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If you are a fan of the beautiful longhair Persian cat, but are concerned about being able to keep your cat’s coat from matting, you may want to consider the Exotic. This breed looks exactly like the Persian, except that it has a much shorter coat.

The Exotic weighs in at seven to fourteen pounds and has a stocky body, a round head, round paws, and a short tail. This breed comes in all colors and patterns, from solid Blues to Seal Points.

The Exotic was actually a happy accident, developed when American Shorthair fanciers tried to improve their breed’s coat by crossing Shorthairs with Persians. To their surprise, they ended up with cats that looked identical to the Persian breed, but with a much shorter coat, like that of a plushy teddy bear.

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Looking for a Cuddly Kitty? Try an Exotic Shorthair

By Grant Carroll

In the 1960’s, cat breeders wanted to create a breed that was like a Persian but with short hair. At first, it was met with much controversy as many Persian breeders were outraged at the thought. In time, however, Exotic Shorthairs came to be loved by cat fanciers. This breed took time to develop the desired characteristics, but today they are a robust and popular breed with distinct characteristics.

The Exotic Shorthair was created by crossing Persians with American, British and Burmese shorthairs. However, since 1968 the British and Burmese were not allowed to outcross. Many of the first hybrids from shorthairs and Persians didn’t have any good Persian qualities, but through the years careful selective breeding created today’s Exotics with wonderful Persian type and with the Persian’s mellow disposition. They are often said to have the appearance of teddy bears.

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