The Australian Mist (formerly known as Spotted Mist) is a breed of cat developed in Australia. It is a cross between the Abyssinian cat, the Burmese cat, and the Australian Tabby cat.^[1][2] The Australian Mist has a distinct and unique coat pattern hence the name.

This breed was developed in Australia in 1977 by Dr. Truda Straede with a gene-pool of approximately 30 foundation cats.^[3] Dr. Straede submitted a plan to the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales Cat Club (RASCC) for a breed with blue, brown, chocolate, and lilac colourings by using Burmese; and for a spotted tabby pattern by using the ticking gene of Abyssinian to go with a spotted tabby coat. The first generation of the breed was accepted into the RASCC experimental category in May 1980 and in April of 1986 the fourth generation was accepted as the 'Spotted Mist'. In June 1997 the marbled variety of the breed was accepted by the RASCC and Waratah State Cat Alliance. Due to the newly accepted marbled variety it was decided by the Co-ordinating Cat Council of Australia and the Australian Cat Fancy to rename the breed — in a unanimous decision the name 'Australian Mist' was chosen.^[2][4]

On 1 January 1999 the breed received championship status with the New Zealand Cat Fancy. The breed was accepted for championship status by the World Cat Federation in August 2004.^[5] The first Australian Mists were imported into the United Kingdom in 2007. The breed was given preliminary recognition by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in October 2011.^[3] It was accepted at championship status in The International Cat Association on 1 May 2014.^[6] It gained championship status with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in February 2017.^[7] The breed is not yet recognised by the Fédération Internationale Féline.