The Exotic Cat
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Photo by Else Leppänen
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History
The Exotic Cat was first developed in the 1960's by breeders seeking to create a Persian Cat with short hair. The road was long, and it wasn't until 1966 that the breed was accepted by the CFA, (Cat Fancier's Association). Many now refer to the Exotic cat as "the lazy man's Persian" because, unlike the Persian the grooming requirements of the Exotic is relatively low. It is also important to note that the breed was not entirely standardized until the 1980's, and the Exotic cat breed has a very broad and massive skull that is proportionate to its body. Since then the breed has grown in popularity, and is now the #3 most popular cat in the USA according to the number of breed registrations -the Persian is #1.
Disposition
Exotic cats are known for being sweet, playful, and not overly demanding of attention. They share many of the wonderful attributes of the Persian, however, they do tend to be more lively. They will quietly follow you from room-to-room just to stay nearby, but will rarely, if ever disturb what you are doing. They will patiently wait for you to play with them. When you do, they come to life, and will jump about, and run until they collapse from exhaustion. This breed is meant to be an indoor cat as the survival instincts have been bred out of them. However, they can be trained to walk on a leash - though it can be difficult to achieve. While Exotics are considered intelligent they can be slightly off-put by attempts to be trained. It is better with this low-key breed to be patient, calm and positive during training. With this attitude almost anything can be achieved.
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Photo by Rachael Bretherton
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Grooming
As with all short-haired breeds very little grooming is required to keep their coats in tip-top shape. Please note: Exotics do not have the flat hair of most short-haired cats. Their hair is mostly a dense, fluffy coat of erect hair that is somewhat longer than most other short-haired breeds. Weekly brushing to remove dead hair, and occasionally wiping them down with a damp cloth is all that is needed. I recommend reading Cat Grooming 101 for instructions on how to care for their, ears, eyes, and teeth as this breed is susceptible to problems with their teeth and eyes.Exotics are medium shedders and may not be the best choice for severe allergy sufferers.
General Health and Lifespan
While the Exotic Cat is considered a sturdy medium-large size breed they do suffer from many of the same health problems associated with the Persian cat breed. Such as, sometimes having an asymmetrical jaw, which can hinder the cat's ability to bite and chew properly, and can also cause dental problems. Also, take special care with your Exotic cat's sinuses, and tear ducts.
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