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Exotic
Shorthair Breeders
Breed: Exotic (Persian)
Shorthair
By Sue Martin
2004
Body type: Cobby
History of the breed:
The history of the Exotic
started with American breeders when in the 1920’s they began to
cross the American Shorthair with the Persian in an attempt to give
the American Shorthair a more Persian look.
The breeding program resumed
after the 2nd World War and in Britain, breeders used the
British Shorthair to restore the Persian breed, which had almost
been wiped out.
Breed status was gained 1966
but not with controversy – American Shorthaired breeders wanted to
keep their breed true and not have the texture of the coat changed
to plush and the Persian breeders didn’t want this “easy-care”
Persian type in their group and it was from these two origins that
the Exotic breed emerged.
Coat texture and length, colour and pattern:
The Exotic is basically a
shorthaired Persian with the same distinctive head and cobby body.
The coat is where the two
breeds differ, dense (stands out from the body), plush and soft.
Slightly longer than that of the British Shorthair but fuller than
is usual in shorthairs (having the Persian long down hairs), the
coat is not long enough to flow but must be of uniform length.
Colours and patterns are
that of the Persian longhair.
Breed profile review:
Entire Male Black Exotic
Shorthair
It was a pleasure to handle
an exhibit where show presentation had been a priority; bright
yellow show curtains were chosen to enhance the black coat. What a
pleasure it is to walk up to a cage and see clean/ironed curtains,
no smells and no kitty litter sticking to an exhibit’s coat.
The first thing you noticed
about this exhibit is the condition of the coat, dense coal black
coat, that sparkles and the massive round head, tiny ears and eyes
not fully opened, just slits that show you a hint of deep copper
eyes.
Taking the exhibit from the
cage to the judging table, you are able to feel a body of good
substance, slightly heavier than its looks and in good body
condition/spine well padded. A broad deep chest that is in
proportion to size of his cobby body; his legs are thick, indicating
a heavy bone structure.
With your hand supporting
the rear end of the cat, you are able to assess the length of body
and the roundness of the rump; body length – in proportion to leg
length and rump has roundness, doesn’t appear to be rangy or too
high on the leg.
And yes he’s a “male”.
This photograph shows the short, thick
legs/large round paws.
Placed on the judging table
for further assessment, the “box-like” appearance of the cobby body
is evident, again quick assessment of the body confirms a body of
good substance and the tail is short/round tip (in proportion to the
length of the body), no faults.
The head, broad, round and
massive and small round tipped ears that sit wide not taking away
from the round shape of the head. Eyes appear to be rounded but this
exhibit is not inclined to open his eyes fully - colour a deep
golden.
Palpating gently the skull
area, from the nose stop, over forehead and through to the back of
the head – no incorrect depressions or bumps and an ideal Persian
“dome”, round and smooth with good depth. Smooth, semi-circular
arc.
In profile: alignment of
the chin, nose tip and forehead curve is apparent.
o in profile – equal not protruding further than the other.
Assessing the face
Round,
good breadth, full cheeks and the jaw line with good width and round
shape continues to the chin that is firm.
Nose dead centre, eyes – level, equal distant
from nose. Centre of the bottom jaw is directly below the nose
leather. Equal distant from the nose leather to top of head and
equal distant from the nose leather to the bottom of the chin.
The nose- short and broad, nose leather - I would
have liked to see it slightly broader to give a little more flare to
the nostrils (this does not distract from the exhibits breed
features).
This exhibit would nearly have the perfect show
head.
Coat and colour
A good quality jet-black coat – shiny, plush,
soft in texture and standing out from the body. The coat length was
slightly more than finger length.
The colour was sound to the roots, no rust or
white hairs.
The final assessment of this
exhibit is that he meets the standard both in type and colour, and
excels in condition and show presentation
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