breed had yet. That is why it was called 'Exotic'.
The first name put forward was 'Sterling', after the silver colour.
Its nickname is 'the lazy man's Persian': Persian looks, but a coat that needs far less combing.
In 1991 an Exotic, Jovan the Legend, was CFA's Cat of the Year. A year later CFA's Best Kitten was an Exotic too.
Tortie Exotics are almost always female, because that colour needs two X chromosomes.
Usually about 12 to 15 years. No study looks at Exotics alone, but in English vet records half of the closely related Persians reached 13.5 years or more.
The short nose leaves little room to breathe. Such a cat may snore, tire sooner and struggle in hot weather. In a Swedish study of show cats about 9 in 10 had nostrils too narrow or a nose too small, though few owners noticed breathing trouble. The Dutch vets' association counts the Exotic among the extremely short-nosed breeds.
How it is found: No DNA test. Look at the parents: a visible nose and open nostrils.
With a flat face, tears often run down the cheeks and stain the fur. The big eyes also get hurt more easily. At an English insurer, sore spots on the eye were the most claimed condition for Exotics.
How it is found: No DNA test. Check that the parents' eyes are clean and clear.
Small cysts grow in the kidneys, so they work less well later in life, usually only after the age of 7. In older Italian studies about 4 in 10 Persians and Exotics had it. Many breeders have tested since, but there is no newer figure for Exotics.
How it is found: DNA test of the parents, or a kidney scan after 10 months.
In the short jaw the teeth are crowded and often crooked, so the gums get sore easily. In a small study of 50 Persians and Exotics about 9 in 10 had gum disease.
How it is found: No test. Have the teeth checked by the vet every year.
Combing once or twice a week is enough, more often while it moults in spring and autumn. Do wipe its eyes every day with a damp cloth.
It needs little exercise. A few short games a day keep it fit.
It gains weight easily, and extra weight makes breathing harder. Give measured meals. With its short jaw it eats more easily from a wide, shallow bowl, or kibble made for flat faces.
An Exotic is not hypoallergenic. No study shows that it makes fewer allergens.
It does not like being alone for long. If you are out all day, a second cat helps.
Checked on 20 October 2026
Keeping an Exotic is fine. In the Netherlands you may not breed from cats with a too-short snout, because it can trouble the cats themselves. The rule is about the cat's own snout, not about the breed.
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