Health
Ethical breeders take steps to ensure they're producing healthy cats, but there's no guarantee that your Exotic Shorthair will (or won't) develop a health condition at some point in their life. It's important to know the signs and symptoms of health conditions that are common in the Exotic Shorthair, should one arise in your cat. Some health problems that are common among Exotic Shorthairs include:
Eye Tearing: Persians and Exotics are predisposed to have teary and or watery eyes due to the shape of their head, round eyes, flat face and small nose. While watery eyes are relatively normal in these breeds it can also be a sign of irritation, allergy or conjunctivitis.
Things to watch for:
Respiratory issues: Because Exotic Shorthairs have flattened faces, they can have difficulty breathing—especially in hot, humid weather. Your Exotic Shorthair should always be kept in a climate-controlled, air conditioned environment.
Polycystic kidney disease: Otherwise known as PKD, this condition is characterized by enlarged kidneys and improper kidney function. Cysts are typically seen in affected cats by 12 months of age, but kidney failure can occur years later. There are DNA tests that can identify PKD, so ask your cat's breeder for proof that the mother and father have been cleared.
Progressive retinal degeneration (PRD, PRA): is premature degeneration (deterioration) of the photoreceptor cells of the retina. There are two types of photoreceptors in the retina and these are the light-sensitive rods and cones. They are responsible for detecting light and converting it into an electrical signal that travels to the brain. When the photoreceptor cells deteriorate, vision is lost because the animal has no way to generate an image from the light reaching the retina
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV): is second only to trauma as the leading cause of death in cats. The virus commonly causes anemia or lymphoma, but because it suppresses the immune system, it can also predispose cats to deadly infections. FeLV is passed from one cat to another through saliva, blood, and to some extent, urine and feces.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV): is a retrovirus that affects a cat’s immune system. The virus works by killing or damaging cells in a cat's immune system, often targeting white blood cells. People often think that FIV and the feline leukemia virus are the same illnesses because they can cause similar symptoms in cats. While both derive from the retrovirus family, they are different diseases.
Eye Tearing: Persians and Exotics are predisposed to have teary and or watery eyes due to the shape of their head, round eyes, flat face and small nose. While watery eyes are relatively normal in these breeds it can also be a sign of irritation, allergy or conjunctivitis.
Things to watch for:
- Redness and inflammation,
- Green, Yellow or Thick eye discharge,
- Overflowing tears,
- Loose skin around the eyes,
- Injuries to the eye or scratches,
- Foreign bodies stuck in-between the lid and the eye.
Respiratory issues: Because Exotic Shorthairs have flattened faces, they can have difficulty breathing—especially in hot, humid weather. Your Exotic Shorthair should always be kept in a climate-controlled, air conditioned environment.
Polycystic kidney disease: Otherwise known as PKD, this condition is characterized by enlarged kidneys and improper kidney function. Cysts are typically seen in affected cats by 12 months of age, but kidney failure can occur years later. There are DNA tests that can identify PKD, so ask your cat's breeder for proof that the mother and father have been cleared.
Progressive retinal degeneration (PRD, PRA): is premature degeneration (deterioration) of the photoreceptor cells of the retina. There are two types of photoreceptors in the retina and these are the light-sensitive rods and cones. They are responsible for detecting light and converting it into an electrical signal that travels to the brain. When the photoreceptor cells deteriorate, vision is lost because the animal has no way to generate an image from the light reaching the retina
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV): is second only to trauma as the leading cause of death in cats. The virus commonly causes anemia or lymphoma, but because it suppresses the immune system, it can also predispose cats to deadly infections. FeLV is passed from one cat to another through saliva, blood, and to some extent, urine and feces.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV): is a retrovirus that affects a cat’s immune system. The virus works by killing or damaging cells in a cat's immune system, often targeting white blood cells. People often think that FIV and the feline leukemia virus are the same illnesses because they can cause similar symptoms in cats. While both derive from the retrovirus family, they are different diseases.