Exotic Shorthair

The Exotic Shorthair Cat has a coat that is medium in length. The coat is soft. dense and plush. The undercoat is thick and the hair is not close lying. The large eyes are round and bright setting level and apart. The color reflects the color of the coat. The small ears are slightly forward and round tipped. They are set wide and low on a huge. round head. The Exotic Shorthair cats have a nose that is short and wide with full cheeks. The body is large or medium in size with a wide chest. The legs are short and strong. The tail is short and usually carried with a curve.
The Exotic Shorthair must conform to the Persian standard for type and colour; the difference is in the hair length. The colours and patterns are recognised as for Persians.
Head: Round and massive with great breadth of skull; well balanced. Full cheeks, round forehead.
Short, broad nose with stop centred between the eyes - nose leather broad, with open nasal apertures
Small, round-tipped ears, set wide apart and low on the head, with full ear furnishings.
Strong chin. Broad and powerful jaws.
Short, thick neck.
Large, full, round eyes; brilliant and set wide apart.
Sweet, open expression.
Coat: Dense, plushy, soft in texture; standing out from the body due to density, not lying flat. Slightly longer than the coat of the British Short hair but not long enough to flow. Of uniform length, except in kittens, which may retain guard hairs.

During the 1950's American Short hair breeders decided to cross their cats with Persian's. The Persian breed had become increasingly popular and breeders recognized that they could potentially create American Short hairs with better body types and that they may also inherit the beautiful silver colour in their fur. Like Persians, the hybrids were popular at shows - their heads had become rounder, their noses shorter and there fur longer and silkier.