Australian Mist Cat

Q: History and Origins

Country of Origin: AustraliaOther Names: Spotted mistThe Australian Mist cat is short haired breed that was developed in Australia in the 1970s by crossing Burmese, Abyssinian, and domestic shorthair cats to create a cat with a spotted coat and for this reason was initially called the Spotted Mist. As the Australian Mist cat breed developed and more patterns emerged, including marbled coats, the name was changed in 1998 to Australian Mist. There are not yet many Australian Mist cats yet in the UK and Europe but the breed is growing and breeders are working to have it recognized by cat fancy organizations.

The Australian Mist is an attractive medium sized cat with a round head and large, expressive eyes. This is a very moderate cat, well balanced in body and build, with a pretty and very friendly face. The coat is short, dense and glossy, with all patterns being soft and somewhat blurred into the background colour, giving the cat an unusual look. The Australian Mist has green eyes of varying shades.

The need-to-know

Great for first-time cat owners
Enjoys playing games and is active at home
Playful and curious cat
Sociable and dependent cat

Slightly talkative cat
Average build cat breed
Requires grooming every day
A bit of both indoor and outdoor space

Great family cat
Can be regularly left for a few hours
Great for a relaxed home

Generally healthy breed

Australian Mist cats can suffer from:
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency which is a disease that causes anaemia (death of red blood cells).
- Progressive retinal atrophy which is an inherited disorder where part of the eye degenerates and wastes away which can result in blindness.
- Burmese head defect which is a condition where the face and skull do not form correctly.

Testing available:
- DNA testing for pyruvate kinase deficiency, progressive retinal atrophy and Burmese head defect which tests whether or not a cat has the potential to be affected by these conditions.

Key Facts

Ratings

Key Facts

Lifespan:	15 - 18 years
Weight:	4 - 7kg
Colours:	Comes in 7 coat colours: Chocolate, Lilac, Cinnamon, Fawn, Brown, Blue and Caramel. They may be marbled or spotted.

Ratings

Family-friendly:	5/5
Playfulness:	4/5
Intelligence:	4/5
Likes Other Pets:	3/5
Tendency to Vocalise:	2/5
Grooming needs:	4/5
Shedding:	2/5

Personality

Australian Mist cats are said to be affectionate and happy with people or other pets and easily fitting in to become a member of the family.

History and Origins

Country of Origin: Australia

Other Names: Spotted mist

The Australian Mist cat is short haired breed that was developed in Australia in the 1970s by crossing Burmese, Abyssinian, and domestic shorthair cats to create a cat with a spotted coat and for this reason was initially called the Spotted Mist. As the Australian Mist cat breed developed and more patterns emerged, including marbled coats, the name was changed in 1998 to Australian Mist. There are not yet many Australian Mist cats yet in the UK and Europe but the breed is growing and breeders are working to have it recognized by cat fancy organizations.

Outdoors or Indoors

Provide some outdoor space in the form of a secure garden or large cat-run or ‘catio’. The Australian Mist will enjoy climbing up to sunny platforms to sunbathe or to supervise garden goings-on. This pretty and dainty looking cat is attractive and therefore is something of a pet-theft risk so don’t allow them out unsupervised or into an insecure area.

Enrichment and Specific Needs

Games with toys, balls, food dispensing puzzles and more will be appreciated by the Australian Mist, but they will also enjoy an hour on your lap watching TV, or preventing you from doing your paperwork. They take a lap-snooze as seriously as they do a game of ‘chase the thing on a string’ so one of the most important elements of their life will be time spent with you.

Nutrition and Feeding

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.

Grooming Australian Mist Cats

A once weekly groom, brushing through the coat down to the skin will keep the Australian Mist in top condition and allow you extra bonding time. A greasy coat is a sign your cat is not self-grooming at all and this may indicate poor health.

As with all cats, regular vaccination and parasite control is recommended.

Suitability for Family Life

The Australian Mist will enjoy relaxed family life as long as there is someone at home most of the time as they are very people oriented. Best suited to calm families with children old enough to understand and respect a cat’s space.