Exotic Cat
The Exotic (or Exotic Shorthair) is a breed of cat that was
created by crossbreeding Persians and British Shorthairs and
American Shorthairs. They have nearly the same body as the Persian,
but
a thick, dense short coat. They appeal to people who like the
look of a Persian but do not want the hassle of grooming a long-haired
cat.
Appearance
The Exotic has a compact, rounded, powerfully-built body with
a short, thick "linebacker" neck. Its large round
eyes, short snub nose, sweet facial expression, and small ears
give it a highly neotenic appearance that many people consider
cute.
Temperament
Exotics have a placid, friendly personality reminiscent of the
Persian. They tend to show more affection and loyalty than most
breeds and make excellent lap cats. Their calm, steady nature
and limited appetite for exercise makes them ideal apartment
cats for city dwellers. Nonetheless, Exotics retain some of
the energetic spark of their American Shorthair forbears and
they are often capable mouse hunters.
Care and grooming
Unlike the high-maintenance Persian, the Exotic is able to keep
its own fur tidy with little human assistance. Occasional brushing
and bathing is recommended to remove loose hair and reduce shedding
and hairballs.
As with other flat-faced
animals, the Exotic's tears are prone to overflowing the nasolacrimal
duct, dampening and staining the face. This can be relieved
by periodically wiping the cat's face with a cloth moistened
with water or one of the commercial preparations made expressly
for the purpose.