The Australian Mist is a breed of misty, spotted cats developed by crossing the Burmese, the Abyssinian and various domestic shorthairs. It’s also the first breed ever developed in Australia.
History of the Breed
As the name makes clear, the Mist comes from Australia. Local breeders had long tried to create a unique Australian breed, but it was Dr. Truda Straede who finally succeeded. Over 10 years, she planned the breeding program and worked out the new breed’s “formula”: Burmese colors (brown, blue, chocolate, lilac) + the agouti ticking of the Abyssinian + the spotted pattern of ordinary domestic cats.
The first Spotted Mist kittens (the breed’s original name) were born in the 1980s. In 1998, the breed was officially registered in a marbled pattern as well as spotted, and the name was changed to the broader Australian Mist.
Australian Mist Breed Description
Australian Mist cats are medium-sized, with a balanced build and no exaggerated features. Males can weigh up to about 15 lb, females about 9 lb.
The breed standard and a detailed description according to TICA:
- Head: a broad, modified wedge with gently rounded contours and round cheekbones. Profile: a slight dip at the bridge of the nose and a convex curve along the forehead;
- Eyes: large, with a straight upper lid and a curved lower lid, set wide apart and slanting toward the nose. Color: any shade of green;
- Ears: moderately large, wide at the base, with rounded tips, turned and tilted slightly forward;
- Nose: broad and moderately short;
- Body: medium length, muscular, with a broad, rounded chest;
- Legs: strong, with hind legs slightly longer than the front legs;
- Tail: in proportion to the body, thick with minimal taper, well furred;
- Coat: short, dense and glossy.
Personality
The Australian Mist’s unique personality makes it the ideal house cat. It’s very tolerant and in no hurry to use its claws. It’s a safe choice for families with children, even very young ones.
As a kitten, the Australian Mist is very active, but it becomes more relaxed with age. Still, it always wants to be near its owner and will squeeze into any gap or climb any height to do so.
Care and Health
The Australian Mist is quite healthy. Like all cats, it tends to put on weight with improper feeding and overfeeding, which can lead to diabetes and other problems. That’s why it’s recommended to feed a Mist about 75 kcal per kilogram (roughly 34 kcal per pound) of body weight; your vet can help you fine-tune the amount. A good-quality balanced diet is the key.
The Australian Mist lives 15–18 years on average.
The Mist’s short coat hardly sheds and doesn’t need special care. Still, don’t forget to brush your pet and clean its teeth and ears. Bathe it only when necessary. Overall, these are very clean animals.
Colors
The Australian Mist’s main hallmark is its three-layered coloring: the background color, the darker pattern, and the so-called “mist,” a veil created by the ticked hairs of the background color.
The Australian Mist comes in brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, gold and peach. Kittens are born paler, with reddish tones on the nose, cheeks and ears. The color fully “matures” along with the cat by about 2 years of age. From then on, these standards apply:
- The overall coat color should be rich and warm;
- The underside is lighter;
- Adults keep a reddish tint on the nose, cheeks and ears, even in lighter colors;
- The spotted or marbled pattern is soft and blurred (misty) but distinct from the background;
- Spots can be any size and shape, arranged symmetrically on the back, sides and belly;
- In the marbled pattern, the symmetrical dark patches may be broken up by lighter flecks.
How Much Does It Cost?
An Australian Mist kitten isn’t cheap, since most catteries and breeders are in Australia. The breed is still young, and pedigrees are tracked very precisely; practically every kitten counts.
In the US, a pet-quality Australian Mist kitten typically costs about $800–1,500, and breeding and show kittens cost more. If you import a kitten from Australia, add the substantial cost of international shipping and the paperwork.
Where to Buy
Besides Australia, this rare breed is bred in the UK, the US, Japan and some European countries. TICA recognizes the Australian Mist (the CFA doesn’t), but there are only a few US breeders, so expect a waiting list and possibly travel to pick up your kitten.
- TICA breeder listings: choose “Australian Mist”;
- Nintu Australian Mist (Victoria, Australia): the cattery of the breed’s founder, Truda Straede.
If you see Australian Mist kittens in classified ads, read reviews of the seller carefully and insist on pedigree papers.
