Exotic Shorthair Cats: What to Know Before Getting One

Exotic Shorthair cats are essentially shorthaired Persians — same flat face, round body, and calm temperament, but with a plush, easy-care coat instead of a long one. They suit people who want a Persian's look and personality without daily long-hair grooming, but they still need regular face and eye care, and they are not a low-maintenance breed. If you want one, expect to buy from a breeder who registers with a major association, tests for PKD, and can show you the pedigree.

What an Exotic Shorthair actually is

The breed was developed by crossing Persians with American Shorthairs to get the Persian type in a shorter coat. The result:

• Body and face: cobby build, large round head, short nose, big round eyes — the "flat-faced" (brachycephalic) look.
• Coat: short, dense, plush — often described as a "teddy bear" coat. Far less matting than a Persian.
• Temperament: typically quiet, affectionate, and laid-back. Many are happy to sit in a lap for long stretches.
• Colors and patterns: all Persian colors and patterns appear, including bicolor and calico divisions.

Purfurvid Cattery, a CFA-registered cattery in California, describes itself as specializing in bicolor/calico division Exotic Shorthair and Persian cats, and states that all its cats are DNA PKD negative. That combination — a stated color specialty plus a stated health test — is the kind of specific information a serious breeder tends to publish.

Daily care: what you are signing up for

The short coat is the main advantage, but it does not remove grooming work.

The face and eye routine is the part new owners underestimate. A flat-faced cat cannot clean its own face effectively, so you do it. Skipping it can lead to skin irritation and infection in the folds.

Health: what to ask about and why

Because Exotic Shorthairs share the Persian's body type, they share some of its health risks.

• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): an inherited condition. Reputable breeders test breeding cats and can tell you the results. Purfurvid states its cats are DNA PKD negative — a specific, checkable claim.
• Brachycephalic issues: breathing, tear drainage, and dental problems are more common in flat-faced cats. Ask how the breeder manages this in their lines.
• General screening: ask what other tests the breeder runs and whether they will put health terms in the contract.

A breeder who answers these questions with specifics — test names, results, association titles — is giving you something to verify. Vague reassurance is not.

How to judge a breeder

Use the same checklist whether you find a cattery through a breed club, a show, or a search.

1. Registration: the cattery should be registered with a recognized association. Purfurvid, for example, states it exclusively registers and shows in CFA and is a CFA Cattery of Distinction.
2. Show and title record: titled cats (Grand Champion, Distinguished Merit, National/Regional Winner) suggest the breeder participates in the breed community and breeds to a standard. Purfurvid lists CFA Grand Champions, Distinguished Merits, National Winners, and Regional Winners in its lines.
3. Health testing: ask directly about PKD status and any other tests. Get it in writing.
4. Contract: confirm what it covers — health guarantee, return policy, spay/neuter terms, and whether registration papers are included.
5. See the cats: visit if possible, or ask for current photos and video of the kittens and the parents' living conditions.
6. Ask about waitlists and availability: good breeders often have waiting lists rather than kittens ready on demand. Purfurvid, for instance, offers an email alert for when its Available page is updated — a sign that availability changes and is not always instant.

Red flags: no association registration, no health testing information, kittens available immediately in large numbers, refusal to let you see the parents or the facility, and pressure to pay before you have seen a contract.

Is an Exotic Shorthair right for you?

Good fit if you:

• Want a calm, affectionate indoor companion
• Are willing to do daily face and eye care
• Prefer a plush coat without long-hair grooming
• Can commit to a breeder relationship and a contract

Think twice if you:

• Want a cat that needs almost no grooming at all
• Are not comfortable cleaning facial folds and eyes daily
• Want a highly active, athletic cat — this is a laid-back breed
• Cannot verify the breeder's health testing and registration

Before you commit

Confirm four things in writing: the registering association and cattery name, the PKD test status of the breeding cats, the health guarantee terms, and what happens if you can no longer keep the cat. If a breeder cannot or will not provide these, keep looking.