Cat Breeds: The Australian Mist

The citizens of Australia have always wanted an Australian breed of cat. As far back as the 1890's, attempts to create such a breed were started, but none were successful.

In the mid 1970's Dr. Truda Staede of Nintu Cattery in Australia submitted an idea to the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales (NSW) Cat Control (this body was later replaced by the Cat Fanciers' Association of NSW, which is a member of the Coordinating Cat Council of Australia) to develop a breed of cat that would be truly unique to Australia.

She submitted an Experimental Plan outlining her idea to use Burmese cats, Abyssinian cats and the common domestic cat or “moggy.” The Burmese was chosen for its relaxed nature, general size and shape, the colours brown, blue, lilac and chocolate and their pattern, particularly their ghost spotted pattern. The Abyssinian was chosen for its intelligence, colour pattern and to obtain the ticking (agouti) gene to develop the tabby pattern. By crossing them with domestic tabby cats, she ensured the tabby pattern and also their strength and rigour.

The breeding plan was very successful and in 1978, the new cats turned out to be what was planned. They were named the “Spotted Mist” cat. However, occasionally cats were born with a marbled pattern. It was determined that this pattern occurred when two cats with the masked classic gene were bred to each other. It was decided that both the spotted and the marbled patterns should be included in the breed, but the name “Marbled Spotted Mist” was too awkward a name, so the name was changed to “Australian Mist.”

The Australian Mist is a medium-sized, short-haired cat with a round head and large expressive eyes in shades of green. Its coat is either spotted or marbled. The base or ground colour is cream (any other base colour, including white, means that the cat is not a purebred Australian Mist). The delicate pattern colour is one of seven colours: blue, lilac, brown, chocolate, caramel, gold or peach. Random ticking in the solid colour areas gives it an appearance of being covered by a misted veil, hence the name. The nose, chin and whisker pads are broad, giving the face a generous open look, with delicate tabby markings. Legs and tails frequently contain rings of the pattern colour.

These cats are hearty eaters, so care must be taken that they don't overeat and become obese. Their short, dense hair is easy to care for and only requires a weekly brushing, They will shed their hair, and during this time, more frequent brushing is required.

The Australian Mist is a very healthy cat and it is very unusual for one to have a health problem. Their life expectancy is 15 to 19 years. Breeders of this species of cat keep meticulous records and every single cat's lineage can be traced back to the original base group. As a result, prospective breeders are thoroughly screened to ensure that they will keep the breed pure and that all documentation is factual and complete.

As kittens, Australian Mist cats are very lively, and even as adults they enjoy playing. They can be trained to fetch and walk on a leash. Nothing much perturbs them as they are very laid back in temperament. They love people and will plunk themselves down on any empty lap, whether they are invited or not. They prefer company, so make excellent pets for invalids and house bound seniors. They make perfect pets for children of any age, even very little ones, as they enjoy being handled and are not inclined to scratch.

The Australian Mist is very easy to show as they enjoy all the attention. Because of their mild manner and fantastic appearance, they frequently win the coveted “All Breeds Supreme in show awards.”

At the current time Australian Mist cats are being bred in Australia and Great Britain. There are some neutered/spayed Australian Mist cats in the United States and several breeders there are attempting to sign agreements so they can breed these fabulous cats.

So, if you want a loving, beautiful cat that can be taught tricks, you may want to consider the Australian Mist as your next feline companion. One word of caution though, they are very pricey and you will have to undergo a rigorous interrogation by the breeder to ascertain if you would be a suitable owner. You should also know that if you are purchasing a companion cat, that it will be spayed or neutered prior to being sold to you. This prevents any unauthorized breeding from taking place. As noted above, very strict rules apply to this particular breed of cat.

Until next time,

Teia

Cat Breeds - Persian Cats

The exotic and majestic appearance of the Persian cat captures the attention of cat lovers everywhere, making it one of the most desirable breeds of cats today. Their dense and lush long-haired coat, short legs and broad head with round eyes and flat muzzle faces are distinct physical traits that make them easily identifiable to just about everyone.

