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If you have been looking for a pet cat, especially if you have a family with kids, you might consider getting an Australian Mist. They are friendly, affectionate, and love people. Let’s find out everything there is to know about the Australian Mist
What’s the nature of the breed?
The Australian Mist is a very easy-going cat that absolutely loves to be around people whenever it can. They thrive on contact with humans and really do not like being alone.
Many people keep them solely as house cats, and as long as they are with people, they do not mind being kept as indoor cats. The Australian Mist will follow you around the house all the time and always wants to know what is going on.
They are fairly curious and they want to know what you are up to. These cats do not mind being handled, picked up, and pet, plus they don’t really scratch either.
Check out the video below for more knowledge about the nature of Australian Mist:
This cat also has a tendency to find a warm lap to curl up and sleep in whenever it can. The Australian Mist cat has a moderate energy level, a moderate level of playfulness, and are moderately intelligent too.
These cats make for great family cats, which is true whether you have dogs and kids or not.
Origin and history of the breed
The Australian Mist cat does have pretty interesting origins. As you can probably tell, this is a cat that was bred in Australia by a Dr. Truda Straede.
The idea to breed the Australian Mist cat was first introduced in 1970, and by 1977, the breeding process was completed, thus resulting in this wonderful looking cat. The Australian Mist is actually a mix of over 30 different cat breeds.
There are a few main cats whose characteristics stand out here. The Australian Mist is half Burmese, one-quarter Abyssinian cat, and one-quarter Australian Moggy.
From the Burmese cat came the colors, the laid back attitude, and some of the patterns. The Abyssinian side contributed some coloring and a good dose of intelligence, and the Moggies seem to have contributed not only some of their spots and patterns, but their fairly good health as well.
Physical standards of the breed
Health and possible diseases
The Australian Mist tends to be quite a healthy cat. When compared to some other cat breeds, this cat is very healthy. While they may suffer from some periodontal or cat heart disease, this is common in all cat breeds and is not linked specifically to the Australian Mist.
The only health issue which some people have noticed is that the lighter colored Australian Mists may at times develop skin allergies or sensitive skin.
Grooming
The Australian Mist cat is quite easy to groom. They have fairly short and straight hair, which makes grooming relatively easy.
Using a soft brush to remove dead hair and skin about once per week is more than fine. Be gentle with them as they have been known to have sensitive skin at times. In terms of bathing, once every few months is more than enough.
They really do not require baths unless they get very filthy, and in fact, bathing them is not good for their skin as it dries it out. You will also want to wipe their eyes once a week with a warm and wet cloth.
Moreover, daily tooth brushing is a good idea as well, or at least several times per week if possible, in order to stave off periodontal disease.
Finally, you will want to use a mixture of cider vinegar and warm water, with cotton balls, to wipe out their ears once per week.
Height and size
The Australian Mist features a fairly average and medium-sized body. They are not overly long, short, stalky, or anything else of the sort.
They feature a round head with large ears, and large round eyes, usually some shade of green. In terms of size, at the shoulders, the Australian Mist should grow to no more than 10 or 12 inches at the shoulders.
Weight
The Australian Mist can grow to around 15 pounds, which are the heavier males, with smaller females sometimes being as light as 8 pounds.
Activeness
The Australian Mist has a medium level of activity and energy. Now, they do enjoy playing with toys quite a bit, and they are somewhat curious as well.
They are quite lively and fun-loving and will spend time playing with or chasing toys whenever they can. They are somewhat curious and will explore your home, as they do enjoy seeing what is behind closed doors.
You should expect them to want to play and follow you around, but they also enjoy a long nap on a warm lap.
Hypoallergenic
Unfortunately no, the Australian Mist is not a hypoallergenic cat, so they are not the best option for people with allergies.
However, this is technically a short-haired cat, so in terms of allergy sufferers, there are worse feline pets you could go with.
Lifespan
The Australian Mist is a fairly healthy and long-lived cat. With adequate care, these cats can easily live into their late teens. They have been known to get up to 20 years of age or even older.
However, the average lifespan for the Australian Mist cat is around 16 to 17 years of age.
Caring Difficulty
The Australian Mist is not overly hard to care for. They like to get a lot of attention from people, and they like to play as well, they only require standard grooming and feeding, plus they are very affectionate, and therefore not too hard to take care of.
Where to get a Australian Mist Cat
For the most part, you will find breeders of the Australian Mist in Australia, as can be expected. However, there are some breeders across North American and Europe.
You want to go to a reputable breeder who can assure you of good health and hopefully provide you with papers in terms of family lineage.
How much does a Australian Mist Cat cost?
Australian Mists are not super rare or asked for in terms of popular cats, and it does show with the price. Your average
Australian Mist is going to cost you around $350, but may cost up to $450 depending on the breeder and family lineage of the cat. All things considered, it is not very expensive, especially when compared to other pedigree cat breeds.
Choosing the right type of Australian Mist Cat
Choosing the right type of Australian Mist is not very hard; you can choose from the marbled or spotted varieties, there are some varying colors, but overall, there’s not too much to consider here.
As long as you get the color and pattern you like, and get your cat from a reputable breeder, you should be fine.
Responsibilities to consider in the care of a Australian Mist Cat
What do they require?
Australian Mists require basic and general care; regular feeding with high-quality food, some grooming, a cat tree and cat scratcher, a bit of play, and a lap to rest on is about it.
Do they need a certain level of care and attention?
Yes, the Australian Mist cat does not really like being alone at all. They need a fair amount of attention and they like to play, be with people, and just be around the family in general. It’s not a cat to get if you work all day.
Characteristics of Australian Mist Cats
Behavior
The Australian Mist is a friendly and affectionate cat to have in your home. They like to explore different areas in the home and they like to play with toys.
They enjoy being around people and don’t mind being picked up or petted. They are not overly vocal, but will let you know when they are not happy.
Pattern
The Australian Mist usually always comes in one of two pattern types, which are marbled and spotted. They can be brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, caramel, gold, or peach.
Affectionate
Yes, the Australian Mist cat is a highly affectionate cat that absolutely loves being around people. They hate being alone and make for great family pets that love being around their owners all day.
Once again, they love people and hate being alone, so don’t get an Australian Mist cat if you do not plan on being home a lot.
Dog/child-friendly
Yes, the Australian Mist is very child and dog friendly. They do not mind kids or dogs as long as they are fairly respectful and do not harass the cat.
Intelligence
The Australian Mist has a moderate level of intelligence. They are not the smartest felines around, but they are still quite curious and they do not mind the occasional puzzle toy.
Energy
The Australian Mist is a fairly active and high-energy cat, although not overly so to the point of bouncing off the walls. They like to play, follow you around, and have a bit of fun, but nothing too serious.
Maintenance
Maintaining the Australian Mist is not very difficult. Good food, regular grooming, some play and attention, a clean litter box, a scratching post, and a nice place to sleep is about it.
Types of Australian Mists
There are two variations of the Australian Mist: the marbled and spotted varieties, as we mentioned before.
Conclusion
As you can see, the Australian Mist is a great family cat to have. As long as there is usually someone home to give it a bit of attention, it makes for a great pet. It does well around kids and dogs, is not overly destructive, and will provide you with some good laughs.