Breed: Exotic Shorthair
Exotic Shorthair: grooming and care
CFA traces the Exotic to Persians crossed with American Shorthairs in the 1950s and then bred back to Persians, which is why it looks like a Persian with a crew cut. The face takes the daily attention; the coat asks for less than its plush look suggests, except when it sheds.
The coat
The plush coat stands off the body on a thick undercoat, and that undercoat is what sheds
CFA's standard describes the Exotic's coat as dense, plush, soft and full of life, medium in length, and standing out from the body because of a rich, thick undercoat. In practice that is the Persian's undercoat under a shorter top layer. Press a hand into it and it gives like a cushion rather than lying flat, and it hides how much loose hair it is carrying until a comb goes through it.
CFA calls Exotics heavier, mostly seasonal shedders that need regular bathing and grooming, then adds that the time commitment is not burdensome. Mats are uncommon, it says, though they can form on a neglected coat. VCA's breed profile sizes the job the same way: less grooming than a Persian, with weekly brushing enough, and a shedding score of 3 out of 5.
- Dense, plush and soft, medium in length (CFA)
- A rich, thick undercoat holds the coat off the body (CFA)
- Heavier, mostly seasonal shedding (CFA); 3 out of 5 (VCA)
- Mats are uncommon unless the coat is neglected (CFA)
The face
The face is the daily job: the corners of the eyes and the fold beside the nose
VCA's profile says that because of its flat face the Exotic is prone to overflowing tears that stain the fur under the eyes. International Cat Care explains the mechanism in its article on flat-faced Persians: the short ducts that would normally carry tears into the nose are deformed in brachycephalic breeds, so tears cannot drain properly, the eyes run, and the skin below them can stay wet enough to develop sores.
The same article notes that excessive skin folds on the face may predispose a cat to bacterial or fungal skin infections, and that the corner of the eye and the side of the nose often need regular cleaning. For an Exotic that means plain warm water on a soft cloth once a day, and a dry pad straight afterward, because a fold left damp is where trouble starts. Keep stain removers and other products away from the eyes unless your vet picks one.
- 01
Sit the cat on your lap facing away from you, or on a towel on a table
- 02
Dampen a soft cloth or cotton pad with plain warm water
- 03
Wipe from the inner corner of each eye downward, using a clean side for the second eye
- 04
Clean the fold beside the nose with a fresh, damp corner of the cloth
- 05
Pat both areas dry with a clean pad so no moisture stays in the fold
- 06
Look at what came away: thick, yellow or green discharge, or a red or half-closed eye, goes to your vet
Through the year
A weekly comb covers most of the year, and a bath clears the seasonal shed
CFA's own routine is short: a steel or Teflon-coated comb once a week for most of the year, and in shedding season a bath may be necessary to remove the undercoat that has built up. On this coat the comb does more than a brush. A soft brush skims the plush top and leaves the undercoat in place, while a comb with medium teeth reaches the skin and draws the loose layer out with it.
Through a Cape Ann heating season, dry indoor air puts static in the coat, and loose undercoat clings to the cat and to everything it lies on. When the comb fills every time you use it, move to two or three sessions a week. If it still fills after a week of that, the shed has arrived, and that is the point CFA describes for a bath, at home if your cat accepts water or at the studio if not.
- Every week: a steel comb through the whole coat, down to the skin
- In a shed: two or three comb sessions a week
- When the comb keeps filling: a bath to lift the undercoat (CFA)
- Every day, all year: the eye and nose wipe
At the studio
At the studio an Exotic usually needs the Full Bath, and only rarely a shave
Book the Full Bath at $95 when the shed outruns your comb. It is a bath with water, a brush-out and a nail clip, and the brush-out after the water lifts undercoat from close to the skin that a home comb leaves behind. A medium-length coat also dries far sooner than a full Persian coat, which shortens the session, and that matters on a flat face: International Cat Care notes that brachycephalic cats can struggle to breathe through very narrow nostrils.
Minimal Trims at $45, a trim and partial shave without a bath, tidies long hair at the eye corners or a soiled rear, and a nail clip on its own is $20. The Full Service at $120 adds shaving and trims to a full bath; an Exotic coat seldom needs it, since CFA says mats are uncommon unless the coat has been neglected. Every cat is assessed for coat and temperament before the groom starts, and the groomer confirms the service with you.
Exotics are groomed in a quiet room at 210 Eastern Ave in Gloucester, away from the dog floors, by cat behavior specialists who keep restraint light and the pace unhurried. On a humid Cape Ann summer day, book an early slot, keep the carrier out of the sun on the drive, and mention snoring or noisy breathing in the booking notes. A cat that cannot be groomed safely on the day is referred to your vet.
Vet first
Sore skin under the eyes or a red eye goes to your vet before the groomer
Staining is expected on this face; damage is not. International Cat Care describes flat-faced cats with large, prominent eyes and a reduced ability to close the eyelids, which leaves the surface of the eye more exposed, and it particularly recommends veterinary check-ups at least once a year for these breeds. A groomer can keep the fur around the eyes short and clean, but cannot treat the skin underneath it or the eye itself.
Watch for a change rather than the usual brown tint: discharge that turns thick or colored, a raw or weeping patch in the fold beside the nose, an eye held half shut, or a cat that keeps pawing at its face. Book your vet first and bring the notes to the studio afterward. For evenings and weekends, the City of Gloucester lists local veterinary offices, and Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn is open 24 hours.
- Raw or weeping skin under the eyes or beside the nose
- An eye that is red, cloudy or held half shut
- Discharge that turns thick, yellow or green
- Noisy or open-mouth breathing while the cat is resting
At Dogtown
Grooming for a flat-faced cat
The quiet cat room in Gloucester and its four services, from a $20 nail clip to the $120 Full Service.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Is an Exotic Shorthair easier to groom than a Persian?
Should I shave my Exotic Shorthair for the summer?
Why are my Exotic's tear stains getting worse?
Can you trim the hair around my Exotic's eyes?
How do I book an Exotic Shorthair groom in Gloucester?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
- CFA: Exotic
- VCA: Exotic Shorthair breed profile
- International Cat Care: Persian cats and brachycephaly
- City of Gloucester: local veterinary offices
- Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
A short coat and a clean face.
Book a Full Bath for the seasonal shed or a $20 nail clip in between, online or in the Dogtown app. Exotics are groomed in a quiet room on Eastern Ave, away from the dogs.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
