The Australian Mist, also known as the Australian veil cat, is the only breed of cat on the Australian continent. Bred from Burma, Abyssinian, and house cats, the gentle and trusting breed of cats is ideal as an indoor cat. The Australian kitty owes its name to the typical coat pattern, which looks as if it were covered by a light veil.
Temperament
Given the choice of whether they would rather go outside to hunt mice or would rather stay with their people in the apartment, the Australian Mist always opted for the latter. At least that’s what this Australian house cat is said to be. In fact, the affable and people-related velvet paw is very suitable for keeping the apartment, because the company with her people or other cats is extremely important to her. So important that she would even give up her freedom to do so. However, that does not mean that the Australian Mist would lie lazily in the cat basket all day – on the contrary. The strong, muscular cat is very active and playful. If it is only kept in the apartment, a climbing and scratching post, as well as sufficient space in the house, is essential.
Sociable Indoor Cat With a Childlike Disposition
The lively and curious cat definitely needs space to play and explore. Even if it naturally becomes a little calmer in old age, the Australian Mist retains its childlike disposition for a lifetime. She loves to explore every nook and cranny, frolic, climb and play. A household with children, therefore, suits her very well. But the Australian veil cat also feels at home with seniors living alone or in a couple of households. Thanks to its easy-going and uncomplicated nature, it is very adaptable and fits in well anywhere after a normal period of getting used to it. However, she doesn’t like being alone – the Australian Mist is far too sociable for that. If you are away from home a lot for work, you should therefore get several cats. Because playing with conspecifics is just as good for this furry friend as it is for dealing with people and will certainly distract them from their boredom in your absence.
Appearance
You can literally see her joy of movement and the lively manner in the Australian Mist. She looks attentively and expectantly at her counterpart with large, expressive eyes. Her strong, muscular body with a broad chest and slightly stocky legs always seem ready for a little play of movement. Her medium-length legs, which are slightly longer in the back than in the front, appear strong and athletic. The medium-sized house cat weighs 3-6 kg, with male cats usually being larger and heavier than female cats.
Typical Characteristic: the Fur-covered by the Fog
In keeping with its overall appearance, the Australian Mist has a broad, round head with a strong whisker cushion and a distinctive chin. With the widely spaced, medium-sized ears that are slightly tilted forward and taper to a rounded point, the cat with the large eyes is a little reminiscent of an ocelot. This is not least due to its pretty coat drawing, which the veil cat owes its name to. The short and silky shimmering coat of the Australian consists of three different color levels: 1. the basic color, 2. delicate, darker markings, and 3. the so-called “misted coat”, which lightens the markings underneath through the ticking pattern can appear veiled. Translated, the English breed name “Australian Mist” also means “Australian fog”. And the German name “Australian veil cat” can also be traced back to the characteristic color of the fur of this breed of cats.
The veil cat is available in seven different colors:
- Brown (black drawing)
- Blue
- Chocolate
- Lilac
- Gold (cinnamon drawing)
- Peach (fawn drawing)
- Caramel
By the way, until 1998 the breed was called “Spotted Mist”. With the approval of brindle and marbled fur drawings, the breed name was finally changed to “Australian Mist”.
Australian Mist Cat Breed
The beautiful appearance and the balanced character of the veil cat were by no means coincidental. When the Australian breeder Dr. Truda M. Straede started crossing Burma, Abyssinian, and house cats in 1976, she had a clear goal in mind: She wanted to create a new short-haired and spotted breed of cats that was extremely calm and suitable for housing. With the help of the three cat breeds Burma, Abyssinian, and spotted domestic cats, Straede hoped to achieve this goal. In fact, characteristics of all three breeds are recognizable in today’s Australian Mist: the human orientation and physique of Burma, the temperament and ticking pattern of the Abyssinians, and the tabby pattern (polka dots) of the spotted domestic cat.
The targeted crossing of the three breeds in the ratio of 50 percent Burma plus 25 percent Abyssinian plus 25 percent spotted domestic cat turned out to be very successful. 10 years later, in 1986, the resulting new cat breed “Spotted Mist” was officially recognized in all Australian states.
