Last updated Oct 24, 2023
Medically reviewed by
Exotic Shorthair cats, also known as the Shorthaired Persian, are delicate creatures that desire attention and love. Their long-coated fur and silky, colorful eyes will make your heart race, as their beauty is truly mesmerizing! They are not the most energetic of cats, preferring to rest, relax, and cuddle with their owners to pass the time.
At a Glance: Best Cat Food for Exotic Shorthairs To Buy
Want a quick look at the products reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food
- Protein-rich fresh cat food
- Meal plans catered to your cat’s needs
- Easy for most cats to digest
Open Farm Harvest Chicken Rustic Blend Wet Cat Food
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
- Chicken bone broth for digestive health
Hill's Science Diet Adult Tender Dinner Chunks & Gravy Cat Food
- Ideal for kittens transitioning to adulthood
- Easily digestible ingredients
- High-quality protein helps maintain muscle mass
Wysong Optimal Vitality Adult Feline Formula Dry Cat Food
- Low level of carbohydrates and low glycemic index
- No artificial additives or non-nutritional ingredients
- Highly palatable
JustFoodForCats Fresh Cat Food
- Packed with animal-based protein
- Frozen at the peak of freshness
- Rich in animal-sourced omega-3 fatty acids
Nevertheless, their liveliness and spark are constantly apparent—even as adults, they retain kitten-like attributes. This breed is known to live for approximately 15 to 21 years, although this depends on several factors, such as overall health, living environment, and quality of life.
Best Rated Cat Food for Exotic Shorthair Cats Reviewed
#1 Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 13% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 40
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.00 per day
Featuring premium proteins like chicken, turkey, beef, or fish, Smalls fresh cat food caters to your cat’s carnivorous needs. Choose from an array of flavors and textures to create a customized meal plan. Each month, Smalls sends you a delivery of frozen cat food—enough to meet their caloric requirements, according to the information you provide at signup.
This Smalls Ground Bird recipe is chicken-based. With chicken muscle meat, chicken liver, and cod liver oil as main ingredients, it’s very species-appropriate and easy to digest. It’s a good source of hydrating moisture for cats and low in carbohydrates.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Liver, Green Beans, Water Sufficient for Processing, Dried Yeast, Tricalcium Phosphate, Kale, Magnesium Proteinate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Dandelion Greens, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Cod Liver Oil, Salt, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Biotin.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Cod Liver Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
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Pros
- Protein-rich fresh cat food
- Meal plans catered to your cat’s needs
- Easy for most cats to digest
- Rich in hydrating moisture
Cons
- Only available as a subscription plan
- No phone support (text and email only)
#2 Open Farm Harvest Chicken Rustic Blend Wet Cat Food
With Open Farm wet cat food, you’re feeding your cat a protein-packed and high-moisture diet made with human-grade and 100% traceable and ethically- sourced ingredients. This brand uses only high-quality animal proteins, including chicken, turkey, beef, and wild-caught salmon.
This Rustic Blend formula features humanely raised chicken as the main ingredient. Collagen-rich chicken bone broth supports your cat’s hydration and healthy digestion. This formula also contains fresh, wholesome veggies that provide essential nutrients, antioxidants, and dietary fiber.
Ingredients
Humanely Raised Chicken, Chicken Bone Broth, Pumpkin, Carrots, Spinach, Red Lentils, Agar Agar, Cranberries, Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas), Chicory Root, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Salt, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Kelp, Potassium Chloride, Dandelion Greens, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Turmeric.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
- Chicken bone broth for digestive health
#3 Hill’s Science Diet Adult Tender Dinner Chunks & Gravy Cat Food
This Hill’s Science Diet recipe is formulated for adult cats 1 to 6 years of age who live indoors. Kittens begin maturing into adults after 12 months of age, so this food is also well-suited for kittens transitioning to adulthood.
