Exotic Shorthair cat ideal weight and nutrition
A Female Exotic Shorthair cat weighs 8 - 12 lbs (3.5 - 5.5 kg) and a male Exotic Shorthair cat weighs more than 12 lbs (5.5 kg).
A balanced and rich in vitamins, protein and fiber nutrition will help prevent most health problems of an Exotic Shorthair cat, avert obesity and moreover develop a rich and shiny fur. In the market there are now available meals specially designed for Persian cats. These formulas contain Omega 6 to meet the nutritional demands of maintaining a shiny and beautiful long coat and soluble and insoluble fibers that increase digestive activity to eliminate hairballs naturally.
For the suggested daily intake of dry food for an Exotic Shorthair cat, consult the table below:
Table 1.1 - Exotic Shorthair cats daily food intake
Exotic kittens care
When you introduce exotic kittens to your home, let them find their own way out of the basket and allow them to explore one room at a time. Make sure that all doors and windows are shut, to prevent them from escaping.
Exotic kittens are very often frightened by children or other pets that are new to them. Children should therefore be recommended to be quiet and wait for the kitten to adopt to the new environment, while other animals should be introduced later, gradually and one at a time. Remember that adult cats might attack to the baby cat, since they confront it as a competitor and therefore as an enemy.
Talk to your kitten and encourage it to play with a toy but do not overwhelm it with extreme attention.
Exotic kittens need warmth. If there is not some form of heating in the room at all times, buy a heated bed from a pet shop.
During the first month of their life, exotic kittens should be breastfeeding. This is why you shouldn't separate them from their mother before they are one month old.
At the age of one month they can start eating kitten food. In the market you will find a wide range of kitten meals, however we recommend dry kitten food. This comes in small kibbles that encourage kittens to crunch and help them develop stronger gum and teeth.
For the suggested daily intake of kitten dry food, consult the table below:
Exotic Shorthair cat grooming
The Exotic Shorthair cat is easy to groom, though it requires more grooming than many other shorthaired cats. That is because they have as much hair as Persian cats do, as well as a rich, full undercoat. Figure on a grooming session with a good quality steel comb twice a week to keep your Exotic free from mats.
During the molting season it is absolutely necessary to groom them every day in order to prevent them digesting loose hair and getting hair balls.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are parasites that live in the small intestine of cats. They will cause severe diarrhea, poor or extreme appetite, avitaminosis, lethargy, coughing and abdominal distention to your cat.
To find out more, check our tapeworm treatment guide.
Hair ball
When a cat grooms itself by licking its own fur, it will swallow some of its own hair. Most of the hair passes all the way through the digestive tract with no problems. But if some hair stays in the stomach, it can form a hair ball.
To find out more, check our hair ball treatment guide.
Fleas
Even clean cats can pick up fleas, especially during the summer months. They get fleas through the contact with infested pets or through the contact with fleas in the environment (e.g. from an infected bedding).
To find out more, check our flea treatment guide.
Exotic Shorthair cat care
You should clean their ears once a week to keep them clean and prevent infections. Consult your vet on choosing the proper ear cleaning solution for your Exotic Shorthair cat and use it to remove the excess of wax, debris and dead tissues.
Their teeth should be checked periodically and brushed with a special wipe to prevent teeth and gum diseases. In the market there are also a lot of cat toys, specially designed to remove food wastes and prevent teeth irritation.
A litter tray must be available at all times and kept in the same place. Solid matter and wet lumps should be removed from the tray frequently and the litter renewed when necessary. The tray should be washed and disinfected frequently. Rinse thoroughly after disinfecting and allow drying before use. The Exotic Shorthair cat is very fussy and will not use a dirty tray.
Never give cats any drugs that have not been prescribed for them; many human drugs are poisonous to cats. Seek veterinary advice immediately if you suspect any form of poisoning.
Make sure that cat toys or parts of them cannot be swallowed. Plastic bags and rubber bands can be extremely dangerous, since they do not show up on an X-ray.
Exotic Shorthair cat health and lifespan
An Exotic Shorthair cat has an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Its squashed face can lead to some eye problems. Blocked tear ducts and discharge from the eyes is common so keep the eyes clean with a tissue or wet washer.
In addition an Exotic Shorthair cat is prone to Epiphora (excessive tearing), meaning chronic eye irritations and infections that produce tearing and staining of the hair below the eyes. Epiphora can be cured with the use of antibiotics.
Infection of the frontal sinuses (Sinusitis) can occur with some frequency, as a secondary effect of a respiratory infection. Watch for a nasal discharge (often just on one side) accompanied by frequent sneezing and sniffling. Sinus issues are usually confirmed with an X-Ray showing increased density in the sinus and are treated with an appropriate antibiotic. If this is not successful, a surgical procedure to make an opening into the sinus through the skin to aid in drainage may be required.
