Calm and super friendly, Australian Mists’ hobbies include spending time with their human family, finding suitable laps to snuggle on and dozing in sun catches. This is a breed that knows how to relax.
Personality and temperament
Australian Mists tend to reflect the classic Aussie traits of laid-back friendliness. Like Chris Hemsworth, they’re sociable but not clingy, and their uber-calm nature make them great companions. Bred to be an indoor cat, Australian Mists are content to roam your hallways all day long providing they can always find a friendly lap to snuggle on. They also make great housemates for families as they get along well with kiddos of all ages and other pets (including friendly dogs). They’ll even race to the door to greet visitors, alongside with your pooch.
Size and appearance
Undeniably beautiful, Australian Mists are medium-sized cats with a soft, silky short coat. Their name comes from the ‘misted’ patterning of spots or marbling on their fur, and they come in a variety of subtle tones. Featuring a broad face and full cheeks, these stocky cats have almond-shaped eyes (in green or gold), slightly rounded ears and a long, tapered tail. Males can weight about 6kg, with females weighing slightly less – the perfect weight for ‘lap-warmer’ in winter.
History
Australian Mists are considered the first locally bred pedigree cat in Australia, and they are a product of the 1970s (minus the platform shoes). They came about when a breeder called Doctor Truda Straede decided to create a highly adaptable breed that would suit Australia’s climate. She crossed Burmese, Abyssinian and Australian Domestic Shorthair cats to create the chilled-out, friendly breed we see today. They are still rare outside Australia and New Zealand but are becoming popular in in the UK where they were introduced around a decade ago.
Health conditions that can affect this breed
This breed is a relatively healthy breed thanks to careful breeding; however they can be prone to the following health conditions.
- Chronic kidney disease
- Respiratory infections
- Dental disease
- Obesity (they love food but aren’t overly active)
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a genetic heart condition)
- Inherited eye diseases, including progressive vision loss (not common)
Regular vet check-ups and care can help manage these conditions and keep your Australian Mist healthy.
Food and exercise
Australian Mists have a healthy appetite, so two or three regular feeding times are recommended to avoid overeating. They’ll thrive on nutrient-rich, quality food quality food with a high protein content to feed their muscles. Serving a wet food/ dry food mix can help with hydration levels.
Though not an overly active breed, Aussie Mists still enjoy their fair share of exercise. As they are human-focused, their preference is to play with you in any possible way. A few 10-15-minute play sessions throughout the day will keep them happy and feeling loved (these guys will rarely spend time playing with toys by themselves). Some interesting climbing trees and wall-mounted shelves will give them space to explore in between lap-warming sessions.
Grooming and maintenance
Australian Mists are pretty low-maintenance felines – a quick brush once a week is usually enough to contain their mild, year-round shed.
How to groom your Australian Mist
- Coat type: Short, soft and built for pats
- Fur: Light year-round shed, so a quick weekly brush keeps things tidy
- Nails: trim every 3-4 weeks
- Ears: check weekly for dirt or wax build-up
- Eyes: wipe gently with a soft cloth if needed
Training and space requirements
Being intelligent people-pleasers, Australian Mists tend to like training and can perform simple tricks. Clicker training can work well with this breed to teach quick commands like ‘sit’, ‘high-five’ and ‘come’, and short five-minute training sessions using positive reinforcement (and tasty treats) work well.
Australian Mists were bred to be exclusively indoor cats, so it’s not surprising they can adapt to small space living just as well as larger homes. What’s important to them is enough time with their humans (and, in fact, any humans – guests will do) and some vertical space to explore, if they can find the energy.
Best suited for…
Australian Mists are suited to all types of homes and all types on owners, including seniors, families and first-time cat owners due to their easy-going nature. What they thrive on, though, is human interaction, so if you’re home for most of the day (and up for lots of play sessions), this relaxed, friendly breed is for you. They also make excellent lap-warmers and will seek out a friendly lap to curl up on at any time of day (or night).
