An Underrated Australian Cat Breed Is Also One Of The Most Loyal (And Perfect For Families)

What do Stephen King and Australian cat breeds have in common? They both embrace the mist. Indeed, the Australian mist is a cat breed that may have gotten caught in the haze — it's an underrated cutie that not enough potential pet parents consider when searching for a family-friendly cat. What type of cat is best to have around kids? The answer might just be the Australian mist.

There are several reasons the Australian mist has flown under the radar. First, it is a relatively new cat breed. It has only been around since 1977, and its name is even newer than that. This fluffy kitty was originally called the spotted mist thanks to its lightly spotted coat. However, as the breed developed and other coat patterns began to emerge, its name was changed to Australian mist in 1998. Created by Australian veterinarian Dr. Truda Straede, it took 25 years to fully develop the breed. The Australian mist is a combination of several well-known cat breeds, including Abyssinians, domestic spotted tabbies, and European Burmese breeds.

This mix of friendly, playful breeds means the Australian mist has some European Burmese cat breed characteristics as well as Abyssinian and tabby traits. In short, they are happy, loyal companions for adults and kids alike. They are quite common in Australia but are gaining popularity around the world since they have proven to be excellent pets.

Australian mists are medium-large sized cats with broad heads, large eyes, and rounded ears. Their short, spotted or marbled coats come in several colors including shades of brown, blue, and lilac, much like their Burmese cousins. Aside from being absolutely adorable, they are known for being lively, easygoing, loyal, affectionate, and family-friendly pets. 

If you're looking for a lower-energy and loving cat, this newer breed is a great pick. Australian mist kittens are more active than the adults, who'd much rather lounge on their owners' laps. They are also easy to train and can even play fetch, but much like lots of us humans, they prefer to be cuddled up with their family.

Australian mists are great with young children and even other animals as they are quite laid-back and generally comfortable with being touched and held. In short, the Australian mist is a wonderful pet for any type of pet owner. Whether you have babies and dogs running all over your house or you live alone in an apartment, the Australian mist is adaptable and happy to simply hang with their people.

Australian mists don't require any special care. You may be wondering: should I brush my cat? With the Australian mist's short coat, it's generally all right to give them a weekly brushing. It's important to be aware that Australian mists are prone to gaining too much weight if they overeat. At their ideal size, they weigh somewhere between 8 and 15 pounds, so your Australian mist's perfect weight will be unique to them.

As the Australian mist is newer on the scene — and a combination of several breeds including pedigree and domestic cats — there aren't any particular genetic or health risks associated with them. Like all cats, they are at risk for common heart diseases in cats like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, so this is something that cat owners should screen for.

Not only are their personalities genial and mellow, but Australian mist care also isn't complicated. If anything, they require a little more attention and snuggling than some other, more traditionally independent cat breeds, but what's bad about that? Purebred Australian mists aren't likely to be found at your local animal shelter, so if you're interested in buying one, you'll have to contact a reputable breeder.