According to the Cat Fanciers' Association, (website http://www.cfa.org/) there are seven main categories of Persians. You can visit their web site for specific information on each group and to view pictures.

1. Himalayan

2. Solid Colors

3. Silver and Golden

4. Calico and Bicolor

5. Smoke and Shaded

6. Tabby

7. Parti-color

Within these categories, there are many colors and variations. The many different kinds of Persians that are available permit anyone to pick the perfect companion. However, before running out and snatching up the first Persian you see, there are several factors for purchasing a Persian you ought to consider.

First, give some thought on how this new addition will get along with any pets you already have. Then assess if you are able to take the time to groom this cat properly EVERY day. The next issue might be the hardest thing to decide. That is, narrowing down which of the seven types of Persians you like the most. Once that is resolved, you can determine which color you would prefer. After that, you may have a partiality for the specific sex of your pet. A significant issue to consider is if you intend on entering your cat in show competitions or if you are just looking for a buddy. A show quality Persian will generally cost more than one that you want just for a pet. As a side note to this, many Persian breeders will require you to sign an agreement not to breed any cat purchased from them and others will also request that you not enter your cat into shows, even local ones. Getting a Persian cat that you are allowed to enter into shows and breed can become quite expensive.

Show-quality Persians have an extremely long thick coat, short legs, a wide head with the ears set far apart, large eyes and an extremely foreshortened muzzle. As a result, it is fairly common for Persians to have moderate discharge from their tear ducts. This is easily cleaned and should be maintained consistently by you or another member of your family.

The breed was originally established with a short muzzle, but over time this feature has become extremely exaggerated, particularly in North America. The extremely short muzzle was not recognized by the Persian Breed Standard for some time. Howerver, in 2007 the Persian Breed Standard was altered to reflect the flat face and it now states that the forehead, nose and chin should be in vertical alignment.

Persian cats can have any color or markings including pointed, golden, tortoisehell, blue and tabby. Tipped varieties are known as Chinchilla. Point varieties are called Himalayan in the United States and Colorpoint Persian in Europe.
Since Persian cats have long, thick dense fur, as mentioned above, they need daily grooming. Persian cats need to be bathed regularly, dried carefully afterwards and then brushed thoroughly. Their eyes also need to be checked for problems on a regular basis because some animals have trouble keeping them clean. Likewise, Persians are particularly susceptible to a genetic disease, Polycystic kidney disease, PKD, which causes kidney failure. However, cats can now be DNA screened for the gene that causes PKD, so affected cats can gradually be removed from the Persian gene pool by responsible breeders. Persian cats usually live from 10 to 19 years on average. The Persian cat is the most popular breed in the United States.

If you decide that a Persian cat is going to be your next pet, you have to make another decision. Depending on your personality and time constraints, do you want and are you able to raise a kitten? If you do, then you will want to locate a reputable breeder. This is an important matter because the better the breeder, the better your chance of acquiring a strong and healthy kitten. See if the kitten appears to be properly taken care of and is being raised in clean surroundings. Has a veterinarian done a complete checkup for health problems and is it up-to-date with shots? Is the breeder aware of any genetic conditions that may run in this kitten's pedigree lineage? Remember to obtain a health contract or guarantee from the breeder. An honest breeder will have no problem supplying you with one. Additionally, you will need the vaccination certificate. If the kitten is registered or you are planning to register it, you will need these papers from the breeder too.

Perhaps you are leaning toward an older cat. Adopting from a shelter or rescue group could be a rewarding experience, not to mention saving a life. Just realize that this cat might have been abandoned due to a major health or personality problem. Ask a lot of questions and spend as much time with the cat as you can to determine if it will be a good pet for you.

No matter what cat you ultimately select, by doing your homework and being honest with yourself on your particular personality and situation, picking the perfect Persian can be a fun experience that later grows into a long loving relationship.

Until next time,

Teia