Exotic shorthair

In the 1950s in the United States, the domestic shorthair, which later became the American Shorthair, was strongly challenged by the British Shorthair, a British cat breed with similar development and a very recognizable morphological type. In order to obtain American Shorthairs with a rounder appearance, American breeders crossed a green-eyed Persian with an American Shorthair. Kittens from these crosses were gradually introduced into American Shorthair lines, however, the most typical individuals retained the characteristic morphology of the Persian while having a short-haired coat: the ancestors of the Exotic were born. These "short-haired Persians" were carefully selected. New crosses were carried out by breeders to stabilize the breed. They notably used the Persian and British Shorthair, but also the Burmese and even the Russian Blue, to give their fur a fluffy appearance. If originally the coat of these "short-haired Persians" was silver, which nearly led to the breed being called "Sterling," new colors appeared quickly. The Exotic Shorthair was first presented at a cat show in the United States in 1960. Despite resistance from some Persian breeders, the breed was definitively recognized in 1967. Subsequently, the breed was registered in 1984 by the International Cat Federation (FIFe), then in 1989 by The International Cat Association (TICA). The breed has enjoyed great success in the United States but is far from achieving the fame of the Persian. In Canada, the Exotic Shorthair was the most popular cat breed between 2016 and 2019, according to the Canadian Cat Association.

The Exotic Shorthair has a calm, affectionate, and playful temperament. Some say it is slightly more active than the Persian, although this is not an established fact. It is also said to be easy-going and adapts well to apartment living. These character traits remain quite individual and are first and foremost a function of each cat's history.