Feline Breeds of the World – Australian Mist

The Australian Mist is the only breed of cat developed in Australia. There are also no naturally occurring breeds of cat in the country. In 1976, Truda Straede crossed Burmese, Abyssinian and domestic shorthaired cats to create new shorthair spotted cat. Originally the breed was called the Spotted Mist, but when marbled coat patterns emerged, it was renamed.

The base coat is a light colour with darker markings and a medium colour of ticking through the fur. This ticking, or slightly darker colouring on the tips of some hairs, comes from the Abyssinian. The short coat lacks an undercoat so this breed has minimal shedding. There are seven acceptable colours - Lilac, Blue, Peach, Gold, Caramel, Brown and Chocolate. Due to the domestic shorthair genes, the Mist has a round head with large yellow, gold or green eyes and is a medium size cat, weighing in at 4 to 7 kgs.

The Australian Mist has no serious health concerns, though some lighter coat colours may experience allergies and cancers, particularly peach Mists. Even so, as with all kitties, a Mist should have regular annual checkups with their veterinarian, for vaccinations and preventative treatments. (Or biannual checks for geriatric patients.)

The Australian Mist is a wonderful companion for all families and makes a great indoor cat. Their gentle nature allows them to fit in well in a household with small children and/or other pets. They are affectionate with people and easily trained. Many Mist enjoy playing fetch and will retrieve toys if thrown. Some will even go for walks on a lead!