MyCatBreeds
Both Exotic Shorthair and Bristol are originated from United States. Both Exotic Shorthair and Bristol are having almost same weight. Exotic Shorthair may live 3 years less than Bristol. Both Exotic Shorthair and Bristol has same litter size. Both Exotic Shorthair and Bristol requires Low maintenance.
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.
The Bristol cat hails from Texas and was developed during the 1980s, using a south American wild cat and domestic cats.
The Bristol cat isn’t well-known and in fact, its origins are shrouded in mystery.
The cat was recognized and admitted into the TICA (The International Cat Association. It is looked upon as a hybrid breed or a designer cat.
Nobody seems to know when the first Bristol cat was even bred. Because of its exotic nature, it is believed to be a cross between the American Shorthair and the margay or similar breed.
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.
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.
Bristol cats are medium-sized and muscular, powerful cats. They are much like Bengal cats. They have a smokey charcoal appearance while others have quite a bit of white on them.
They also have rosettes and small rounded ears. The origins of the Bristol breed are uncertain but it seems a multi-colored cat was adopted by a United States Army captain in Australia.
The cat was so adored it was brought back when they returned to the United States. The cat was already pregnant and she gave birth to 2 kittens. The coats are shiny and short-haired with spots and lines of fawn, grey and brown mostly with the eyes being green.
The Bristol cat has a very pleasing disposition – being amicable, playful, and loving. They’re intelligent cats too but they need to spend time in solitude as well.
They definitely don’t respond and bond to everyone in the human family but tend to respond to only one person.
These Bristol cats are cunning and self-confident and because of their wild side, they will need a large area to roam. This is definitely not a cat for city life.
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.
The Bristol cat is beautiful all right, but once again humans should just leave wild cats alone in the bush.
Mixing them with domestic cats doesn’t work in the long run, and many of these cats land up in shelters because of unruly behavior. The Bristol cat is part wild and it doesn’t seem to have a future although there isn’ enough information online to really know what its future is.
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.
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.
The diet of a cat such as the Bristol will include small rodents, however once domesticated, these cats will need a diet high in protein. The cat is a carnivore and to be healthy it will require high-quality premium commercial cat food that is appropriate for the age of your cat and his health status.
The best cat food has taurine in it, an essential protein that cats can only obtain through quality food. Your adult Bristol cat may prefer eating several smaller meals and this is actually a good idea as smaller frequent meals help towards greater urinary tract health.
If you want a healthy cat, you have to be diligent with providing such a cat with good food that is high in protein. If you aren’t sure, your veterinarian will be able to advise you on what to feed your new cat or kitten.
Factors such as age, size, activity levels, and health make a difference to what you feed your cat, how much and how frequently.
Get into a habit of reading and understanding the labels on the cat food packaging. Certainly, every cat requires taurine, an essential amino acid. You will also need to ensure fresh, cool water day and night.
Always take your pet to the veterinarian if he is lethargic ad disinterested in his food.
Most cats are clean, but you should brush or comb your Bristol cat regularly as the brushing helps keep your cat's coat shiny and also reduces the amount of hair during shedding.
Provide your Bristol cat with a dry, warm sleeping area and keep the bedding clean.
Your Bristol cat needs to wear a safety collar and an ID tag. These ID tags or an implanted microchip can help ensure that your Bristol cat is returned if he becomes lost.
Cats scratch, and cutting your cat’s nails will keep the nails blunt. Nonetheless, to prevent your furniture from being scratched, provide your cat with a strong scratching post covered with a rough material such as sisal or tree bark.
Bristol cats are independent and they don’t require any kind of special care. Certainly, they require large areas for their active lifestyle as well as a shallow pool for swimming.
Not much information on the health of this particular cat, but as with other cat breeds, lifestyle and nutrition play a huge role in the health of a cat.