Breed Standard
Head: Round, massive. Very broad skull. Rounded forehead. Round, full cheeks. Short, broad, round muzzle. Short, broad nose with pronounced stop. Broad, open nostrils to facilitate air flow. Strong chin. Broad, powerful jaws.
Eyes: Large, round, well-spaced. Pure, deep color corresponding to that of the coat (gold to copper in most varieties; green in the chinchilla and the golden; blue in the white and the colorpoint).
Neck: Short and thick.
Body: Medium in size, cobby, low to the ground. Broad chest. Massive shoulders. Large-boned, powerful muscles.
Paw: Short, straight, and large. Round, large paws. Tufts of hair between the toes are desirable.
Tail: Short, thick, carried low. Rounded tip.
Coat: Shorthaired but slightly longer than that of other shorthaired breeds. Dense, fluffy, erect hair. All Persian colors are recognized.
Fault: Head too long or too narrow. Nose too long or roman nose; narrow, thin muzzle. Small, slanted, pale-colored eyes. Ears too large. Body too long, narrow. Narrow chest. Long, slender legs. Oval paws. Tail too long.
History
This feisty ball of fluff takes time to grow up in the United States around 1960, breeders crossed the American Shorthair with the Persian in order to improve the American's coat color and make it heavier. Thus were born shorthaired Persians, dubbed Exotic Shorthairs and recognized by the C.F.A in 1966. During the breeding program, crosses were also made with the Russian Blue and the Burmese. Since 1987, the only allowable outcross breed is the Persian. The F.I.Fe. recognized the Exotic Shorthair in 1986. Very common in the United States, Exotic Shorthairs are conquering Europe.
Behavior
The Exotic Shorthair is a tranquil cat but a bit livelier than the Persian. Curious, playful, and even-tempered, he is friendly to other cats and to dogs. Easygoing and quiet, as he rarely meows, he does not like being left alone. He is affectionate and needs the tender presence of his owner. This sturdy cat does not reach maturity until around three years of age and enters puberty fairly late. When two Exotic Shorthairs are crossed, they may produce longhaired kittens called "Exotic Longhairs" by the C.F.A. and considered Persians in France. Exotic Shorthairs are easy to groom. Weekly brushing and combing is sufficient. During shedding, they should be brushed and combed daily. Because of their fairly productive tear ducts, their eyes should be cleaned daily.
Health
Epiphora (Excessive Tearing), Sinus Conditions
