Understanding the Exotic Shorthair Cat: Breed Standards and Colors

The Exotic Shorthair is a breed of domestic cat developed to be a short-haired version of the Persian. Known for its sweet expression, round features, and plush coat, the Exotic Shorthair possesses a charming and easy-to-care-for temperament that appeals to many cat lovers. This article delves into the breed’s physical characteristics, judging standards, and the extensive array of colors and patterns recognized within the breed.

Physical Characteristics and Judging Standards

The Exotic Shorthair is judged based on a point system that emphasizes its overall balance, refinement, and harmonious appearance. The ideal Exotic Shorthair presents an image of a heavily boned, well-balanced cat with a sweet expression and soft, round lines.

Head (30 points): The head is round and massive, with a great breadth of skull and a round face with round underlying bone structure. It is set on a short, thick neck. The skull is smooth and round to the touch, with a forehead that begins at the top of the break and extends to the back of the head. In profile, the eyes are prominent, and the forehead, nose, and chin appear to be in vertical alignment.
Nose: Short, snub, and broad, with open nostrils and a “break” centered between the eyes.
Cheeks: Full, with a muzzle that is not overly pronounced and blends smoothly into the cheeks.
Jaws: Broad and powerful.
Chin: Full, well-developed, and firmly rounded, indicating a proper bite.
Ears: Small, round-tipped, tilted forward, and not unduly open at the base. They are set far apart and low on the head, fitting into the rounded contour without distorting it.
Eyes: Brilliant in color, large, round, and full. They are set level and far apart, contributing to a sweet facial expression.
Body Type (20 points): The body is of a cobby type, low on the legs, broad, and deep through the chest, with a massive appearance across the shoulders and rump. It has a well-rounded midsection and a level back. Good muscle tone is essential, without any signs of obesity. The size is medium to large, with quality being the primary consideration over sheer size.
Legs: Short, thick, and strong, with forelegs and hind legs appearing straight.
Paws: Large, round, and firm, with toes carried close together. There are five toes in front and four behind.
Tail: Short, in proportion to body length, carried without a curve and at an angle lower than the back.
Coat (10 points): The coat is dense, plush, soft, and full of life, standing out from the body due to a rich, thick undercoat. It is of medium length, with acceptable length depending on the proper undercoat.
Balance (5 points) and Refinement (5 points): These elements are considered the essence of the breed, where all parts come together in a harmonious whole, with neither too much nor too little emphasis on any single feature.
Color (20 points): For cats in the tabby division, the 20 points for color are divided into 10 for markings and 10 for color. For cats in the bi-color division, the 20 points are divided into 10 for the “with white” pattern and 10 for the color itself.
Eye Color (10 points): Specific eye colors are required for different color divisions.

Disqualifications: Several factors can lead to disqualification, including a locket or button on the body, a kinked or abnormal tail, an incorrect number of toes, any apparent weakness in the hindquarters, deformities of the spine or skull resulting in an asymmetrical face or head, crossed eyes, or a nose break level with or higher than the top of the eyes. Additional disqualifications are noted under specific color descriptions.

Exotic Shorthair Colors and Patterns

The Exotic Shorthair boasts an extensive palette of recognized colors and patterns, ranging from solid hues to complex tabby markings and striking pointed patterns.

Solid Division

This division includes a variety of solid colors, each with specific requirements for nose leather, paw pads, and eye color.

White: Pure glistening white. Eyes can be deep blue, brilliant copper, or odd-eyed (one blue, one copper).
Blue: A uniform blue, with lighter shades preferred. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Black: Dense coal black. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Red: Deep, rich, clear, brilliant red. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Cream: One level shade of buff cream. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Chocolate: Rich, warm chocolate-brown. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Lilac: Rich, warm lavender with a pinkish tone. Eyes are brilliant copper.

Silver and Golden Division

These colors feature a specific tipping of darker colors over a lighter undercoat, creating a sparkling appearance.

Chinchilla Silver: Pure white undercoat with the coat sufficiently tipped with black. Eyes are green or blue-green.
Shaded Silver: White undercoat with a mantle of black tipping. Eyes are green or blue-green.
Chinchilla Golden: Pale honey to bright apricot undercoat, tipped with black. Eyes are green or blue-green.
Shaded Golden: Pale honey to bright apricot undercoat with a mantle of black tipping. Eyes are green or blue-green.
Blue Chinchilla Silver/Shaded Silver: Similar to their silver counterparts but with blue tipping. Eyes are green or blue-green.
Blue Chinchilla Golden/Shaded Golden: Similar to their golden counterparts but with blue tipping. Eyes are green or blue-green.

Smoke and Shaded Division

This division includes smoke colors where the undercoat is white, and shaded colors where the tipping is more pronounced.

