TrueBlue - Australian Mist Breeder - Brisbane, QLD
Australian Mist Cat Breeder - Australia
I am a small in-house breeder doing my little bit to contribute to the ongoing improvement to the Australian Mist Breed. I am not a commercial breeder and don't make any money out of kitten sales. So, I don't have fancy websites or a big commercial profile or presence, but I am however invested in continuing to improve and promote a breed of Cat which was developed to enjoy living with people.
I breed for Sound Temperament - the fact that these cats are good looking too is just a bonus!
I have two breeding Queens. GoTrueBlue and PeachyKeen - Blue and Peaches for short. My Cats live in my house with me and my kittens develop and grow at foot. This means they are a valued members of my household and I take great care to ensure they reach all their milestones and are happy, healthy and well adjusted family pets. I do not have a Stud Cat or Tom cat, instead I employ the services of a suitable Tom to service my girls when they are healthy and ready to mate. Genetically, the Temperament of kittens will be passed to them by the Sire, so careful consideration is taken when choosing a suitable Tom.
Get in touch
Registrations & memberships
Registration: FCCQ;
Prefix: Altjira
Clubs & Assoc: Feline Control Council of Queensland
Category
Breeder - Cats
For
Cats - Australian Mist
Our standards & practices
Health testing & screening
Question. Do you health test in accordance with the current standards and recommended guidelines for your breed? Can you demonstrate your knowledge of any required DNA or other health related test results concerning your breed (if applicable).
Answer. Yes.I am working under the guidance of Dr Truda Straede in the continued development of the Australian Mist Cat. I want to become the best principled and ethical breeder I can be. I am undertaking recommended tests with UC Davis in the US and Orivit in Australia to test of genetic suitability for breeding in the first instance before ascetics.
Preparation & socialisation
Question. Do you ensure that your kittens are appropriately socialised? Please provide details about how you raise your kittens to ensure that their environmental and social needs are met, that they are suitable as pets. And, do you ensure that the new family understands and is equipped to continue this socialisation?
Answer. Yes.I have had a very strong interest in Feline Behaviour and understand the importance of appropriate handing of kittens from a very early age as well as proving engaging play activities, socialisation with other cats which have been screened for suitability with regard to the absence of disease and parasite spread. I provide food puzzles, play activities and am always looking for new ways to both Catify my environment and provide loads of stimulation. A well socialised kitten will have less behavioural issues down the track and is much less likely to end up in a shelter.
Placement & matching
Question. Is ensuring that your kittens go to the right home a high priority? How do you ensure that the kitten will be a good fit, and be well cared for in its new home? Do you have a verbal or personal interview?
Answer. Yes.Although I am a new breeder, I did breed Persians many years ago. When I realised this breed of cat was not suitable to continue breeding and doing so was unethical, I had all three breeding Queens and my Tom desexed. They lived their lives in comfort as pets. Since then and while they were still with me for some time, I spent many years looking after and fostering abandoned cats and kittens. I have normalised feral cats and kittens and rehomed hundreds over the years. I like to speak with people over the phone first and have a general chit chat before I get to a list of questions that can be a little confronting. At times I have said up front “I want to be sure that the cats I have been charged with go to loving and committed homes, tell me what that means to you”. Most of the questions I ask are open ended. That way I can be sure I am getting an comprehensive response instead of people responding to a set of multiple choice questions which can provoke convenient lies. I always ask why people want a cat and what they are looking for in a cat. I won’t entertain people who say they wish to purchase a cat for a birthday gift or Christmas gift without discussion and agreement the commitment will involve with the receiver. I have always had a return policy if things don’t work out. I have always made myself approachable if people have problems. “Never feel embarrassed about having problems - ring me and it is likely I can help”
Question. What written information about the conditions of sale, warranty, and information concerning the care and maintenance of the breed do you provide?
Answer. Yes.All my kittens will be desexed, wormed regularly, socialised, played with, cuddled and handled, vaccinated, vet checked etc. I intend to give my potential clients my Veterinarians details to call if they wish to confirm my dedication and the health of any animal under my charge. I have always had a return policy if the only other option is to surrender the cat to a shelter. But I have done this before and ask an awful lot of questions over the phone in the first instance and attempt to generally talk to people to get a feel for them and their situation. If I feel uncomfortable I simply state that fact and explain why. Having fostered so many feral and abandoned cats and kittens over the years, I do intend to encourage people to adopt before they shop. I know it sounds counterproductive, but I chose the Australian Mist because of it’s Temperament and it’s suitability to the Australian environment not simply because it is good looking. Adopting wont work for everyone who wants a Cat, but if it does I would rather people explore that and rehome a cat that doesn’t have a home than purchase one of mine.
Ongoing support
Question. Do you offer ongoing support? For example: Help with introducing a kitten to other animals; help with any health or behavioural problems that might occur.
Answer. Yes.I intend to provide a comprehensive booklet with topics from feeding, litter box issues, socialisation with other pets with step by step instructions, to what we know about how cats think and communicate and problems you might encounter. I intend to make myself available to help and am (I believe) mature enough to say “I don’t’ know about that, but I will find out and get back to you”. I am invested in continued learning and reading academic research- particularly with regard to feline behaviour.
Question. In the long term, do you assist with re-homing a kitten or cat if for some reason the new family are unable to care for it?
Answer. Yes.I intend to have a return policy in if all else fails. I have normalised feral cats and kittens (full on feral cats and have all the scars to prove it). If there is a problem it is likely to be behavioural and I have made a mistake with my judgment in terms of the caregivers I have chosen. If this is the case, chances are I may be able to rectify the problem (or at least attempt to) and find a more suitable home. I would rather take a return and find a new home myself than assist the buyer - that process sounds a little to fast in my mind. I would prefer to see what the problem actually is and find a more suitable caregiver who is fully aware with full disclosure about any potential issues and make a judgment as to whether the new care giver is able to effectively manage the situation. But every circumstance is different. I have no intention of breeding animals who are not going to be loved and valued family members. If I find out that this is going to be the case then I will stop breeding as I did 30 years ago.
Clubs & Associations
Question. Are you a current member of any breed clubs and/or associations?
Answer. Yes.Feline Control Council of Queensland
See Australian Mist breed info, photos, more Australian Mist breeders and Australian Mist Health Information
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