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Exotic Shorthair vs Himalayan
Two flat-faced Persian relatives. The Exotic has a plush short coat; the Himalayan has a long coat and Siamese-style points that need daily grooming.
Verdict
Both cats share the flat face, the calm manner and the breathing and eye risks, and the coat decides it. The Exotic Shorthair has a dense, plush short coat that sheds steadily. The Himalayan has a long, thick coat with Siamese points and blue eyes, and it scores top marks for grooming and shedding, so it needs combing every day. The Himalayan also scores lower for play. The Exotic is Common and the Himalayan is Uncommon. Choose the Exotic for lighter grooming, and the Himalayan if you enjoy daily combing.
Choose the Exotic Shorthair if
- You want the flat-faced look with a shorter, easier coat.
- You want an easier search, since it is Common.
- You will clean the face and plan for airway, kidney and eye checks.
- You keep a cool home.
Choose the Himalayan if
- You want a long coat and blue-eyed pointed colouring.
- You will comb daily and accept heavy shedding.
- You want a very quiet, placid indoor cat.
- You will ask your vet about kidney disease, breathing, eye problems and asthma.
Where they are alike
Both score low for energy and the lowest for voice, and both rate top marks for small homes. Both rate well with children and other pets.
Side by side
| Exotic Shorthair | Himalayan | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | United States | United States and United Kingdom |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Typical weight | 8-15 lb (3.6-6.8 kg); males are larger | 7-12 lb (3.2-5.4 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Dense, plush, soft coat that stands out from the body | Long, thick, fine-textured coat with a full ruff and ear and toe tufts |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1967 | — |
| How common | Common | Uncommon |
| Affection | 4 | 4 |
| Energy | 2 | 2 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 2 |
| Talkativeness | 1 | 1 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 5 |
| Shedding | 3 | 5 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 3 |
| Trainability | 3 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 5 | 5 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The dense coat sheds steadily and people who react to cats are likely to react to this one. | No breed is hypoallergenic. A long, heavy coat sheds a great deal, and people who react to cats are likely to react to this one. |
| Suits | A calm indoor home that wants a quiet, affectionate lap cat and is ready to pay for regular vet checks. | A calm, quiet indoor home with time for daily grooming and regular vet checks. |
| Less suited to | A hot or humid home, a household with no time for face cleaning, or anyone worried about flat-faced cat welfare. | A hot home, a household with little time for grooming, or anyone concerned about flat-faced cat welfare. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026