Exotic Shorthair vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison

The Exotic Shorthair cat is such a sweet-faced cat that it is often referred to as the ‘lazy man’s Persian. This is because the face is also flat and pushed in like the Persian cat.

The Exotic Shorthair was in fact developed as a short-haired version of the Persian. It was in the 1950s that the Persian was used to mate with other breeds such as the Burmese.

The crossbreed gained recognition but some American Shorthair breeders produced a new breed standard that would disqualify American Shorthairs that showed any signs of crossbreeding.

It was in 1966 that the Cat Fanciers Association recognized the cat as a new breed and under the name Exotic Shorthair.

As the traditional Siamese cats from Siam, now known as Thailand, this ancient breed of cat goes back to 1350AD. It is believed that these Traditional Siamese cats were first exported to the west in the 19th century.

The Applehead is a Siamese cat that looks the way Siamese looked when they were first brought out to the United States in the 19th century. Breeding with other cat breeds is what developed the Applehead Siamese.

The Applehead seal point was also imported to Britain. Breeders have developed other point colors and head shapes by cross-breeding long- and short hairs, but all Siamese are essentially bred from the Applehead seal point.

Developed through crosses between Persians and American Shorthairs as well as other cat breeds, the Exotic Shorthair looks like the Persian but he has a short coat.

The coat is found in the same colors as the Persian cat – patterns and solid colors, ranging from chinchilla silver to tabby, tortoiseshell, black and white and bicolor. The eyes are large and round, the ears small and round and the tail fairly short and thick.

Temperament:

The Exotic Shorthair is a sweet, gentle, calm cat but a bit livelier than the Persian. They’re lively, friendly, and playful, but are also cats that like to sit in your lap and be stroked.

They get on well with children and other pets, being a loyal friend to the entire family. He quietly communicates with his human family with a soft voice. He is also quite adaptable to living conditions so long as his human family provides him with lots of attention.

He won’t want to be left for long periods of time on his own so he won’t suit living in a home where he is left alone all day.

There is no denying that the very recognizable Siamese cats are one of the most popular cat breeds there are, known also for being very vocal.

The female Applehead weighs between 3 and 5kg and the male might weight a bit more, as much as 6,8kg.

Siamese cats are all born white but as they mature they develop their deeper color points. There are actually 3 types of Siamese cats, with the Traditional Siamese being known as the Apple Head - the original breed of Siamese.

This particular Siamese is a bit bigger and larger-boned than the modern Siamese, with the body being more muscular and heavier. The head of the cat is fairly round- or apple-shaped with the eyes also being somewhat rounder than other types of cats.

The legs are long and the tail long too and the cat has a fairly short, silky coat.

Temperament:

These cats look intelligent and they are, so much so, that it will be important to present them with lots of toys that make them think and require some skills.

They also love receiving attention from their human owners and although they are also vocal, they don’t talk as much as the modern Siamese cats.

They're curious and playful and don’t like being left alone for too long. They also get on well with children and other pets in the home but are inclined to become more attached to one particular person, wanting to follow their favorite human around.

Your Exotic Shorthair is a loving cat and for those who prefer, it is a cat that is livelier than the Persian. While the Exotic Shorthair also has a mellow personality, because of its shorthair ancestors, it's more active.

This Exotic cat can live to be 15, 16, or 17 if you care for him well and that means you have 15 years to share with a most wonderful feline companion.

Applehead Siamese cats are very friendly and loving pets. They are intelligent and very beautiful too, with their amazing blue eyes.

You will enjoy their friendship as they are prepared to become totally devoted to you, and of course, your playful cat will provide you with lots of laughs and entertainment too. The Applehead Siamese is known to make a splendid pet for you and once you've owned one, you'll think twice before getting another cat breed.

With the Exotic Shorthair, some of the diseases are genetic while others can be encouraged by poor diet and lifestyle.

Obesity for instance is a major disease of cats and it contributes to many serious illnesses in cats. Excess weight shortens your cat’s life and contributes to arthritis and diabetes. The extra weight puts a strain on the cat's joints. Shedding just a little bit of weight can result in improved mobility.

Dental disease is a common chronic problem in pets. Make sure to check inside your cat’s mouth from time to time as serious dental problems can cause pain and interfere with the health of your cat’s important organs such as heart and kidneys.

All kinds of parasites can invade your Exotic Shorthair's body, internally and externally – worms, fleas, and ticks - and cause your pet a tremendous amount of pain and discomfort.

Brachycephalic Syndrome is a respiratory distress syndrome and it mostly affects what is known as brachycephalic cats – those cat with snub faces like the Exotic Shorthair.

The flattened features of the face make it that there is less space for the tissue to grow. The soft area at the back of the roof of the mouth hangs into the airway, obstructing it, and they can’t breathe normally. Sometimes the cats will require surgery to allow for more regular breathing.

These are a healthy breed of cat and they have always been known to live longer than the modern Siamese cats.

With good care they can live to be up to 20 to 25 years of age. Good nutrition and a loving environment can help to eliminate diseases that the Siamese might have to endure. Some of these can be a blockage in the stomach, skin cancer, feline diabetes, hip dysplasia, and disrupted visual pathway which causes a squint.

Diet:

It is important to understand the type of foods available to your pet and how often and how much to feed him.

Most cats prefer to eat several small meals a day as opposed to a couple of large ones. Make feed times interesting and provide food puzzles to have your cat ‘prey’ for food.

Always read and understand the labels on the cat food packaging and be sure to always feed your Exotic Shorthair with the very best food there is and to follow the portion guides.

If you’re in any doubt or your cat doesn’t want to eat his food, try something else or speak to your vet about how to be sure your cat is getting fed the best food there is.

Make sure to have your kitten vaccinated as required. Also, when you take your kitten in to be vaccinated, the vet will also perform a check-up to make sure your kitten is healthy as these cats are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections.

Your cat has a short, low maintenance coat. A brush once a week can get rid of loose hairs and you and your cat will both enjoy the therapeutic bonding between the two of you.

Check your cat’s inner ears for wax and debris as well as for signs of any infection, and if you don’t want to do that, professional cat groomers can do it for you.

Diet:

These cats have special nutritional needs and you want to be aware that obesity is a growing problem with modern-day cats. Make sure your Applehead has a healthy diet to maintain a healthy weight so that he keeps his lithe, lean looks.

You might want to try a little bit of homemade food to enhance your Siamese cat's commercial food which is a mix of top quality meat-based wet- and dry food. You can speak to your vet about feeding your Applehead Siamese because you want to know which food is best for such a cat.

These days the best cat food manufacturers make sure that their cat foods are made up of tasty ingredients such as real chicken and whole brown rice formulated with the right balance of vitamins and minerals to meet the dietary needs of every cat breed and the season of life they are in.

Grooming:

Because of the Siamese cat’s short hair with no undercoat, the cat requires less brushing than other cats.