Many individuals say “Tabby” when asked what breed their striped cat is. However, like many other common cat names (Tuxedo, Tortoiseshell, Calico, and so on), “Tabby” refers to the coat pattern rather than a specific breed of cat. In truth, every feline carries the tabby gene, but it does not appear in every cat’s coat. To make things even more intriguing, Tabby markings come in five varieties: classic, mackerel, spotted, ticking, and patched.
Tabbies are noted for their stripes, swirls, and dots, which make up one of an almost limitless number of color and pattern combinations. Their coats have a single dominating hue with stripes in brown and black. Brown mackerel markings are the most common.
Tabbies can easily be identified by their sweet nature and the legendary capital ‘M’ on their furry forehead.
Because many different breeds of cats sport the tabby coat, it’s hard to generalize about their personalities. However, chances are almost certain that there’s a tabby for any type of family, including those with children and other pets.
Tabbies are easily recognizable by their loving disposition and the legendary capital ‘M’ on their hairy brow.
Because tabby cats come in a variety of breeds, it’s difficult to generalize about their characteristics. However, there is almost certainly a tabby for every family, particularly those with children and other pets.
Personality
Tabbies’ personalities can vary as much as their coat traits. Knowing a tabby’s breed might provide insight into the cat’s personality.
An Abyssinian tabby is an extremely energetic cat who enjoys climbing and playing chase. They are also an affectionate breed that would frequently seek out the attention of their parrot. Their brains require frequent stimulation or they may become wicked.
An American Shorthair tabby enjoys attention, but not too much. They are friendly and get along well with strangers. They’ll even cuddle with you, but don’t pick them up and carry them around with you. They’d much rather cuddle!
Maine Coon tabbies are easygoing and get along nicely with children. They’ll keep an eye on what the family is up to if everyone is too busy to give them one-on-one attention.
The Oriental tabby cat breed, which comes in over 100 color and pattern variations, enjoys a good discussion and being close to their parents. They also enjoy having a playmate nearby to stimulate their inventiveness and curiosity.
Despite their wild appearance, the Ocicat tabby is a very intelligent and social cat. They could be trained to walk on a leash and like being carried. This breed is known for having a speckled tabby appearance.
The American Curl, a recent breed, is a tabby with lovely ears that curl back. They adore their families, even children, and are content to be left alone if no one is present for feline entertainment. Their coats are available in a variety of patterns.
The tabby look has no effect on the personality of the most prevalent sorts of cats, which have domestic short, medium, and long hairs. These cats do not claim to be a specific breed; they are simply themselves! Their appearances and personalities are so diverse that they cannot be categorized. Regardless of their pedigree, these one-of-a-kind felines are cherished family members by innumerable pet parents.
History
The Egyptians ascribe the distinctive ‘M’ on the forehead of their revered tabby to the cat’s Egyptian name “Mau.” The Islamic world thinks that tabby cats are born with a ‘M’ to commemorate Mohammed’s fondness for cats. There is even a ‘M’ tale around Jesus’ birth.
When Jesus was born, he was shivering in the cold. Mary tried to keep him warm with blankets and even enticed the stable animals to come in near to make the baby feel more comfortable with their body heat. He wasn’t lulled to sleep with warmth and soothing purring until a tabby cat curled up in the manger with the newborn. According to folklore, Mary placed the ‘M’ on the tabby’s forehead so that the world would remember the day the cat gently comforted the infant Jesus.
Tabbies continue to play an important role in contemporary narrative. Both Garfield the cat and Puss in Boots from the Shrek films are tabbies. Lil BUB, a tiny brown tabby, suddenly taken over a large portion of the internet. The stray cat from Indiana was the runt of a litter discovered in a shed. Lil BUB’s wonderful pare usuallynt helped collect a lot of money to help homeless pets and put the emphasis on pet adoption and special needs kitties. Lil BUB has been a one-of-a-kind cat, as one would expect of a tabby.
Physical Attributes
COAT
For centuries, we have been attracted by the various types and hues of cats. Our Cats and All About Them: Their Varieties, Habits, and Management; and for Show, the Standard of Excellence and Beauty, by illustrator and cat aficionado Harrison Weir, was published in 1889 and is considered a classic.
The breed frequently determines the length of the cat’s fur as well as other aspects such as facial structure, ear shape, and body type. Regardless of breed, the tabby fur pattern is divided into five categories.
Classic tabbies are frequently referred to as “blotched” tabbies. They feature larger whorls that resemble targets.
The mackerel has a ringed tail and legs with stripes that run the length of its body.
Remove the stripes! Spots are popular among spotted tabbies. The bands that run across the body of this tabby are not solid, but rather fractured into spots.
Some tabbies try on patches to see how they fit. Brown and red/orange patches adorn the patched tabby. Torti Tabbies, or Torbies, are named after the tortoiseshell, a colorful material used in manufacture.
Ticked tabbies feature a more delicate tabby patterns. Instead of dark fur bands on the body, these tabbies have stripes or spots on each individual hair of their fur called agouti.
Tabbies, regardless of fur type, proudly wear the distinctive ‘M’ on their foreheads and have a distinct personality that will find them the perfect home.
Disclaimer
While the qualities listed below are common for this breed, cats are individuals with unique personalities and appearances. For more information about a specific pet, please contact the adoption group.
Wondering about Tonkinese? Check it out on our next post!
