--- title: "Exotic Shorthair cat guide — UK costs, flat-face health & care" description: "Exotic Shorthair guide for UK owners: brachycephalic breathing and eye problems, PKD testing, temperament, real UK vet costs, insurance and kitten prices." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "The Vet Price Comparison Site", "alternateName": "VetPrices", "url": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "The Vet Price Comparison Site", "alternateName": "VetPrices", "url": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk", "logo": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/web-app-manifest-512x512.png" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Guides", "item": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/guides" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Cat breeds", "item": "https://vetpricecomparisonsite.co.uk/guides" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Exotic Shorthair" } ] } ] --- [How It Works](/#how-it-works)[Pricing Map](/county-pricing)[About Us](/#who-we-are) [![The Vet Price Comparison Site](/assets/logo-v3-BBKbOnyg.webp)](/) [Blog](/blog)[For Vets](/for-vets)[Claim Your Listing](/practice/claim) 1. [Guides](/guides) 2. [Cat breeds](/guides) 3. Exotic Shorthair ![Exotic Shorthair](/guides/exotic-shorthair-hero.jpg) Complete UK breed guide # Exotic Shorthair The Exotic Shorthair is a Persian in a wash-and-go coat - the same round face, big copper eyes and calm, undemanding nature, without the daily hour of grooming. That trade-off has made it one of the fastest-growing pedigree cats in Britain. What does not change with the shorter coat is the flat face, and the breathing, eye and dental problems that come with it are the single most important thing a prospective owner needs to understand. [History and background](#history-and-background)[Temperament and family life](#temperament-and-family-life)[Common health issues](#common-health-issues)[Costs of owning an Exotic Shorthair in the UK](#costs-of-owning-an-exotic-shorthair-in-the-uk)[Insurance considerations](#insurance-considerations) ## History and background The Exotic began as an accident in 1950s America, when breeders crossed Persians with American Shorthairs to improve coat colour and instead produced a short-coated cat with a Persian head. It was recognised as its own breed in 1966 and reached Britain in the 1980s. Under GCCF rules Exotics can still be outcrossed to Persians, which is why the two breeds share a health profile almost exactly - and why a longhaired kitten occasionally appears in an Exotic litter. ## Temperament and family life Exotics are among the easiest cats to live with. They are quiet, affectionate, slow-moving and completely unflappable - happy to be picked up, tolerant of children and dogs, and content in a flat. They are more playful than a Persian but still spend most of the day asleep. Because they are so placid, weight gain is the standard problem; a bored, overfed Exotic reaches six kilos very easily, which makes an already-difficult airway worse. ## Common health issues Almost everything on this list comes from the flat face. **Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome** causes snoring, open-mouth breathing after mild exertion and poor heat tolerance; severe cases need surgery. The shortened tear ducts cause chronic **epiphora** - constant eye weeping that stains the face and needs daily cleaning - and the shallow eye sockets make **corneal ulcers** common after minor knocks. The compressed jaw causes **dental crowding and malocclusion**, so periodontal disease starts young. Separately, **polycystic kidney disease** runs in Persian lines and has a DNA test that every breeder should be using, and **hypertrophic cardiomyopathy** is over-represented. Ask specifically whether the parents were PKD-negative by DNA test rather than by scan. ## Costs of owning an Exotic Shorthair in the UK Registered kittens cost £700-£1,500. The running costs are higher than the placid nature suggests: expect annual dental attention, regular eye care, and a real possibility of airway surgery. A soft-palate and nostril procedure typically runs £900-£1,800 in the UK, a corneal ulcer repair £400-£900, and a dental with extractions £350-£700. Routine spend lands around £400-£850 a year with £70-£120 a month all in. Our [adult cat cost calculator](/calculators/adult-cat) shows what practices near you actually charge for consultations, vaccinations and dentals. ## Insurance considerations Insure from day one and read the brachycephalic wording carefully - a growing number of UK insurers now exclude conditions arising from conformation in flat-faced breeds, or apply a higher excess to them. Choose a **lifetime policy with at least £5,000 of annual cover**, and get any snoring or eye weeping properly recorded and treated early rather than mentioned in passing, because a vague note on the history is the easiest route to a later exclusion. ## Frequently asked questions What is the difference between an Exotic Shorthair and a British Shorthair? Both are round and stocky, but the Exotic has the flat Persian face and the health issues that come with it. The British Shorthair has a normal muzzle, breathes normally and is generally a healthier cat. Do Exotic Shorthairs shed a lot? Yes, more than owners expect. The coat is short but very dense and there is a heavy spring moult. Brush twice a week and daily during the moult. Why do my Exotic's eyes always run? The flat face shortens and kinks the tear ducts, so tears spill onto the face instead of draining. Daily wiping with cooled boiled water keeps the folds clean; a sudden increase, squinting or cloudiness means a vet visit that day, as corneal ulcers are common in this breed. Are Exotic Shorthairs good for first-time owners? Temperamentally, yes - they are calm and easy. Practically, they need a committed owner who will do daily eye care and budget for airway and dental costs that most cats never incur. ## Related breeds - [Persian ](/guides/cat-breeds/persian) - [British Shorthair ](/guides/cat-breeds/british-shorthair) - [Scottish Fold ](/guides/cat-breeds/scottish-fold) By The Vet Price Comparison Site editorial team · Last reviewed 4 August 2026. Sources: RCVS, The Kennel Club, RVC VetCompass, ABI, and our live UK practice pricing dataset. ## Exotic Shorthair at a glance Life span 12-15 years Adult weight 4-6.5 kg Height 25-30 cm Breed group Cobby shorthair Exercise Low - short gentle play sessions Grooming Twice-weekly brushing plus daily eye cleaning Annual vet cost £400-£850 ## Breed traits Rated 1–5 by our editorial team - Friendliness 5/5 - Intelligence 3/5 - Trainability 2/5 - Energy level 2/5 - Grooming needs 3/5 - Shedding 3/5 - Barking tendency 1/5 - Good with children 5/5 - Good with other pets 5/5 - Apartment friendly 5/5 ## Compare vet prices near you Search cat treatment prices across 5,900+ UK practices in seconds. [Find a vet](/) [![The Vet Price Comparison Site](/assets/logo-v3-BBKbOnyg.webp)](/) The UK's leading vet price comparison site. 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