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Getting a Cat or Kitten
17 min read
| Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
| Playfulness: | 4/5 |
| Intelligence: | 3/5 |
| Tendency to Vocalise: | 3/5 |
| Likes Other Pets: | 3/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 4/5 |
| Shedding: | 3/5 |
Exotic Shorthair
Medium sized and stockily built, the Exotic Shorthair cat has a round, broad head, somewhat large in proportion to the body, with large round eyes and short muzzle that gives them a distinctive and somewhat grumpy expression. The ears are small and set wide which further accentuates the size and roundness of the face. The body is compact, with short sturdy legs, large round paws with tufted toes and a short, bushy tail. The coat is short, extremely thick and luxuriant, with a soft, dense undercoat.
Lifespan
8 - 15 years
Weight
3 - 6kg
Colours
Comes the same variety of coat colours, patterns and markings, and eye colours as the Persian.
The need-to-know
- Benefits from an experienced owner
- Quiet and sedate cat
- Highly active and inquisitive cat
- Sociable and dependent cat
- Slightly talkative cat
- Average build cat breed
- Requires grooming every day
- Indoor cat
- Great family cat
- Can be regularly left for a few hours
- Great for a relaxed home
This breed has a higher risk of health issues
The Exotic Shorthair cat breed is classified as brachycephalic; problems associated with this condition include;
- Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome: is a condition in brachycephalic (breeds with a short noses and squashed faces) breeds where breathing is obstructed and can lead to severe respiratory distress
- Skin inflammation/infection: brachycephalic breeds have a short nose and a normal amount of facial tissue. This means there is often excess skin around their face which leads to skin folds- which is where soreness and infections are prone to develop
- Eye ulcers: ulcers are painful erosions on the surface of the eye, they are more common in brachycephalic breeds due to their conformation, as their eyes tend to be more bulbous
The breed can also suffer from:
- Polycystic kidney disease which is an inherited condition where cysts form in the kidneys. This affects kidney function and can eventually lead to kidney failure.
Testing available:
- DNA testing for polycystic kidney disease which tests whether or not a cat has the potential to be affected by this condition
Personality
The Exotic Shorthair is a little more active and playful than their long coated Persian cousins, but this is still a much more relaxed and sedentary cat than the average puss, or the leaner built more athletic cat breeds. Friendly and loving to those they know well but inclined to be a little standoff-ish and selective with strangers, the Exotic Shorthair will enjoy a peaceful home, and doesn’t mind spending time on their own on occasion. As long as meals are delivered regularly and affection is doled out when asked for, the Exotic Shorthair is not a busy, demanding or problem-solving cat.
The Exotic Shorthair is in most ways simply a more moderately coated version of the longhaired, flat faced Persian cat. The significant difference is the coat which is much shorter, and this was selectively bred for since the 1960’s by crossing the longhaired Persian cat with the stocky, round faced British Shorthaired cat.
Despite the more moderate coat, the Exotic Shorthair is still very much an indoor cat, with access to a secure garden whilst supervised, or better yet an enclosed ‘catio’ with some choice sunny spots for lazing around in, whilst taking in the fresh air. Not designed for feats of athleticism, and not capable of grooming themselves well, this is a cat you’ll probably have to encourage or even carry outside rather than one who will demand free access to the outdoor world daily!
The Exotic Shorthair will prefer to laze around doing as little as possible and so some time should be spent on encouraging movement without annoying the cat or causing them stress. Simple food dispensing toys can solve this problem, but ensure they are easy as this is not a cat built to hunt even mock prey! Otherwise, they will love a lap, a windowsill or a pile of laundry to sit on and be decorative, and if they can glare at someone and supervise a bit of light housework or paperwork, all the better.
Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.
The Exotic Shorthair requires a thorough grooming daily as their short faces mean they cannot do this effectively themselves, even if it appears they are attempting it. Pay special attention to cleaning around the face and eyes daily, and under the tail after each trip to the litter box. It may be sensible to trim the fur under the tail and around the genital area if your cat is regularly getting dirty in this area.
As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended.
Best suited to a quiet and peaceful home which may rule out homes with very young children or lots of noisy boisterous activity. Although happy enough to be left alone whilst owners work, the Exotic Shorthair does require some maintenance daily and so owners must be prepared for that commitment.
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