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Abyssinian vs Australian Mist
Both are quiet-voiced shorthairs; the Abyssinian is a restless climber, the Australian Mist a gentle family cat that is very rare.
Verdict
These two short-coated, medium-sized cats share a soft voice and a light grooming load, and they part ways on energy. The Abyssinian scores at the top for energy, play and intelligence and wants constant involvement. The Australian Mist is gentler, scores higher with children and settles happily in an indoor home. The Mist is also very rare and mostly found in Australia, so an Abyssinian is far easier to find. Choose the Abyssinian for activity and the Mist for calm.
Choose the Abyssinian if
- You want a cat that plays hard and keeps your attention all day.
- You like training and puzzle toys, which suit its top intelligence score.
- You want a ticked coat in ruddy, red, blue or fawn.
- You want a breed that is easy to find from several breeders.
Choose the Australian Mist if
- You want the gentler cat, with top marks for tolerance of children.
- You live in a smaller home, since the Mist suits apartments better.
- You like a spotted or marbled coat with a soft, misted look.
- You will accept a long wait and possibly a breeder in Australia.
Where they are alike
Both have short coats that need almost no grooming and both are quiet cats, not chatterers. Both get on well with other pets.
Side by side
| Abyssinian | Australian Mist | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Shorthair |
| Origin | United Kingdom, with ancestry traced to the Indian Ocean coast and Southeast Asia | Australia |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Typical weight | 8-12 lb (3.6-5.4 kg) | — |
| Lifespan | 10-13 years | — |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Fine, close-lying coat with a ticked (agouti) pattern; each hair carries several bands of colour | Short to medium, smooth, silky coat with paler underparts that give a misted look |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Not recognised by the CFA |
| How common | Common | Very rare |
| Affection | 3 | 4 |
| Energy | 5 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 1 | 1 |
| Shedding | 2 | 2 |
| Good with children | 4 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 3 |
| Trainability | 5 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 3 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The short coat is easy to keep clean, but people who react to cats may still react to an Abyssinian. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The short, silky coat sheds lightly, but people who react to cats may still react to an Australian Mist. |
| Suits | An active household that enjoys play and wants a bright, busy cat that follows its people around. | A family or indoor home that wants a gentle, sociable cat with a soft coat and low grooming needs. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who wants a calm lap cat, or a home where the cat is alone for long stretches. | Anyone who wants a very active or very vocal cat, or who needs a breeder close by outside Australia. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026