Tabby Cats Patterns, History And Personality (2024)

Tabby Cats Patterns, History And Personality (1)

What, oh, what does that M stand for? The Catholics say Mary. The Muslims say Mohammed. The Egyptians say Mau. TheDragon Ball Zfans sayMajinBuu.

The Marvel fans say Magneto. Does it mean Meow? Mouse? Mask? Maine coon? Mystery? Mine? Since many cat goddesses are also maternal goddesses, maybe it means “Mother”.

If your cat has a letter M on her forehead, you've got a tabby cat on your hands! (Speaking of hands, you probably have an M on your palm!

Look at it with the pinkie side down.) If you do, you no doubt want to know more about these beautiful, wonderful creatures.

What is a tabby cat?

A tabby is not a breed of cat but a coat pattern. They can be brown,grey, orange or yellow but they must be striped. Agreytabby can be silvergreyor bluegrey.

If you look closely at a black cat under strong lighting, you may be able to see some faint tabby stripes, just as a black panther has leopard spots among that ebon fur. Since tabbies come in every breed, you could have a Persian or an angora that looks like a fluffy little tiger.

Origin of Tabby Cats

As the tabby pattern is ubiquitous among wild felines, it might be supposed that cats of the medieval era were tabbies. The first of the domesticated felines were very likely striped like their wild ancestors. The striped patterned evolved as a means of camouflage, making it easier to stalk prey in tall grass.

Tabby Cat Patterns

Classic Tabby Cat

Tabby Cats Patterns, History And Personality (2)

The classic tabby has a coat that looks like a marble cake or a Yin Yang symbol.

This is frequently referred to as the swirled or bulls-eye pattern.

The stripes are considerably wider than a mackerel tabby's stripes and have a circular pattern on the sides.

These terrific tabbies will often have broad stripes streaking down the middle of the back.

Mackerel Tabby Cat

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Holy mackerel, what a beautiful cat!

No, they're not named after their favorite fish, though they won't turn their noses up at it.

A good way to describe the vertical stripes that lie parallel to the cat's sides is like a fish bone.

There will be one big stripe down the cat's spine and several thinner stripes looking like the ribs on a fish's skeleton.

It may look like Kitty is wearing a little pinstriped suit!

Spotted Tabby Cat

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These tabbies don't have stripes but spots.

If the spots have a dark outline along with a lighter color in the center, they are called rosettes.

Jaguars, for example, have rosettes while leopards have spots.

Ticked Tabby Cat

If a cat is ticked, that doesn't mean he's angry! It also doesn't mean he's infested with a nasty blood sucking parasite either.

It just means that rather than a pattern on the body, each and every individual hair has bands of color on it.

In purebred cats, some breeds are allowed by the AFC to have stripes, also known as bars, on the legs and face. Other breeds are required not to have any barring at all.

Patched Tabby Cat

Another word for such cats is “torbie” as their coat is a blend of tabby stripes and tortoiseshell pattern. The markings are especially apparent on the head and legs.

Related coat pattern: Lilac Tortoiseshell Cat

How Tabby Cats Get Their Patterns

Scientists have identified three separate genes involved in tabby-pattern process. These are the Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP),Mc1RandTaqpep.

TheMc1Rgene determines how dark the coat will be. The ASIP gene controls whether the cat’s coat will have bands or be solid colored.

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Does the Tabby Pattern Influence Other Traits

Not really! Breeding rather than coat color influences coat length and texture and any other physical qualities. There are more factors than hair color that affect personality.

Personality of tabby cats

It's hard to say what a tabby personality is. They're known for being friendly, but could this be because people act friendly towards such a handsome cat? Every cat is an individual.

Nurture does have a big impact on a cat's personality, but kittens from the same litter raised the same way may still have very different personalities.

Breeds that can have tabby patterns

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There are many cat breeds in which the Cat Fanciers Association accept the tabby pattern. The Abyssinian is well known for having ticked fur as are theBirman,Singapuraand Somali.

The Egyptian Mau is the original spotted tabby. On acolorpointshorthair,Ragdolland the Javanese, tabby markings are called “lynx points”. The classic pattern is almost expected in the Americanshorthair.

Nearly all Maine coon cats have a tabby pattern. Theocicatand Bengal are specifically bred to have distinctive spotting.

There are fourteen allowable tabby patterns and colors among the Turkish Angora. There are sixteen tabby patterns and colors allowed among the Turkish Vans.

Persians, Manx and American curl are also among the breeds that are still considered standard when they show tabby traits.

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Famous tabby cats

Garfield is the world's most famous tabby. It was revealed in one special that his mother was a yellow tabby. How he managed to have a purple half brother named Raul is anybody's guess.

