Exotic Shorthair vs Domestic Mediumhair - Breed Comparison

It is unclear as to whether the Domestic Mediumhair comes from Egypt, Europe or the USA.

It is a mixed breed cat that no one can be sure how it's going to look. It is why they are often referred to as mutts and you’ll likely find them in animal shelters.

It was thought they arrived in America with the Pilgrims, who brought them aboard the ships to take care of the rodent population. Mixed breeding between many generations of cats brought about the Domestic Medium Hair.

The 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.

This is a medium-sized cat that weighs in the region of 3 – 6kg. They stand at about 30cm in height but there is no set standard with these cats and their looks and temperaments can vary.

It's a medium built cat, not too thick-set or not too slight. The medium-length coat is thick and double-coated and can be in every color and pattern, including tabby and tortoiseshell.

The eyes can be different shades and the ears large or small too while the tail can also vary in length and bushiness.

Temperament

Because the Domestic Medium Hair is of mixed ancestry, their temperaments can vary. Some are quiet and docile while other can be very energetic and have a lot to say. Most of them are loving, loyal cats that get on well with childre and other pes in the house. Some are also more independent than others, but a lot can deped on the way you bring your cat up.

Developed 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.

Domestic Medium Hairs come in so many different shapes, sizes and personalities. You’ll also find lots of colors, patterns and personalities with this cat as much depends on the cat’s ancestry.

Even when you choose a kitten, you can’t really know what you’re going to get – large or small, lively or quiet, independent or needy – its what makes owning a Domestic Mediumhair so fascinating.

One thing every one of them has in common is that they love their human family and they deserve to all receive unconditional care and companionship.

Your 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.

With the Domestic medium hair cat having a mixed ancestry, they are cats that don’t easily succumb to illness.

You’ll find that the health issues that are common to this cat are typically common to all cat breeds. Some of these typical illnesses are diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, dental problems and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease.

All these illnesses can shorten your cat's life. Gut health is of critical importance so be sure to provide your cat with a top-quality diet.

With 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.

Grooming:

The Domestic Medium Hair has a thick, double coat, and to avoid hairballs and matting, he will need to be brushed at least once a week. Set aside this brushing time to examine your cat’s eyes, the inside of his ears, inside his mouth for bad teeth, to check the length of his claws and to feel for unusual new lumps.

Diet:

Your cat's diet is as important as life itself. Your cat is a carnivore and should be fed meat. He won’t do well on carbs. Speak to your vet if you’re unsure about how to feed your cat.

Meanwhile, there are some excellent commercially manufactured cat foods on the market and if you choose the best ones with meat at the top of the ingredients list, you can be doing the right thing.

Make sure your kitty kat has constant access to fresh, cool drinking water.

Kittens start with 4 meals a day while the older cat will do well on 2 meals a day. It is most important to feed your kitten the very best food – the correct diet – because their bones, brain, coat and energy all depend on this for the rest of their lives.

Remember too that there are cat foods that cater to the different seasons of your cats life. A kitten, young adult, energetic breed, pregnant cat, a cat with disease, and a senior cat will all have a choice of foods made by the top brand cat food manufacturers. Each food caters specifically for the cat’s unique needs.

Keep your cat's vaccines and de-worming up to date. Parasites left unchecked can make your cat sick.

You can provide your cat with all the best food, toys, comfy bedding and medical care you like, but if you don’t provide him with love and attention, it will all be in vain.

Diet:

It 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.