Finally, the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) known to affect the 36%-49% of adult Persian cats, is common among the Exotic Shorthair cats as well. This causes kidney failure, while the symptoms include excessive drinking and urination, reduced appetite, weight loss and depression.
Exotic shorthair cat history
The history of Exotic Shorthair cat can be tracked in the late 1950s when American Shorthair breeders, motivated by the popularity of Persian cats, secretly began to mix them into their American Shorthair bloodlines. Their objective was to improve the body type, as well as introduce the beautiful and impressive silver Persian color into the American Shorthairs. Because of this hybridization, the American Shorthair conformation went through a period of remodeling in the 1960s: their boning grew heavier, their head rounder, their nose shorter and their coat became denser, softer and longer.
Since the Persian cats were more than popular, the hybrids did well in the shows, however they still had not achieved their official registration as a separate breed. Actually, some American Shorthair breeders were outraged by the changes occurring to the breed and were determined to ‘sabotage’ any American Shorthair cats that showed signs of hybridization.
Ms Jane Martinke, judge of the CFA, however had other plans. She was the first to suggest in 1966 that these hybrid American/ Persian mixes should form a distinct category and therefore be registered as a new breed.
The Exotic Shorthair cat was first accepted for Championship status by the CFA in 1967.
However, few breeders adopted the new trend, since there still was an obstacle to skip. They had to establish the shorthair gene, which although it was dominant to the longhair one, it still had not managed to definitely abolish it from the hybrids. The exotic breeders then introduced Burmese and Russian Blues in addition to American Shorthairs to be crossed with Persian cats. They used these shorthaired breeds only long enough to inculcate the shorthair gene into the bloodlines. Once it was inculcated, crossing back to shorthairs was unnecessary and thus made less frequent. In 1987 the CFA completely banned Exotic to shorthair out-crosses.
Even with the slow start, the Exotic shorthair cat made a steady progress with the help of the devoted advocates of the breed who saw that a Persian in a Shorthair's clothing would make a valuable addition to the cat fancy. In 1971 the first Exotic Shorthair achieved the status of Grand Champion. In 1991 an Exotic was the CFA's Cat of the Year and in 1992 the CFA's Best Kitten was also an Exotic.
Exotic Shorthair cat personality
Just like the Persian cat, the Exotic Shorthair cat is very affectionate and loyal. It craves attention and like to be played around with. Though not very demanding, it loves to be petted. It will sit on your lap, follow you around the house and sleep in your bed during cold nights.
Its playful and in the meantime calm nature makes it ideal for families with children or other pets. The Exotic shorthair cat does not mind new members in the household, on the contrary it is very adaptable and accommodating.
Although Exotic Shorthair cat gets attached to all family members, it usually shows special affection for a particular individual in the house. It is sweet and gentle, but needs to feel secure in its environment. It prefers an atmosphere of serenity, love and reassurance.
Obviously, the Exotic Shorthair cat appeals to people who like the personality of a Persian cat but do not want the hassle of grooming a long-haired cat. It also retains some of the energetic spark of their American Shorthair forebear and that makes it even more playful and a good mouse hunter.
Exotic shorthair cat breed standards
According to the Fédération Internationale Féline, the Exotic Shorthair cat is medium to large cat. It has a round and massive, well balanced head. Its forehead is rounded and cheeks are full. The nose is short and broad, with a definite stop, however not snub. The nose bridge and the nose leather must be wide and the nostrils well open, allowing free and easy passage of air.
The Exotic Shorthair cat has a strong chin and broad and powerful jaws. Its ears are small, round tipped and of course tufted. They are set wide apart and rather low on the head.
Its eyes on the other hand are large, round and open. They are set wide apart and their color can be one of the following: deep blue, copper or deep orange, one eye deep blue and one copper or deep orange (odd eyed) and green.
The Exotic Shorthair cat body should be cobby, with a broad chest, massive shoulders and a well muscled back. The legs should be short, thick and strong, ending to large, round and firm paws with tufts between the toes. The tail finally is short, well furnished and slightly rounded at the tip.
As for the Exotic Shorthair cat coat, this should be dense, plushy and soft in texture. Its density causes its standing out from the body. The recognized color varieties are the following:
· White
· Solid
· Tortie
· Smoke
· Silver shaded/shell
· Golden shaded/shell
· Tabby
· Silver tabby
· Golden tabby
· Van/Harlequin/Bicolor
· Van/Harlequin/Bicolor smoke
· Van/Harlequin/Bicolor tabby
· Van/Harlequin/Bicolor silver tabby
· Colorpoint
· Tabby point colorpoint