The protein from this food’s high-quality chicken provides adult cats with the protein they need to maintain muscle mass. In addition to the chicken, the other ingredients are easily digestible.
Ingredients
Water, Chicken, Pork Liver, Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Dextrose, Modified Rice Starch, Oat Hulls, Chicken Liver Flavor, Egg Whites, Soybean Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil, Choline Chloride, Guar Gum, Calcium Carbonate, Iodized Salt, L-Lysine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Taurine, Calcium Chloride, Caramel color, minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate), Beta-Carotene.
Guaranteed Analysis
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Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Ideal for kittens transitioning to adulthood
- Easily digestible ingredients
- High-quality protein helps maintain muscle mass
- Numerous tasty flavors
#4 Wysong Optimal Vitality Adult Feline Formula Dry Cat Food
Wysong has taken a new approach to pet food, with the goal to formulate foods that are as close to a pet’s natural diet as possible. This cat food is low in carbohydrates, contains probiotics to support gut health, and has omega fatty acids.
The food also has plenty of high-quality protein, with chicken meal, organic chicken, and turkey meal as its top ingredients.
Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Organic Chicken, Turkey Meal, Pea Protein, Potato Protein, Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseeds, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Sesame Seeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Crab Meal, Dried Whey, Coconut Oil, Chia Seeds, Salt, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Propionate (a preservative), Dried Tomato Pomace, Choline Chloride, Yeast Extract, Organic Barley Grass Powder, Dried Blueberry Powder, Dried Yogurt, Dried Kelp, Apple Pectin, Dried Kale, Dried Spinach, Dried Carrots, Fish Oil, Citric Acid (a preservative), Inulin, Mixed Tocopherols (a preservative), Rosemary Extract, Yeast Culture, Minerals (Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Vitamins (Ascorbic Acid [source of Vitamin C], Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Lactis Fermentation Product, Pepper.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Low level of carbohydrates and low glycemic index
- No artificial additives or non-nutritional ingredients
- Highly palatable
- Several tasty flavors
#5 JustFoodForCats Fresh Cat Food
This fish and chicken recipe fresh food is packed with animal-sourced protein and omega-3 fatty acids. As a fresh food, it’s high in moisture to support your cat’s hydration, and the fine texture is easy to eat.
Formulated for adult cats, the food’s main ingredients are wild-caught Alaska Pacific Cod and chicken, along with tapioca starch as a carbohydrate source.
JustFoodForCats is prepared in small batches and frozen at the peak of freshness to ensure that your cat enjoys uncompromised nutrition from high-quality ingredients.
Ingredients
Wild-Caught Alaska Pacific Cod, Chicken Thighs, Chicken Hearts, Chicken Liver, Tapioca Starch, Whole Atlantic Sardines, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Iodide, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Bitartrate, Manganese Gluconate, Vitamin E Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Packed with animal-based protein
- Frozen at the peak of freshness
- Rich in animal-sourced omega-3 fatty acids
Homemade Cat Food and Raw Diet
All cats, including the Exotic Shorthair cat, are obligate carnivores, meaning that they must have animal protein in their daily diet. Common animal proteins for cats are chicken, turkey, fish, and other types of seafood.
Because of concerns about artificial flavors and artificial additives in commercial cat food, though, some cat parents prefer to make homemade food for their cats. Homemade cat foods are a reasonable option, but it is crucial to ensure that these diets provide complete and balanced nutrition.
It is best to work with a veterinary nutritionist to formulate a homemade diet that meets your Exotic Shorthair cat’s nutritional needs.
Exotic Shorthair cats are susceptible to polycystic kidney disease, so it is essential for these cats to have plenty of moisture in their diet. A veterinary nutritionist can help you formulate a homemade diet that has enough moisture (approximately 80%) to minimize your cat’s risk of developing polycystic kidney disease. Make sure your cat has free access to fresh, clean water at all times to encourage hydration.
