Australian Mist

The Australian Mist is Australia's own breed — a spotted or marbled shorthair whose pattern sits over a faint ticking that gives the coat its misted look.

History

It was developed in Australia from the 1970s by crossing Burmese, Abyssinian and domestic shorthairs, and was first registered as the Spotted Mist before marbled cats were included and the name broadened. It was bred deliberately as an indoor cat, in a country with good reason to keep cats away from native wildlife.

Temperament

The breed is known for being tolerant, people-loving and notably good with children, content to be handled and disinclined to scratch. It stays playful into adulthood and settles readily into a busy house.

Care

The short coat needs almost nothing. Because it was bred for indoor life it takes confinement well, which is unusual and is the practical reason the breed exists.

Health

It is generally robust; its Burmese ancestry brings that breed's known tendencies into the picture for screening purposes. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one cat; the measured facts and trait ratings are in the panels.