australian-mist
Friendly, playful, affectionate, family-oriented
Overview
Origin
Australia
Life Span
12-16 years
Height
8.0"-10.0"
Weight
7-14 pounds
Group
Medium-sized short-haired
Price
$700-$1,000
History
The Australian Mist cat was created in Australia in the 1970s by Dr. Truda Straede using Burmese, Abyssinians, and domestic short-haired cats. The cat's unique coat colors and spotted patterns led to its original name: the Spotted Mist. As the breed continue to evolve, marbled coat patterns emerged, leading to an official name change in 1998 to Australian Mist.
Australian Mist cats are widespread throughout their native country, but have yet to be widely recognized through Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Although not currently recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), the Australian Mist is fully recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA).
This breed's good-natured personality, general good health, and unique appearance are contributing to greater popularity outside Australia.
Care
Nutrition
The Australian Mist cat has no special nutritional needs. We recommend feeding a high-quality, high-protein food formulated for your cat's life stage and activity level.
Grooming
Brush the Australian Mist's short coat once weekly with a fine comb or soft brush. Trim the nails every one to two weeks, and brush teeth daily with a pet-safe toothpaste and toothbrush.
Exercise
Australian Mist cats are moderately active. Playful and curious, these cats appreciate interactive play with their human family as well as other pets in the home. Engage their bodies and minds with plenty of indoor enrichment, including scratching posts, cat towers, perches, and toys.
Health
There are no known inherited health problems in Australian Mist cats.
Breed Standard
Body
The body is of medium-large length and size. The Australian Mist cat is firm and it muscular, with a broad, round chest. The body is heavier than it appears.
Head
The head is broad and of generous proportion. It is slightly rounded with a firm chin. Channels are permitted on intact males. In profile, the nose shows a gentle dip but no distinct break.
Eyes
The Australian Mist has large, lustrous eyes with straight upper lids and curved lower lids. The eyes are set wide apart, and slant slightly toward the nose. Yellow cast is acceptable in kittens and cats up to 18 months of age; adult cats display eye color in any shade of green.
Ears
The ears are medium to large with rounded tips and wide at the base, with a slight forward tilt. The outer line of the ears continues the modified wedge of the face.
Color
Australian Mist cats come in seven colors: brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, caramel, gold, and peach. The underside is lighter and rufous (reddish) toning is present on the nose, cheeks, and ears. Kittens are paler than adults. Spotted tabby and marbled tabby coat patterns are acceptable, according to Australian Mist breed standards. The spots may be of any shape or size with a random pattern, with both arrowheads and rosettes permitted. The spotted tabby shows spots of any size and shape over the sides, flanks and belly. The marble tabby shows random marbling with very little bull's-eye effect and a horizontal flow wall the cat is stretched. Australian Mist cats with marbled tabby coats must also have spotted bellies. For both coat patterns, random ticking creates the appearance of a misted veil and forehead marks form a detailed letter M.
Coat
The coat is short and glossy with a warm undercoat and a resilient feel.
Tail
Their tails are fairly thick in proportion to the rest of their bodies with minimal tapering.
Legs & Paws
The legs are proportionately strong, with the hind legs being slightly longer than the front legs. The paws display a neat, oval outline. Paw pad colors correspond with coat colors.
Personality & Temperament
The Australian Mist has the distinction of being the first pedigreed cat ever developed in Australia.
This stunning shorthair was initially created by crossing the Abyssinian with the Burmese. The Abyssinian contributed to the breed's lively personality and ticked coat. The Burmese lent its easy-going nature and softly shaded colors. Foundation cats also included some domestic shorthairs, which contributed a wide range of genetics that ultimately led to the creation of a healthy cat breed that displays a beautiful range of colors.
Australian Mist cats have lovely short coats with spotted or marbled tabby patterns. Ticked fur gives these cats a soft, shaded appearance, leading to the use of the descriptive word "mist" in the breed name.
Renowned as a loving, even-tempered cat, the Australian Mist is understandably popular in its country of origin, and the breed is gaining even more popularity in show rings worldwide.