Regarding raw food, veterinarians generally do not recommend raw food diets for pets because these foods can carry bacteria that could be extremely harmful to your pet (and you!). Consult with your veterinarian if you are considering feeding your Exotic Shorthair cat a raw food diet.
Food Allergies
Food allergies in cats are not very common. The most frequent sources of food allergies in cats are animal proteins, such as chicken.
Symptoms of food allergies in cats include itching, scratching, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Unfortunately, many commercial cat foods contain ingredients that can cause food allergies. However, a food allergy might not be obvious right away. If your veterinarian suspects that your cat has a food allergy, they will recommend a food elimination trial to identify the culprit ingredient.
Once you know which ingredient is causing your cat’s food allergy, your veterinarian will recommend switching to a diet that doesn’t contain that ingredient.
anyone use mineral oil for regular dosing to prevent or remove hairballs in your cat? my boy likes the malt-flavored tubed laxatone. he loves it, and i like the application. i do not like the fish, chicken, or other flavors, as atticus does not enjoy them nor do they form well into a ribbon, as they exit the tube. i am finding it harder and harder to find the laxatone. what is the deal?
Hello Martin,
Great question! Mineral oil is one of the main ingredients in hairball remedies and some people do use it on its own.
But before you try mineral oil for Atticus, here’s a word of warning. Liquid mineral oil can be dangerous if not administered carefully. Inhaling oil—sending it down the wrong pipe—leads to a serious and sometimes fatal condition called exogenous lipid pneumonia or ELP. In fact, the administration of mineral oil for constipation and hairballs is the most common cause of ELP in cats.
Instead of using plain mineral oil, you might consider plain unscented petroleum jelly, egg yolks, or slippery elm bark. All are safe remedies for hairballs.
You can learn more about preventing and treating hairballs in our article on the best hairball remedies: https://cats.com/best-hairball-remedy-for-cats
As for your and Atticus’ favorite Laxatone flavor, I’m afraid I can’t tell you why it’s becoming harder to find. Have you tried Cat Lax? It’s flavored with caramel and malt syrup and might be a good alternative to the Laxatone.
If you’re interested, you can learn more about Cat Lax here: https://www.dechra-us.com/our-products/us/companion-animal/cat/non-prescription/cat-lax
Hope this helps!
Best,
Mallory
Our cat LOVES deli ham, can we give it to him as a treat?
Hi Lois, deli ham is high in salt and usually contains added flavors that your cat doesn’t need, but it should be fine as an occasional treat—try giving it to him once a month or so. Hope this helps!
What wet food do you recommend for an exotic shorthair kitten?
Angela, you can really use any food that would be appropriate for kittens of other breeds. This article has a number of recommendations you may find useful. Hope this helps, and thank you for stopping by!
Hi, I was wondering if you have done a review on pc brand extra meaty dry cat food? Also I was wondering if you could recommend some good dry/and or wet cat food brands that would be good for exotic short-hairs, and are available in Canada? Thank you
Hi Tryn! I looked up President’s Choice but it doesn’t seem to be readily available online. There also isn’t much product info on the PC website, so I’d need to actually look at the product packaging to do a review. Is this a product you typically buy in stores or do you have a place you buy it online? We might be able to work something out if we have the information we need. If you’re interested, send an email to [email protected] and specify that it should be forwarded to me, Kate Barrington.
As for wet and dry cat food brands in Canada, we actually have several posts about that now!
https://cats.com/best-wet-cat-food-in-canada
https://cats.com/best-dry-cat-food-in-canada
https://cats.com/best-cat-food-in-canada
You’ll find several brands manufactured in Canada was well as brands available online through Amazon or other retailers. For your Exotic Shorthair you don’t necessarily need a diet to that specific breed. Any cat food that is high in protein and moisture but low in carbohydrates will work well.
If you want more specific info, here’s a post we have about the best cat foods for exotic shorthairs:
https://cats.com/best-cat-food-for-exotic-shorthair-cats