Breeding programs designed to improve the lines of the American short hair cat in the 1950s resulted in the creation of felines now known as Exotic shorthair cats.  In these programs, Persians crossed with American Shorthairs sometimes produced shorthaired offsprings that were decidedly exotic in appearance.  This breeding program was later echoed in Britain with British Shorthairs and Persians.  The animals produced should have conformed in type to the standards accepted for Persians but instead they have a short coat.  This Exotic cat’s short hair makes it an ideal pet for anyone who likes the short face and stocky type of a Persian but could not cope with the grooming requirements of the longhaired animals.

Exotic cats are basically a shorthaired Persian.  They look like Persians with the notable exception of the thick, medium length coat.  They are medium to large, heavy boned with a short, compact body.  Exotic cats have soft rounded lines with short legs and a short tail.  These animals have massive round heads, round eyes set well apart and the characteristic Persian snub nose and small rounded, widely set ears.  A dense, plush coat lends the Exotic cat to have a teddy bear look.  There are nearly one hundred patterns and colors that give the Exotic cats an extensive wardrobe.