White Shorthairs are really rare. The color is easily lost in crossbreeding. Those exhibited in shows must be pure white (not a single hair of another color), and they must have a pink nose. Most show standards require blue eyes, but yellow or green eyes, which are more common, are acceptable in some. Deafness occurs regularly in the blue-eyed White Shorthair, as it does in the White Persian. In both cases, breeders are convinced that this problem can be eliminated in time by selective breeding. Like other shorthaired breeds, the White Shorthair must have a broad head, a medium-length muzzle, and small ears. The body is sturdy and muscular, the legs are well proportioned, and the medium-length tail is thick at the base and tapered.

While black cats are usually considered omens of bad luck and white signify good luck, the reverse is true in some countries-that is, the white cat is looked upon as a sign of bad luck.