Somali vs Exotic Shorthair - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Somali vs Exotic Shorthair - Breed ComparisonBoth Exotic Shorthair and Somali are originated from United States. Both Exotic Shorthair and Somali are of same weight. Both Exotic Shorthair and Somali has almost same life span. Both Exotic Shorthair and Somali has same litter size. Exotic Shorthair requires Low Maintenance. But Somali requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

undefined
United States
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 17 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
The Lazy Man's Persian
None
Colors Available:
Lots of colors and patterns - chinchilla silver, bicolor, tabby, tortoiseshell
Coat of many colors - mostly brownish color with black ticking.
Coat:
Shortish and plush
Medoum length, soft and silky
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

exotic shorthairThe Exotic Shorthair cat is such a sweet-faced cat that it is often referred to as the ‘lazy man’s Persian. This is because the face is also flat and pushed in like the Persian cat.

The Exotic Shorthair was in fact developed as a short-haired version of the Persian. It was in the 1950s that the Persian was used to mate with other breeds such as the Burmese.

The crossbreed gained recognition but some American Shorthair breeders produced a new breed standard that would disqualify American Shorthairs that showed any signs of crossbreeding.

It was in 1966 that the Cat Fanciers Association recognized the cat as a new breed and under the name Exotic Shorthair.

somaliThe Somali is a medium- to longhaired Abyssinian. It was in Britain that the original introduction of the longhaired gene took place.

The first Somali cats came about in 1940 and it was British breeder Janet Robertson who exported some of her Abyssinian kittens to New Zealand, Australia and North America, Australia. Most of the kittens had long hair and breeders started showing an interest.

An American Abyssinian breeder Evelyn Mague decided to call her cats Somalis and the breed was recognized internationally by 1991.

Description

exotic shorthair kitten - descriptionDeveloped through crosses between Persians and American Shorthairs as well as other cat breeds, the Exotic Shorthair looks like the Persian but he has a short coat.

The coat is found in the same colors as the Persian cat – patterns and solid colors, ranging from chinchilla silver to tabby, tortoiseshell, black and white and bicolor. The eyes are large and round, the ears small and round and the tail fairly short and thick.

Temperament:

The Exotic Shorthair is a sweet, gentle, calm cat but a bit livelier than the Persian. They’re lively, friendly, and playful, but are also cats that like to sit in your lap and be stroked.

They get on well with children and other pets, being a loyal friend to the entire family. He quietly communicates with his human family with a soft voice. He is also quite adaptable to living conditions so long as his human family provides him with lots of attention.

He won’t want to be left for long periods of time on his own so he won’t suit living in a home where he is left alone all day.

somali kitten - descriptionThe beautiful Somali is a medium-sized cat which means he weighs in the region of 3 to 6kg. He is muscular and lean with the ears being set wide apart.

The ears are also tufted. The eyes of the Somali are almond-shaped and are usually a brown shade or green in color. The legs are long and the paws are also somewhat tufted. The tail is well plumed.

The Somali's coat is lovely and soft, while being thick and lustrous. The adult cats have a ruff. The Somali's coat comes in a range of colors but the most regular color is a beautiful brownish color with black ticking.

Temperament:

The Somali is an intelligent cat that relies heavily on its human owners for company as well as love and care.

They’re fun-loving cats that get on well with children in the home and from other pets. They are active cats and will need exercise. They should have some high perches and cat trees available so they can jump and climb.

Characteristics

exotic shorthair cat - characteristicsYour Exotic Shorthair is a loving cat and for those who prefer, it is a cat that is livelier than the Persian. While the Exotic Shorthair also has a mellow personality, because of its shorthair ancestors, it's more active.

This Exotic cat can live to be 15, 16, or 17 if you care for him well and that means you have 15 years to share with a most wonderful feline companion.

somali cat - characteristicsThe Somali is such a loving and affectionate cat, just loving to spend time with her human family.

Thanks to the cat’s good looks and lovely personality, this low-maintenance cat is a firm favourite when looking for a splendid pet and companion.

Health Problems

exotic shorthair kittens - health problemsWith the Exotic Shorthair, some of the diseases are genetic while others can be encouraged by poor diet and lifestyle.

Obesity for instance is a major disease of cats and it contributes to many serious illnesses in cats. Excess weight shortens your cat’s life and contributes to arthritis and diabetes. The extra weight puts a strain on the cat's joints. Shedding just a little bit of weight can result in improved mobility.