Breeding and Distribution
The breeding of this comparatively young cat breed is still concentrated in Australia and New Zealand. Although the Australian Mist is making a name for itself outside of its home in Europe and the USA, it has not yet been recognized by other cat associations or the establishment of larger breeding facilities on the European or American continent. Finding a purebred veil outside Australia is therefore not easy. Those interested are likely to find what they are looking for in Great Britain, although the majority of these are cats that were imported from Australia to Europe.
Health and Diseases Typical of the Breed
In contrast to some overbred breeds, the Australian Mist, whose breeding has so far focused on Australia, does not suffer from any breed-specific diseases. The breed is considered to be very healthy and robust. People aged 15 and over are not uncommon. The veil cat is of course not immune to typical “cat diseases”. Upper respiratory diseases or bacterial infections in the stomach and intestines cannot be excluded. In addition, there is an increased risk of parasite infestation among outdoor enthusiasts. Vaccinations against cat flu, cat disease, rabies, and leukosis are therefore particularly recommended for cats that are also given free-range. Please talk to your veterinarian about which vaccinations are important for your cat and when they should be given.
Care and Nutrition
Not only vaccinations but also species-appropriate care and nutrition, make a major contribution to the health of the cat. Those who are familiar know that this does not have to involve a lot of work. Luckily, grooming the short-haired Australian almost takes care of itself. Every now and then, however, you should remove the dead hair with a cloth or a soft brush.
Eating a healthy diet is a major factor in your cat’s wellbeing. High-quality cat food with a high meat content is the right choice for your Australian Mist. Too much grain and carbohydrates should be avoided, as cats cannot make optimal use of them. Also, never give your cat any of your food. This is usually too greasy and too spicy for the sensitive gastrointestinal system of the four-legged velvet paws.
In addition, pay attention to the annual check-up appointments with your veterinarian. Cats often show possible complaints very late and suffer quietly at first. To make sure that your Australian Mist is completely healthy, it should therefore be checked regularly by a specialist.
Keeping an Australian Dung
The Australian Mist is easy to care for in many ways – not just in terms of its fur or food, but also in terms of its housing requirements. She does not need a huge garden or several hours of outdoor activity, but can also get along very well with a purely flat position. The prerequisite for this, however, is that they can spend a lot of time with their people or even have conspecifics as playmates by their side. Australian blue cats are extremely social animals that need contact with other living beings more than a large house or oversized climbing trees. Anyone who travels a lot and is looking for an independent cat who roams around the area alone most of the day is rather badly advised with this cat breed.
Who is the Australian Mist for?
The Australian cat is undoubtedly an uncomplicated and very sociable pet that can adapt well to the lives of its people. But she gets her money’s worth especially with cat lovers who have the time and joy to deal with her and who appreciate the hours together as much as she does. It also makes one or more other dogs happy in the house, with whom they can play as much as they want and go on a scouting hunt. Because even if she values human closeness beyond measure, the Australian Mist is far from being a “sofa lion”. The curious cat loves to scout out new things and to “work off” on a scratching and climbing tree. Make sure you have enough variety in the form of cat toys and exercise games. This is particularly important for cats that are kept indoors a lot or even exclusively. Of course, you can also get your Australian Mist used to daily outdoor activities. Most of the time, however, the human-related kitty will always spend in the four walls of her home, close to her owners.
Where Can I Buy an Australian Mist?
A cat who is gentle, trusting, and people-oriented, who looks pretty and is also suitable for housing, understandably has a lot of fans. However, very few of them will be able to fulfill their wish for a purebred Australian Mist – unless they live in Australia or New Zealand. The increasing popularity of the cat breed suggests that breeders in Europe will soon be adopting this special breed, but if you want to fulfill your wish for a cat, you should look around for another breed first. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to find a cat that is at least “partly” an Australian Mist. Talk to cat breeders and stop by the animal shelter to see if you can find a cat that comes closest to what you want.
