Not
likely |
From a Pet Shop,
Market, Fair, Animal Shelter. But it might be a nice kitten deserving of a good home! |
Possible
* |
Has a spotted or
marbled coat pattern and short hair. These are the two patterns of the Australian Mist, but equally apply to lots of lovely tabbies! |
Definitely not. |
Has white markings, patches,
blotches, a white vest, white feet, any white at all. NO
Australian Mist have any white markings. |
Likely *** |
From a Registered
Breeder. Most have the sense to protect their reputation and not to misrepresent what they are breeding. There are a multitude of Registering Bodies throughout the Australian States, and all over the World, many of which recognise Australian Mist. |
Definitely ***** |
Has
Registration Papers from a Cat Registering Body (NOT a photocopy) In combination with the above this is the clincher - governing bodies only issue registrations for bonefide members of any breed. |
Most
probably *** |
Has a pedigree,
showing at least 4 generations of appropriate cats. In combination with the breeder being registered, the litter being registered, and/or one or more other kittens from the same litter being registered the truth of the claim increases to certainty. |
Most
probably ** |
Is described as
Brown, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Gold (Cinnamon) or Peach ( Fawn). or in the US, Seal Sepia, Blue Sepia, Chocolate Sepia, Lilac Sepia, Cinnamon Sepia & Fawn Sepia These are the Australian Mist colours, the full register breed members come in no other colours. However, there are some exceptions: When the breed is in the development stage ('Experimental') a whole range of tabbies (Black/blue, chocolate / lilac, cinnamon/fawn are produced, and these are also considered to be Australian Mist - provided there is pedigree/registration proof. Occasionally there are 'spotless' Mists, from registered litters, these look a little like Burmese, but have green eyes, and are usually heavily 'ghost' tabby marked. These are due to 2 recessive genes coinciding in some of the progeny. Some associations recognise a colour 'Caramel' on which the jury is still undecided throughout the global Cat Fancy. The attempt to establish this colour was based on a misunderstanding of the Australian Mist Breed Standard, which was rewritten by some Governing Bodies, and now differs from that of the Breed Founder's National Governing Body, which uses the lineal descendent of the Breed Founder's original standard, which enshrines a rich warm coat in all colours as part of the general colour standard. Cats so described are still Australian Mist, by all other criteria, and are either blue or lilac in true colouration. More about Coat Colour
Genetics in
the Australian Mist
|
Definitely
not |
Is described as red, ginger,
marmalade, cream, apricot. These colours are due to a gene not
present at all in the population.
It follows that there are NO tortoiseshells either. |
Most
probably *** |
Ancestry can be
traced back to cats bearing Nintu Prefix. The breed was
founded by Dr Truda Straede whose cats originally bore the NINTU
prefix. In
consequence EVERY genuine Australian Mist is descended from
some NINTU ancestors. The proviso lies in the fact that Dr
Straede also bred, in the past, Abyssinians, Burmese and Siamese under
the same prefix, and some of these cats still have breeding
descendents. |
Highly
likely * |
Is microchipped,
vaccinated and desexed. In combination with suitable pedigree/registration proof, one of the hallmarks of Australian Mist Breeders is that they take a very responsible attitude to their hobby, and the welfare of the cats that they breed. Therefore, kittens are never sold entire, unless to registered breeders with a recognised Governing Body. This is, of course, why genuine Australian Mist are unlikely to turn up in petshops etc. |