The Exotic Shorthair was born from a secret breeding experiment in the late 1950s.
In short: Developed to improve the American Shorthair, this breed is essentially a Persian with a short, dense coat. While they share the Persian's iconic, pushed-in face, their creation sparked controversy among breeders. Today, they remain a popular, albeit health-challenged, companion with a complex genetic history and distinct physical traits.
The Exotic Shorthair emerged from clandestine efforts by American Shorthair breeders in the late 1950s. By crossing their cats with Persians, as well as Russian Blues and Burmese, they sought to refine the breed's body type. This practice initially caused friction with purist breeders, who successfully lobbied for breed standards that disqualified these crossbred cats. However, the potential of the Persian-American Shorthair hybrid was recognized by Jane Martinke, leading to official recognition of the Exotic Shorthair by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1966.
Physically, the breed mirrors the Persian, featuring a large, round head, prominent cheeks, and a compact silhouette. Because Persians remain the only permitted outcross, some Exotics carry a recessive longhair gene. When two carriers mate, there is a 25% chance of producing longhaired offspring. These cats occupy a strange space in the feline world: the Cat Fanciers' Association does not classify them as Persians, while other organizations like The International Cat Association do, and some register them as a separate Exotic Longhair breed.
The breed's signature brachycephalic appearance—a pushed-in face—comes with significant health trade-offs. These cats are prone to respiratory distress, corneal issues, and dystocia due to their large-domed skulls. Furthermore, they face a high risk of feline polycystic kidney disease, with studies indicating a prevalence of 40 to 50% in developed nations. Despite these challenges, the breed has achieved notable success in the show ring, including being named Cat of the Year in 1991. Interestingly, they appear remarkably resistant to urate urolithiasis, with only one instance identified in a study of over 5,000 cases.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Exotic Shorthair
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