Other names Spotted Mist Scientific name Felis catus Higher classification Cat | Other WNCA Origin Australia Rank Breed | |
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Similar Asian Semi‑longhair, Burmilla, California Spangled, Brazilian Shorthair, American Bobtail | ||
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The Australian Mist (formerly known as the Spotted Mist) is a breed of cat developed in Australia.
Contents
History
This breed was developed by Truda Straede in Australia beginning in 1976. The breed was developed by crossing the Burmese, Abyssinian, and miscellaneous domestic short-haired cats to create a short-haired cat with a spotted coat. The name was changed from "Spotted Mist" to "Australian Mist" in 1998, when cats with marbled coats, rather than spots, were accepted as part of the breed. It is the only cat from Australia, while most cats aren't in Australia.
Physical characteristics
Australian Mists are medium-sized short-haired cats, with a round head and large eyes. The coat is very short and lacks an undercoat. Australian Mists do not require much brushing because they lose little hair. The coat patterns have three aspects: the ground colour, which is paler than the pattern; the pattern; and the appearance of wearing a misted veil, caused by random ticking in the solid colour areas. The legs and tail are ringed or barred, and the face and neck also have lines of colour. Their life expectancy is 15-18 years.
Temperament
Australian Mists are tolerant of handling and are not inclined to scratch. As kittens they are lively, but are less so when mature. Australian Mists can be excellent indoor cats, which also protects native wildlife. Some Australian Mists can be trained to go for walks on a lead. Neutered/spayed cats and kittens of this breed fit in easily with other cats and dogs, a trait further enhanced through selective breeding.
Distribution
As a relatively new breed, most Australian Mist catteries are in Australia; however, there are a few in the UK, and some neutered/spayed cats have been introduced to America and several other countries. The UK breeder who brought the first Australian Mist cats to the UK was Mary Stuart. Two pregnant queens arrived in the UK in February 2007. From those initial queens and a further imported mature male stud boy and one other unrelated queen in August 2007, a colony of over 100 cats was created within two years in the UK. In July 2010, when a further six cats had been imported into the UK from Australia, there was the chance to widen the gene pool and offer healthy and genetically-sound kittens to pet buyers within the UK and the US. Breeding cats have been sent to Norway where two breeders are currently working to get them recognised by FIFE.
Breed acceptance status
The breed is accepted for championship status by the World Cat Federation. It was accepted at championship status in TICA (The International Cat Association) on 1 May 2014. It gained preliminary recognition with the UK's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in October 2011. The Australian Mist celebrated 20 years as a championship breed in Australia in 2006.