Shell Cameo (Red Chinchilla): White undercoat lightly tipped with red. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Shaded Cameo (Red Shaded): White undercoat with a mantle of red shading. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Shell Cream (Cream Chinchilla): White undercoat lightly tipped with cream. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Shaded Cream (Cream Shaded): White undercoat with a mantle of cream shading. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Smoke Colors: These have a white undercoat that is deeply tipped with color, appearing solid when in repose. Examples include Black Smoke, Blue Smoke, Cream Smoke, Red Smoke, and their tortie variations. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Shaded Tortoiseshell/Blue-Cream: White undercoat with a mantle of black and red (tortoiseshell) or blue and cream (blue-cream) shading. Eyes are brilliant copper.

Tabby Division

Tabby patterns are characterized by distinct markings and are categorized by the pattern type (classic, mackerel, spotted) and the base color.

Classic Tabby: Broad, dense markings with swirls on the cheeks and a distinctive “M” on the forehead.
Mackerel Tabby: Narrow, dense pencillings running parallel to the spine.
Spotted Tabby: Clearly defined spots that can vary in size and shape.

Colors include Silver Tabby, Silver Patched Tabby, Blue Silver Tabby, Blue Silver Patched Tabby, Red Tabby, Brown Tabby, Brown Patched Tabby, Blue Tabby, Blue Patched Tabby, Cream Tabby, Cameo Tabby, Cream Silver Tabby, Chocolate Tabby, Chocolate Silver Tabby, Chocolate Patched Tabby, Chocolate Silver Patched Tabby, Lilac Tabby, Lilac Silver Tabby, Lilac Patched Tabby, and Lilac Silver Patched Tabby. Eye colors vary depending on the specific color and pattern, often including green, hazel, or brilliant copper.

Parti-Color Division

This division includes cats with distinct patches of color.

Tortoiseshell: Black with patches of red. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Blue-Cream: Blue with patches of cream. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Chocolate Tortoiseshell: Chocolate brown with patches of red. Eyes are brilliant copper.
Lilac-Cream: Lilac with patches of cream. Eyes are brilliant copper.

Calico and Bi-Color Division

These divisions feature patterns that include white combined with other colors and patterns.

Calico: A tri-color cat of black, red, and white.
Dilute Calico: A tri-color cat of blue, cream, and white.
Chocolate Calico/Lilac Calico: Tri-color variations with chocolate or lilac.
Bi-Color: Various combinations of color and white, such as black and white, blue and white, etc.
Smoke and White/Shaded and White: Combinations of smoke or shaded patterns with white.
Tabby and White Variations: Various tabby patterns combined with white. Eye colors can be brilliant copper, blue, or odd-eyed.

Pointed Division (Himalayan Pattern)

This division mirrors the Himalayan (Persian Point) pattern, where the body is a lighter color, and the extremities (ears, face mask, legs, tail) are darker, known as “points.”

Chocolate Point: Ivory body with milk-chocolate points. Eyes are deep vivid blue.
Seal Point: Pale fawn to cream body with deep seal brown points. Eyes are deep vivid blue.
Flame (Red) Point: Creamy white body with deep orange flame points. Eyes are deep vivid blue.
Tortie Point: Creamy white or pale fawn body with seal points having patches of red and/or cream. Eyes are deep vivid blue.
Lilac Point: Glacial white body with frosty grey points. Eyes are deep vivid blue.
Blue Point: Bluish white body with blue points. Eyes are deep vivid blue.
Cream Point: Creamy white body with buff cream points. Eyes are deep vivid blue.
Blue-Cream Point: Bluish white or creamy white body with blue points and patches of cream. Eyes are deep vivid blue.
Chocolate-Tortie Point: Ivory body with chocolate points having patches of red and/or cream. Eyes are deep vivid blue.
Lilac-Cream Point: Glacial white body with lilac points and patches of cream. Eyes are deep vivid blue.

Lynx (Point) Pattern Variations

These are pointed cats with tabby markings on the points and mask, creating a lynx-like appearance.

Variations include Seal Lynx Point, Blue Lynx Point, Flame (Red) Lynx Point, Cream Lynx Point, Tortie Lynx Point, Blue-Cream Lynx Point, Chocolate Lynx Point, Lilac Lynx Point, Chocolate-Tortie Lynx Point, and Lilac-Cream Lynx Point. All have deep vivid blue eyes.

The Exotic Shorthair’s unique combination of a doll-like appearance, easy-care coat, and affectionate nature makes it a highly sought-after breed for families and individuals alike. Understanding the breed standards and the vast array of colors ensures appreciation for the diversity and beauty of this charming feline companion.

Cats