Australian Mist - AUM
This is a preliminary standard.
Final version is to be approved by the Standard Commission, and will soon be published.
General | Originally known as the Spotted Mist, this breed was started in Australia in 1977, using a combination of the Burmese (50%) and Abyssinian (25%) breeds, outcrossed to Domestic shorthaired cats (25%). | Points |
Head: |
| 20 |
Shape Top of head | The head has the shape of a broad, blunt wedge, with good width between the ears. The contours are slightly rounded. | 10 |
Muzzle and chin | Jaws are broad at the hinge and taper to a blunt muzzle with well-defined whisker pads with a firm chin. The cheeks should be rounded and of good breadth and in proportion to the breadth of the skull. | 5 |
Profile | In profile the nose shows a slight indentation, no break, the nose and the forehead are equally long, the forehead is arched. The nose is of even width till the nose leather. | 5 |
Eyes | The eyes are large, lustrous, set wide apart and slanted towards the nose. The upper eye line is straight, the lower rounded. All shades of green are permitted. | 10 |
Ears | The ears are of medium to large size, broad at the base with rounded tips. They are slightly tilted forwards. The outer line of the ears continues the contours of the head. | 5 |
Body: |
| 15 |
Size and boning | The body is of medium size and medium length. It is hard and muscular and heavier than it appears. | 5 |
Torso | The chest is broad and rounded, when viewed in profile. | 5 |
Neck | Well-defined neck of medium length and in proportion to the body. | 2 |
Legs and paws | The legs are of medium length and muscular, paws are oval. | 3 |
Tail | The tail is long. It tapers slightly from a broad base to the tip. | 5 |
Coat: |
| 40 |
Length | Medium short. | 5 |
Texture | Glossy and elastic, with some degree of undercoat. Top coat feels smooth and silky displaying a glossy shine indicative of good health and condition. | 5 |
Coat pattern | The pattern of the Australian Mist is distinct and a key feature of the breed. The “misted” effect is caused by agouti invasion of the overlying darker pattern and has been deliberately selected for to give the overall impression of a pattern softened at the edges and merging slightly into the agouti ground. All markings are delicate, though distinct from the paler agouti ground, which provides a misted background. Spotted - An unbroken line runs back from the corner of the eye to meet a broken line running from the corner of the mouth. Markings on the forehead form an intricate letter “M” with complex scarab behind it and extending into lines over the back of the head and down the neck. Chest may show a series of broken or unbroken necklaces. Spine lines may be broken or unbroken. Markings on the body are formed of symmetrical spots of any size or shape covering the sides, flanks and under-parts. Elongated spots or bars on the legs are acceptable. Paws may be spotted on top, undersides of paws and hocks are of the pattern colour. Tail should have a ringed pattern with a solid tip of the darker colour. Marbled - While derived from the classic tabby pattern, marbling should show well defined swirled patches or streaks on the shoulders sides and flanks, not symmetrical but giving the impression of marble. On the forehead, there should be an “M” and a skullcap with an unbroken line running from the outer corner of each eye and pencilling on the cheeks. There should be four parallel lines running over the top of the head and down the neck. The chest shows a series of broken or unbroken necklaces, which extend from the shoulder pattern. Both spotted and marbled cats have spotted tummies. Irregular shaped banding on the upper legs, incomplete smaller bands and spots on lower legs and feet and the underside of the paws and hocks in darker pattern colour. Broad bands of dark pattern colour along the tail with a darker tip of solid colour. | 15 |
Colour | In all cases, the overall colour should be rich and warm, paler on the under-parts of the body and with darker rufus tones on nose, cheeks and ears present even in the pale colours. Chocolate, Lilac, Cinnamon (Gold) and Fawn (Peach) colored kittens are very much paler than adults, with the rufus tones dominating the body markings. Full colour develops in an adult cat of approximately 2 years old. Spotted or marbled pattern only. The coat colour has 3 levels: | 15 |
Condition |
| 5 |
Total |
| 100 |
Special breed faults | Small ears. |
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Without certificates | Long or flat skull. |
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Disqualify | Any other eye colour than green in adult cats. |
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Remarks | The full development of the colours chocolate, lilac, caramel, gold (cinnamon) and peach (fawn) needs 2 years. |
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