Other Name
The Exotic is nicknamed “the lazy man’s Persian” because he shares the Persian’s sweet face, but his short, plush coat is easier to care for. Exotics are more lively than the laidback Persian, but they also love to sit in a lap. They can live to be 15 years or more. A breed with only 50 years of history, the Exotic Shorthair, also known as the Shorthaired Persian, is a popular breed for cat fanciers who walk on the calmer side of life. This breed has its playful side, but it prefers to cuddle and relax for most of the day. Perfect for urban homes, or for country living, the Exotic is plush and beautiful to look at, with the added benefit of being one of the more affectionate breeds. A Persian without pretension, the Exotic is also easy to care for, with a minimal shedding but still luxurious coat.
The Exotic is something of an accidental breed. The original intent of the American Shorthair breeders who got the ball rolling was to breed their cats to Persians in an effort to bring in the silver color and green eyes of that breed. The resulting kittens didn’t look like American Shorthairs, but they were very attractive, having the Persian look but with a short, plush coat. Other breeders brought in Burmese or Russian Blues to get the gene for the short coat. The various offspring were bred back to Persians, and a new breed was born: the Exotic Shorthair, or just Exotic. Today the breed standards for the Persian and the Exotic are identical, except for coat length. Both have a sweet expression, short nose, big eyes, and a short, square body, all coming together to make a cuddly doll of a cat. The Exotic is one of the most popular cat breeds, second only to the Persian, according to the Cat Fanciers Association.
