Exotic Shorthair Cats The Pet Owner’s Guide to Exotic Shorthair Cats and Kittens Including Buying, Daily Care, Personality, Temperament, Health, Diet, Clubs and Breeders

Exotic Shorthair Cats

The Pet Owner’s Guide to

Exotic Shorthair Cats and Kittens

Including Buying, Daily Care, Personality, Temperament, Health,

Diet and Breeders

Colette Anderson

Smashwords Edition

Published By EKL Publishing (UK)

Copyright 2014 By Colette Anderson

ISBN 978-1-909820-76-0

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Foreword

The Exotic Shorthair is the second most popular of all companion breeds and yet most people outside the cat fancy say they’ve never heard of him. However, when shown pictures of the breed these same people say, without hesitation, Oh, that’s a shorthaired Persian. They are completely correct.

The Exotic Shorthair, now a recognized breed in its own right, began as a cross between the American Shorthair and the Persian. As you will read in the breed history in Chapter 1, the original intent was to create a new variety of silver cat. Instead, the real prize of the hybrid mix turned out to be the quality of the coat, not the color.

Lush, dense, and very low maintenance, the Exotic Shorthair’s coat has won him the title of lazy man’s Persian. Unlike his longhaired cousin, the Exotic gets along just fine with a brushing or combing once a week. He doesn’t mat, he doesn’t tangle, and it’s extremely rare that he ever needs a bath.

In every other respect, the Exotic is very Persian. These cats with their soft voices and adoring eyes are devoted, loyal, and affectionate companions. Arguably a little more playful than the Persian, they are happy to chase toys with you, or to settle down on your lap for a few chapters of a good book.

That is, in fact, how I met my first Exotic Shorthair. While in graduate school, I often accepted jobs to house / pet sit for people who were going to be out of town for an extended period. It was my privilege to not only stay in some lovely homes, but also to meet an interesting variety of pets. Although I have little desire to do it again, I have been both an iguana sitter and a parrot sitter in my time.

My preference, however, was always to stay in homes with a cat. For a summer, while one of my professors was on a visiting teaching assignment in England, I lived in her house and kept company with her Exotic Shorthair, Edward.

At the time, I was familiar with Persians, and although I found them to be lovely cats, could never imagine taking care of the long, flowing Persian coat. Eddie, as I came to call him, was a beautiful Cream Smoke Exotic.

Although his belly was white, he looked, for all the world, like a perfect feline version of a latte. His enormous round copper eyes and the pinkest of pink noses perfectly complimented his lovely light tan coat.

We spent many evenings together sitting on the living room couch surrounded by my research materials. It was always a delight to see him go from placidly snoozing to happily playing when I’d ball up a sheet of paper in frustration and throw it down on the floor.

I don’t know if Eddie was trying to make me laugh through my academic problems, but he always succeeded in doing so. After my professor returned, I often went to see Eddie, who always greeted me with his barely audible voice as if to say, Where have you been? He left me with a permanent affection for this delightful breed.

It was just happenstance that my first encounter was with an Exotic Shorthair male. This is one of the few breeds where gender truly does make a difference. Female Exotics are a bit more independent, but the toms are powerhouses of happy affection.

The Exotic is an excellent family cat that gets along well with children and other animals – or just quietly excuses himself if the situation is not to his liking. Healthy, long-lived, and just easy, you may discover that the Exotic Shorthair is exactly the feline friend for which you’ve been searching.

Acknowledgments

To my wonderful husband Nick, again thank you for all your assistance in helping me research and undertaking the dreaded proof reading. His observations and comments are as always invaluable and without his encouragement I would no doubt have given up on this venture a long time ago.

Just a note to say that I have written this book using American spelling as that is what I’m used to. I have given measurements in both feet and inches/pounds and ounces and also in metric. I have also given costs in US$ and GBP. Both the measurements and costs are approximate guides. I have done my best to ensure the accuracy of the information in this book as at the time of publication.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Introduction

History of the Exotic Shorthair Breed

Physical Characteristics

The Personality of the Exotic Shorthair

Male or Female?

More Than One?

With Children

With Other Pets

Hypoallergenic?

Inside or Out?

Exotic Shorthair Pros and Cons

Pros for the Exotic Shorthair

Cons for the Exotic Shorthair

Chapter 2 – Finding Your Exotic Shorthair

Understanding Breeder Requirements

Formulating Your Own Questions

Ask About Socialization

Judging the Health of a Kitten

Expect Paperwork

Required Spaying and Neutering

Declawing Prohibited

Known Health Conditions

Preparing to Bring a Kitten Home

Approximate Costs

Never Rule Out a Rescue Cat Adoption

Human Health Considerations

Chapter 3 – Daily Care for Your Cat

The Need to Kitten Proof

Beware of Toxic Houseplants

Making an Easy Transition

The Mind of a Cat

Dietary and Nutritional