Dental disease is a common chronic problem in pets. Make sure to check inside your cat’s mouth from time to time as serious dental problems can cause pain and interfere with the health of your cat’s important organs such as heart and kidneys.

All kinds of parasites can invade your Exotic Shorthair's body, internally and externally – worms, fleas, and ticks - and cause your pet a tremendous amount of pain and discomfort.

Brachycephalic Syndrome is a respiratory distress syndrome and it mostly affects what is known as brachycephalic cats – those cat with snub faces like the Exotic Shorthair.

The flattened features of the face make it that there is less space for the tissue to grow. The soft area at the back of the roof of the mouth hangs into the airway, obstructing it, and they can’t breathe normally. Sometimes the cats will require surgery to allow for more regular breathing.

somali kittens - health problemsAlthough the Somali cat breed is healthy, as with many other cat breeds, there are a few hereditary diseases found in the Abyssinian that may be linked to this breed too. Look out for eye problems with the cat as well as anaemia.

Progressive retinal atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a degenerative disorder of the retina. This eye disease can either be inherited or acquired.

When a cat gets sick there are some antibiotics that have been associated with progressive retinal atrophy in cats. Cats can also develop vision loss if their diet is deficient.

You have to be very aware of your cat’s diet and ensure that he is getting all the right ingredients, one of which is amino acid taurine. If you can see that your cat is battling to see, you should get him immediately to the vet.even though there is no treatment for PRA. . The vet will explain to you how to make life more comfortable for your pet.

Anemia

Anemia isn’t a specific disease with your cat but rather the result of some other disease or condition. The most common sign that your cat has anemia is that you won’t find that normal pink color of the gums. Your cat will be listless and there may also be signs of blood loss such as blood in the feces or urine. Your vet will do several tests to diagnose the anemia.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

exotic shorthair cats - caringIt is important to understand the type of foods available to your pet and how often and how much to feed him.

Most cats prefer to eat several small meals a day as opposed to a couple of large ones. Make feed times interesting and provide food puzzles to have your cat ‘prey’ for food.

Always read and understand the labels on the cat food packaging and be sure to always feed your Exotic Shorthair with the very best food there is and to follow the portion guides.

If you’re in any doubt or your cat doesn’t want to eat his food, try something else or speak to your vet about how to be sure your cat is getting fed the best food there is.

Make sure to have your kitten vaccinated as required. Also, when you take your kitten in to be vaccinated, the vet will also perform a check-up to make sure your kitten is healthy as these cats are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections.

Your cat has a short, low maintenance coat. A brush once a week can get rid of loose hairs and you and your cat will both enjoy the therapeutic bonding between the two of you.

Check your cat’s inner ears for wax and debris as well as for signs of any infection, and if you don’t want to do that, professional cat groomers can do it for you.

somali cats - caringCats can sometimes be finicky eaters and even the most delectable morsels might be ignored.

Every cat is unique but every cat is a carnivore – a meat eater – and requires a host of nutrients in their food to be healthy. Commercial cat foods aren’t all one and the same. You get different food for kittens, different foods for young adults, for pregnant cats, for energetic cats, and so on.

There is cat food for every season of a cat’s life. Other important considerations are feeding the right quantity of food to your cat.

Brush your Somali cat each week to keep the coat soft and silky.

Provide your cat with a litter box and empty out the feces every day.

Provide your cat with bowls, bed, scratching post, climbing tree, and toys.

Have your cat spayed or neutered to prevent kittens.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Exotic Shorthair vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Exotic Shorthair vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Exotic Shorthair vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Exotic Shorthair vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Exotic Shorthair vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Exotic Shorthair vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Exotic Shorthair vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Exotic Shorthair vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Exotic Shorthair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Exotic Shorthair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Exotic Shorthair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Exotic Shorthair vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Exotic Shorthair vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Exotic Shorthair vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Exotic Shorthair vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Exotic Shorthair vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Exotic Shorthair vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Exotic Shorthair vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Exotic Shorthair vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Exotic Shorthair vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Exotic Shorthair vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Exotic Shorthair vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Exotic Shorthair vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Exotic Shorthair vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Exotic Shorthair vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. Somali vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. Somali vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. Somali vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. Somali vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. Somali vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. Somali vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. Somali vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. Somali vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. Somali vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. Somali vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Somali vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Somali vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. Somali vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. Somali vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. Somali vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. Somali vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. Somali vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. Somali vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. Somali vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. Somali vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. Somali vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. Somali vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. Somali vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. Somali vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. Somali vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison