Australian Mist
Meoww!!
There is nothing extreme about the Australian Mist; they are of moderate size, medium boned, rounded of head with large eyes and ears.
In 5 Words
- Affectionate
- Playful
- Loving
- Intelligent
- Adaptable
Snapshot
Origin: Australia
Colors: Brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, caramel, gold or peach
Size: Medium
Coat Type(s): Shorthair
Grooming: Little
Talkativeness: Average
Activity Level: High
Attention Requirement: High
Overall: Can be a handful
Characteristics
Learn About the Australian Mist
Dr. Truda Straede in Australia started developing this breed in 1976, thus giving it its name. They were developed from the notion to full register over nine years from 1977. Governing councils throughout Australia now recognizes this wholly Australian breed. It was developed by crossing the Abyssinian, Burmese, Moggy, and assorted domestic shorthaired cats to produce a shorthaired cat with a speckled coat. It has a large gene pool, resultant of more than thirty foundation cats. The Abyssinian contributed to its striking ticking to develop the pattern, two colors and a touch of vigorous intelligence. The Burmese threw in the dilution of the colors, the slipshod nature, four of the colors, a number of the patterns, and general conformation and size too. Moggies gave the breed its trait to have the best spots, but mainly to vitality, with a hint of “uncosseted” cat genes to improve the mothering qualities, kidneys and teeth. Also, to help stabilize litter sizes around the cat standard of four.
The breed was first named Spotted Mist. By 1998, it was changed to Australian Mist because cats with marbled coats, instead of spots, were recognized as part of the breed.
Australian Mists are moderately sized felines. They are medium boned, round headed, with huge eyes and ears. Their tails are plump furred and the coat is short yet resilient. Their colors are usually brown, chocolate, blue, lilac, peach and gold. They come in two patterns: subtle spots or complex marbled swirls on a misty background, with tail and legs barred and ringed, and their faces lined. Their eyes are huge and expressive in an assortment of greens. They have a broad nose, chin and whiskerpads creating a generous expression. They are popular with first time pedigree cat buyers.
They are perfect pets for families with very young children. This is because they can tolerate handling well and do not tend to scratch. They are a bit lively during their early months, and quite sober up when they get older. Their life expectancy is in the mid to late teens.
This breed loves to get in touch with their owners. They are happiest when indoors between dusk and dawn or be indoors for the entirety of their lives. This is a huge advantage since a lot of owners nowadays prefer to have their pets indoors. This also protects local wildlife. Some cats of this breed can be trained to go for walks.
They have the tendency to crawl into the nearest lap whether called or not, and they frequently hang around to know what the happenings are. This makes them exceptional companions for home workers as well as people bound to their homes sue to disability or illness. Spayed/neutered kittens and cats easily get along with all types of cats and dogs. Their qualities are further enhanced by selective breeding, enabling them to be a very friendly pet, welcoming themselves into homes.
Australian Mists have no exclusive health issues but since they are light colored cats, they can be more prone to skin cancers and allergies than dark colored cats. They rarely get sick, save for some peach Australian Mists who can have a tendency to develop skin allergies.
Australian Mists will eat most good quality proprietary brands of cat food, but can also enjoy treats of grated cheese, ham, and cooked chicken. They may love milk but a cow’s milk may upset their tummies. A bowl of water should be available all the time. They are moderately active cats and may require 75 Kcals of food per kg of bodyweight to sustain condition. They can be prone to weight problems so the owner should monitor the diet.
Their ears and eyes should be checked and maintained by cleaning them with a clean damp cloth. They require little grooming since their coat is very short and glossy. Loose hairs can be get rid of simply by stroking them.
