Exotic Shorthair

By the WhatPetShouldIGet Expert Team · Reviewed against veterinary & animal-welfare sources · Updated Aug 22, 2026

🐈 Average😌 Low energy🧼 Low grooming🧹 Some shedding🤫 Quiet🛋️ Lap animal🙂 Careful kids$$$

Exotic Shorthairs can do well with children who already know how to be calm and gentle. Expect an average-sized cat that is low-energy, sheds a normal amount and needs very little grooming. It is a committed lap animal, so expect company whether or not you asked for it.

The numbers

We could not find a lifespan or weight for Exotic Shorthairs from a source we trust, so rather than invent one we have left this blank. For scale, UK cats overall average 11.74 years measured from birth.

Source: Teng et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2024).

What Exotic Shorthairs are actually like

Day to day. Low-energy — a warm spot and a bit of gentle play is genuinely all this one asks for, which makes it one of the easiest cats to live with.

The coat, honestly. This breed sheds a normal amount and needs very little grooming. A brush a few times a week and the occasional tidy-up keeps it in good order.

Company and noise. This one is a committed lap animal and quiet. Expect it on your lap, your keyboard and your chest at six in the morning — a cat bred for closeness does not negotiate.

Get one if…

You want a calm animal that mostly sleeps somewhere warm
You want a cat whose coat looks after itself
You want an animal that actually sits on you, not just near you
You want a quiet home

Think again if…

You want a pet that entertains itself while you get on with things
A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year
A shelter cat would do everything this one does for a fraction of the price

The short version: Exotic Shorthairs suit a home that is fairly calm, is happy to be climbed on, and is not fussy about coat care. Meet the cat itself before deciding.

Health worth knowing about

⚕️ This is a flat-faced breed. Flat faces look cute but make breathing harder, especially in heat or exercise — vets and animal-welfare groups have real concerns about it. Ask a vet what to look for before you choose one.

⚕️ This breed is prone to polycystic kidney disease. There is a genetic test for it, so ask whoever you get the cat from whether the parents were tested.

Every animal is an individual, and plenty of Exotic Shorthairs live long, healthy lives. This is here so nobody is surprised — ask a vet, and ask whoever you get the cat from what they have tested for.

What it costs to keep one

Rough running cost: $$$ (one of the pricier cats on our list) — because the breed has known health issues that can mean extra vet visits.

Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.

Looking for one? Start at a shelter

Rescues do have Exotic Shorthairs and Exotic Shorthair crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.

🏠 Find a shelter near you 📖 Why we say adopt first 🐾 About shelter cats

🤩 Fun fact: Exotics are nicknamed "the lazy man's Persian" because they need so much less grooming.

Often compared with

Scottish Fold

The cat with folded ears — sweet-natured, and carrying a genuine welfare problem you should read about first.

🐈 Average😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding

Persian

The classic long-haired lap cat — placid, quiet, and a daily grooming commitment.

🐈 Average😌 Low energy🌬️ Heavy shed

Birman

A gentle, quiet colourpointed cat wearing four neat white gloves.

🐈 Average😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding

❓ Common questions about Exotic Shorthairs

Is an Exotic Shorthair good with kids?

They can be, with children who are already calm and gentle around animals. Exotic Shorthairs suit families with school-age kids better than families with toddlers.

Do Exotic Shorthairs shed a lot?

A normal amount. Regular brushing keeps most of it off your furniture.

Can an Exotic Shorthair be left alone during the day?

Less happily than most cats. This breed was bred for close human company and tends to be vocal and unsettled when the house is empty all day — two cats together suits it far better than one alone.

Is an Exotic Shorthair a good first cat?

It can be, for a household with older children and realistic expectations about how much this breed wants to be handled.

Should I get an Exotic Shorthair?

Exotic Shorthairs suit a home that is fairly calm, is happy to be climbed on, and is not fussy about coat care. Meet the cat itself before deciding. Get one if: You want a calm animal that mostly sleeps somewhere warm; You want a cat whose coat looks after itself; You want an animal that actually sits on you, not just near you; You want a quiet home. Think again if: You want a pet that entertains itself while you get on with things; A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year; A shelter cat would do everything this one does for a fraction of the price.

🐾 Find your best cat match 📚 Full cat care guide ✅ Am I ready for a cat?

📚 Where this comes from

We check our care advice against vets, animal charities, and government health guidance. Here is what this page is built on.

Vets, charities & official guidance

Keeper & species-community guides

Dog and cat allergies — Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Checked August 2026. These are other people’s websites, and none of it replaces your own vet — if a pet seems unwell, call one.