Australian Mist | breed profile

Introduction & History

The Australian Mist was bred through crossing Burmese, Abyssinian and local “Moggies” or domestic shorthair cats in the 1970’s. Initially they were called “Spotted Mist” which later changed when marbled variants became common.

Appearance and Personality

Australian Mists are a medium cat, weighing around 4 to 7kg. They are ether spotted or marbled and often have “ticked” or Agouti hairs, inherited from the Abyssinian. The colours are typically browns, blue, lilac, gold and peach and they have green eyes.

With short fur and no undercoat, the Australian Mist doesn’t need a lot of grooming, but gentle, regular brushing with a grooming mitt for instance helps to remove loose fur.

They are known for being very affectionate and friendly cats who get along well with other pets. They are also known for being playful and moderately active so having plenty of toys and cat trees is essential to keep their mind and body healthy. Because they enjoy companionship, they can become lonely if left for long periods of time. They may therefore be better suited to a household where someone is home to keep them company, or perhaps adopting two could be a way to ensure they have suitable company if you are out a lot. They are well suited to apartment living. Keeping your Australian Mist indoors or in a cat friendly enclosure helps keep them safe from roads, other cats and snakes as well as helps to keep wildlife safe from your cat.

Common Health Concerns

Urinary tract disease and kidney disease was the most common reason for Australian Mist cats to visit the vet (excluding routine care visits) in 2020. Urinary tract problems included urolithiasis (stones within the urinary tract) and Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD).

The five most common reasons for an Australian Mist to visit the vet (excluding routine care visits) according to PetSure data (from 2020 calendar year) include:

Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.

For the same period (2020 calendar year), the top five highest single vet treatments (or highest pet insurance claims) for from PetSure data were:

Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider.

Most popular Australian Mist names (2019-2020 calendar year)

Most popular names:

1. Bonnie
2. Callie
3. Chewy
4. Clyde
5. Cocoa
6. Daisy
7. Dante
8. Felix
9. Flash
10. Ginger

Most popular female names:

1. Bonnie
2. Callie
3. Cocoa
4. Daisy
5. Ginger
6. Luna
7. Maverick
8. Scout
9. Shadow
10. Violet

Most popular male names:

1. Chewy
2. Clyde
3. Dante
4. Felix
5. Flash
6. Jimmy
7. Luke
8. Mischief
9. Monkey
10. Morgan

Did you know?

The Australian Mist is quite a new breed, having been bred in the 1970’s and accepted and registered as an official breed in Australia in 1987.

References

1. The Australian Cat Federation Inc, Australian Mist Breed Standard, accessed on 22/02/2021, available at http://www.acfacat.com/australian_mist.htm
2. American Cat Fanciers Association, Australian Mist Breed Synopsis, accessed on 22/02/2021, available at: American Cat Fanciers Association (acfacat.com)
3. Wikipedia, Australian Mist, accessed on 22/02/2021, available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Mist