Do you remember Garfield, the sarcastic, lasagne-loving cartoon cat? Well, Garfield is an Exotic Shorthair, a popular cat breed. Often referred to as the “lazy” man’s Persian, this is a purebred cat and closely related to the Persian. The main difference between a Persian and an Exotic Shorthair cat is in the length of their coats.
The Exotic Shorthair is friendly and adorable with an undemanding personality. They develop excellent bonds with their owners. They love playing with kids and even other pets. However, their energy levels are slightly low and so are their exercise needs. However, they can play with their favourite toys for hours.
Exotic Shorthair kittens are highly adaptable. They can survive in different kinds of households without much fuss. Moreover, these furry munchkins do not need stimulation or active interaction. This indoor cat is an excellent social and family cat and a great choice for a quiet home.
Key Pointers
- Weight – 10 to 15 pounds
- Height – 10 to 12 inches
- Lifespan – 8 to 15 years
- Coat – Short, soft and immensely dense hair with coat colours like white, silver, black, golden, bicolour, smoke and Himalayan. Coat patterns are tabby, solid, pointed and tortoiseshell.
Ratings:
- Friendliness - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ability to adapt - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Behaviour towards other pets - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Playfulness - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Tendency to obesity – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Overall health - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Life expectancy – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Easy to train - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Advisable for first-time owners – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
One star = Low/Bad
Five stars = High/Good
Physical Appearance
You can locate an Exotic Shorthair cat at once from its physical appearance. These cats are stockily built and are usually of medium size. The head is round and broad. When compared to the body, the head seems slightly large.
The Exotic Shorthair cat breed has large round eyes. Gold, blue, and green are the common eye colours seen in this cat breed. As the muzzle of the cat is extremely short, they have a grumpy look. The round face is accentuated with small ears, which are set wide apart.
Exotic Shorthairs have short but sturdy legs with large round paws. The toes are tufted. The tail of this cat variant is short and bushy. Special mention needs to be made of the very short, but soft, dense and luxuriant undercoat.
Health
An Exotic Shorthair cat is a healthy breed. However, because of its genetic similarity to Persian cats, there are some medical problems which can be seen in some Exotic Shorthair kittens and even adult cats.
Here are some of the common problems you must keep a watch on:
Respiratory problems –
An Exotic Shorthair cat breed has a flattened face and that might lead to respiratory problems sometimes. These cats are not very comfortable in hot and humid weather conditions and stay best in climate-controlled environments.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy –
Cats often suffer from this heart ailment, where the left ventricle of the heart thickens. As a result, the heart fails to pump adequate blood leading to laboured breathing, irregular heartbeat, weakness, etc.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) –
Exotic Shorthair cats suffering from PKD have improper kidney function and enlarged kidneys. Cysts are common from a young age.
However, kidney failure begins quite late. Talk to your car breeder and ensure that a DNA test is done on the Exotic Shorthair to rule out chances of PKD.Eye problems –
Exotic Shorthair kittens and cats have tear ducts, which are badly formed. This leads to constant teary eyes. It makes the cats susceptible to various eye infections.
Grooming
Grooming an Exotic Shorthair is comparatively easier than a Persian. Though this cat breed has a short and dense coat, it does not require frequent brushing and care. Use a steel comb to brush an Exotic Shorthair cat once or twice in a week. Because of the short coat, there are no scopes of knots, mats or tangles in these fur babies.
As the Exotic Shorthair cat breed sheds seasonally, be cautious during this time. They will need regular bathing and grooming to get rid of dead skin cells and hair at this time.
Because of their constantly teary eyes, Exotic Shorthairs stain the fur around the eye area. Use a soft dry cloth to wash and clean the cat’s face regularly. If you notice redness, crust formation or excessive discharge from the eyes, consult a vet immediately.
Make sure that you check the ears of your Exotic Shorthair kittens and cats weekly. Use a soft cotton cloth to clean any debris or waxy build-up.
Playing
The playing patterns reflect the Exotic Shorthair personality and Exotic Shorthair temperament.
The Exotic Shorthair cat is an extremely loving and warm feline – a pet you would love to have around you. The Exotic Shorthair personality is a mix of playfulness and a laid-back attitude. As they are affectionate and family-oriented, they love to stay involved.
In contrast to Persians, Exotic Shorthairs are pretty active. They can play with their favourite toys like balls, fishing poles, feather teasers, etc. for hours. They love watching birds and basking in the sun too. However, their favourite activities are cuddling, resting on a human lap or lounging in their comfortable bed.
They refrain from heavy physical activity like jumping or running as it tires them easily. Ensure that your Exotic Shorthair kittens and cats are not alone for a long time as they like being around people they know. The Exotic Shorthair temperament is such that it gels well with kids and other pets in the house too.