Australian MistCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

The breed was created in Australia, in 1977, by Dr Truda Straede, starting from about 30 foundation cats. The “misty” coat was obtained by combining the sepia colours of the Burmese, the “ticked” hairs of the Abyssinian and spotted tabby cats.

The first generation was accepted in the experimental category in 1980, and the fourth, in 1986, as the “Spotted Mist”. After the marbled variety was also accepted in 1997, the breed was renamed the Australian Mist. It gained championship status in New Zealand in 1999, at WCF in 2004, at TICA in 2014 and at the GCCF in 2017. The first cats reached Britain in 2007.

How the breed developed

• 1977 – Truda Straede starts breeding, in Australia.
• 1986 – accepted as the “Spotted Mist”.
• 1997 – the marbled variety is accepted; the name becomes Australian Mist.
• 2004 – championship status at WCF.
• 2014 – championship status at TICA.
• 2017 – championship status at the GCCF.

• Families with children. It is described as patient.
• Homes with other pets. It readily accepts living with them.
• Anyone who wants a quiet cat. It is calm and affectionate.
• Anyone who wants an easy-care cat. The short coat needs little grooming.

It is a medium-sized, shorthaired cat with a round, medium head, a broad nose and large green eyes. The ears are fairly large, with rounded tips. German Wikipedia gives 3–6 kg.

General appearance

The legs and tail have rings or bars, and the face and neck have coloured lines. On the forehead it has the tabby “M”, and the tail ends in a dark tip.

The coat has three components: the background, lighter than the pattern; the tabby pattern, in the base colour; and the “veil of mist”, given by the ticked hairs in the solid areas. There are two patterns: symmetrical spots (the original) and marbled. The final colour only develops at about 2 years.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

It comes from the Abyssinian (the ticked hairs), the Burmese (the sepia colours) and spotted tabby cats. The Ocicat also has a spotted coat, but a different body type.

French Wikipedia says temperament was one of the most important goals of the breeding: it is described as quiet and affectionate, intelligent, and fond of following its owner. It is patient and readily accepts living with other animals.

Socialisation

It readily accepts other animals in the home.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It is moderately active; daily play keeps it in shape.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

The short, silky coat is easy to care for: one brushing a week.

Common health problems

Wikipedia says that, for breeding, Australian Mists are usually tested for pyruvate kinase deficiency, hypokalaemia (a muscle disease with low potassium), neonatal isoerythrolysis and progressive retinal atrophy.

Recommended genetic tests

Ask for the parents' results for pyruvate kinase deficiency, hypokalaemia, progressive retinal atrophy and blood type.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, the GCCF or TICA).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Ask for the parents' genetic tests and their blood type.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• The first breed from Australia. It was created there, in 1977, by Truda Straede.
• A veil of mist. The name comes from the look of its coat, as if under a veil of mist.
• It changed its name. It was called the “Spotted Mist” until the marbled variety was also accepted.
• A colour that appears late. The final colour only shows at about 2 years.

Where does the name come from?

From its coat, which looks as if it were covered by a veil of mist, and from its country of origin, Australia.

What is its character like?

It is described as quiet, affectionate, intelligent and patient.

Is it recognised by FIFe?

No; it is recognised by WCF, TICA, the GCCF and the associations in Australia and New Zealand.

How much does it weigh?

German Wikipedia gives 3–6 kg.