When you get home, she's already sitting at the door, even if you were only gone for five minutes. Round head, big round eyes, fur like a teddy bear. The exotic looks like a cuddly toy, and that's exactly why it's worth taking an honest look at her face.
| Recognition | FIFe (breed code EXO, recognized since 1983), WCF (EXO), TICA, CFA; Recognized by all major associations according to the WCF list |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Weight | not specified in the FIFe standard, size there "medium to large" |
| Fur | short, dense, plush and soft, stands out from the body thanks to the dense undercoat |
| Colours as per standard | same large palette as Persian, more than 400 colors and patterns according to FIFe; Eyes copper, green or blue, matching the color |
| Activity | calm, a little more lively than the Persian (editorial assessment) |
Origin
According to FIFe, breeders of American Shorthairs crossed Persians in the late 1950s to change the physique of their cats. The result was short-haired Persian-type kittens. The CFA recognized them as a separate breed in 1966, the FIFe in 1983. After that, according to the CFA, breeding continued primarily with Persians, which is why the only difference between the two breeds today is their fur.
Beings
The FIFe describes the Exotic as loving and very attached to their family, curious and playful, usually more lively than their long-haired ancestors. According to CFA, she is calm and loyal, affectionate without interfering everywhere. She prefers to communicate with her eyes rather than her voice; You rarely hear meowing. According to the CFA, she gets along well with children, but is initially rather reserved with other animals.
Attitude and occupation
The Exotic is a typical indoor cat. She doesn't need a climbing park, but she does need comfortable, easily accessible places to lie down and daily quiet play sessions to keep her moving. A quiet second cat can keep you company when you're away from home a lot.
Care
Easier than with the Persian, but not on the side. According to the CFA, the Exotic sheds heavily, especially seasonally. Comb with a metal comb once a week, more often when shedding. In addition, check your eyes and face every day: carefully remove any leftover tears and dirt in the facial folds with a damp cloth.
Health and animal welfare
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture's quality breeding report explicitly names Persian and Exotic Shorthair as breeds that are bred for short-headedness. Possible consequences include difficult births, more stillbirths, a shortened upper jaw, narrowed upper airways and narrowed nasolacrimal ducts. The report recommends a ban on breeding for extremely short-nosed animals, in which the upper edge of the nose is above the lower edge of the eyelid. According to UFAW (now Science for Animal Welfare), the risk of shortness of breath, dental problems, watery eyes and corneal damage increases with the degree of short-headedness. The FIFe standard requires well-open nostrils and a stop between the eyes, not below. The second topic is polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which, according to UFAW, has also been detected in Exotic; A genetic test and ultrasound help from around ten months. In addition, in a review, 27 percent of exotics had blood group B (Silvestre-Ferreira and Pastor 2010).
Who is the Exotic Shorthair suitable for?
For quiet households who are looking for a gentle indoor cat and are willing to have their eyes, breathing and kidneys monitored by a vet. If it has to be an exotic, then one with a clearly visible nose and open nostrils, from parents with a PKD test.
Who is it not for?
For everyone who thinks a face that is as flat as possible is cute. This feature is exactly the problem. Anyone who has no reserves for eye or respiratory treatments should do the math honestly.
The Cat Age Calculator shows how old your cat is in human years. You can check which breed suits you in the cat test. You can find out more about cruel breeding on our page Animal Protection. Name ideas: Cat names. And if you want your cat on the wall: Cat portraits from your own photo.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Exotic Shorthair a torture breed? The Federal Ministry of Agriculture's cruel breeding report names the Exotic as a breed that is bred for short-headedness and recommends a ban on breeding extremely short-nosed animals. What matters is how shortened the nose is.
What is the difference between Exotic and Persian? According to FIFe and CFA only the fur: The Exotic has short, plush fur, the Persian has long. Body structure and head correspond to the same standard.
What diseases does the Exotic Shorthair have? Above all, the consequences of short-headedness such as narrowed airways and watery eyes as well as the hereditary kidney disease PKD, for which there is a genetic test.
How much care does an Exotic need? Less than a Persian. According to the CFA, combing once a week is usually enough, and more when shedding. You should check your eyes and face daily.
Read more
- Persians: profile and animal welfare issues
- British Shorthair: profile and attitude
- American Shorthair: Profile and Attitude
Quellen, abgerufen am 05.11.2026: FIFe: Breed Profile Exotic; FIFe: Standard Exotic/Persian (EXO/PER), Fassung 01.01.2026; FIFe: Liste der anerkannten Rassen; WCF: EMS-Code-Liste mit Anerkennung je Verband (Stand 01.11.2026); CFA: Exotic; Gutachten zur Auslegung von § 11b des Tierschutzgesetzes (Verbot von Qualzüchtungen), Bundeslandwirtschaftsministerium (bereitgestellt von tierschutz.hessen.de); Science for Animal Welfare (UFAW): Persian, Brachycephaly; Science for Animal Welfare (UFAW): Persian, Polycystic Kidney Disease; Silvestre-Ferreira AC, Pastor J: Feline Neonatal Isoerythrolysis and the Importance of Feline Blood Types, Veterinary Medicine International 2010.
