Persian and Exotic Shorthair FAQ

A Persian is a longhaired purebred cat recognized by its round head, short muzzle, small ears, large round eyes and a long dense double coat. Persians are calm, quiet, low energy companion cats that prefer floor level to high shelves and tolerate handling unusually well.

An Exotic Shorthair is a Persian in a short coat. It was created by crossing Persians with American Shorthairs, and it shares the Persian head type, body and temperament while needing far less grooming. Breeders often call it the lazy person's Persian.

An Exotic Shorthair, in most cases. The temperament is the same, but the grooming commitment is two or three brushings a week rather than a daily comb through. If you know you will do the daily grooming, a Persian is just as manageable.

A Persian needs combing every day, roughly five to ten minutes. Skipping a few days lets mats form behind the ears, in the armpits and along the back legs, and a serious mat has to be cut out by a groomer. Daily combing also cuts hairballs sharply.

Yes. Persians shed year round and more heavily in spring. Daily combing removes most of the loose coat before it reaches your furniture. Exotic Shorthairs shed a similar volume of hair but the shorter hairs are far less visible.

Generally yes, provided the children are old enough to be gentle. Persians are placid and rarely scratch, but they are not a breed that enjoys rough handling or being chased. They usually settle well with calm dogs after a proper introduction.

A well cared for indoor Persian typically lives twelve to sixteen years. Keeping the cat indoors, at a healthy weight, on annual vet checks and with a groomed coat is what pushes a cat toward the upper end of that range.

The flat face shortens the tear ducts, so tears run onto the fur instead of draining. It is normal for the breed and is managed by wiping the eye folds daily with a damp cloth or a veterinary eye wash. Sudden heavy discharge, squinting or a colored discharge means a vet visit.

Persian kittens from registered breeders in the United States usually cost about $1,300 to $3,500. Our kittens are $1,700 to $2,000. A purebred Persian offered for a few hundred dollars is almost always either not purebred or not healthy.

Yes. We are in Vancouver, Washington and we send kittens all over the country. Your kitten never travels as cargo: it flies in the aircraft cabin with a person, either you after collecting it at Portland International, one of us, or a flight nanny we have used. There is a full page on buying from another state.

We never ship as cargo, but we do send kittens to other states. Your kitten flies in the cabin with a person: either you collect it in Vancouver or at Portland International Airport, or we fly it to your nearest airport ourselves, or send it with a flight nanny we have used, PDX Flight Nanny.

Yes, by appointment. Our cattery is inside our home, so we share the exact address once a visit is scheduled. Visiting is the best way to see how kittens are raised, and we encourage it for local buyers.

Yes. Exotic Stars Cattery is registered with both TICA and the CFA, and our breeding cats are registered purebreds. Your TICA or CFA registration papers are sent once your own veterinarian confirms the kitten has been spayed or neutered.

Every breeding cat here is screened on a genetic panel and is negative for polycystic kidney disease. PKD has long been present in Persian lines. It shows on a DNA test, so we test for it. All of our cats also test negative for feline leukemia and FIV, which are blood tests rather than DNA. Ask us and we will send you the results for a particular kitten's parents.

Ask to see both parents, ask for the pedigree, ask what age kittens go home, ask what the health guarantee actually covers in writing, and ask to speak to a previous buyer. If a breeder dodges any of the five, walk away.

If the house is empty most of the day, two settle better than one and entertain each other. If someone is home most of the time, one is fine. Persians are companionable but not as prone to separation stress as some breeds.