The Ithaca Kitty, the first mass produced plush toy, was based on a tabby cat named Caesar Grimalkin.Stubbswas an orange tabby who was mayor ofTalkeetna, Alaska.

The Cheshire Cat fromAlice's Adventures in Wonderlandhas been depicted as a tabby since the original Tenniel illustrations. Disney decided he should have pink and purple stripes.

Tabbies in culture

In the Egyptian “Book of the Dead” the sun god, Ra, appears as a spotted tabby, much like the modern Egyptian Mau. He is often shown slaying the serpent Apep. The Egyptians believed the M mark was left by a scarab. Painter Horatio Henry Coudery depicted tabby cats as mischievous, curious, a little gluttonous, yet somehow lovable.

The Broadway musicalCatsfeatures a boss cat named Munkustrap with silver tabby markings. The wig the actor wears has a widow's peak making it look like an M. Said actor must be strong enough to lift and throw another male dancer, so he will have a rather imposing presence on the stage.

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Conclusion

Remember the M on the palm mentioned in parentheses in the first paragraph? It could stand for “motivated” or “management” since in palmistry it is believed that people with this pattern are good with self-discipline and motivating themselves to do their best.

They tend to be drawn to careers in journalism, education and writing. (Looks at own palm) There could be some truth to it after all.

Cats are not known for their motivation or self-discipline. The M on your tabby cat in more likely to mean “Mmm…after my nap. Maybe.” But, we love the little furballs anyway!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tabby cats affectionate?

When it comes to personality traits, tabbies are considered friendly, happy-go-lucky cats, intelligent, sassy, very affectionate and wonderful companions. But this trait is linked to coat color (as in fiery red) and not to the tabby pattern.

Are tabby cats male?

Most, but certainly not all, orange tabby cats are male. Orange tabby cats are about 80/20 male to female. There is no monetary value, per se, associated with a female orange tabby cat. Calico and tortoiseshell cats, however, are almost always female.

What are tabby cats mixed with?

Tabby Cats feature distinctive strips, lines, swirling patterns or dots with a WIDE variety of patterns and colors. The most common mixed breed tabby cats are: Grey Tabby, Orange Tabby and Brown Tabby. They are not a breed but rather a coloration variation that pops up in almost all breeds of cats.

Why do tabby cats have an M on their forehead?

Cat eyes reflect light and at night their eyes appeared so luminous the Egyptians associated cat eyes with the moon. According to legend, the “M” on the tabby's forehead is a mark of that relationship. The Egyptian Mau is the original naturally spotted tabby and a direct descendant of ancient Egyptian cats.

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Tabby Cats Patterns, History And Personality (2024)

FAQs

What kind of personality do tabby cats have? ›

They're usually friendly, intelligent, affectionate, vocal, active, and quiet. Tabby owners can live happily with their kitties in homes of all sizes. Cats are carnivores, so you'll need to feed them a diet that's packed with meat.

What is the rarest tabby pattern? ›

Ticked Tabby

Ticked tabby cats do not have stripes. Instead, these cats often have a sandy appearance and may also have bands of colors. Ticked tabbies are the rarest among the common tabby cats, and it can be challenging to find one.

What is the most common tabby cat pattern? ›

Brown mackeral tabbies are the most common. All tabbies have distinctive M on forehead. Black stripes with brown background.

What is the history of the tabby cat? ›

tabby, type of dark-striped coat colouring found in both wild and domestic cats. One of the most common coat colours, the tabby pattern dates back to domestic cats in ancient Egypt. It is a recognized colour variety in purebred cats and is frequently seen in cats of mixed ancestry.

Why are tabby cats so special? ›

Tabbies are very good at expressing their feelings and will let you know if they are sad, angry, happy, or playful. They are known for being friendly, affectionate, and playful, so their human families are in for quite the treat.

Do tabby cats like to be held? ›

You'll also find that most of them are classic Tabbies. These felines are smart and sociable. They won't run and hide under the bed when strangers come over. While they may not enjoy being carried around and coddled, they do like snuggling up next to their family on the couch and sleeping at the foot of the bed.

What is a ghost tabby? ›

This means that all cats have tabby patterns but this tabby pattern is masked if the cat is solid. The tabby pattern can sometimes still be seen on some solid-color cats, especially on kittens, and it's referred to as “ghost markings”.

What is the M mark on tabby cats? ›

Cats with 'M' on forehead: the mark of a true tabby cat

One story has it that the 'M' is related to the word 'mau' which in Ancient Egypt meant 'cat'. In Christian folklore, a tabby cat dutifully showed up to comfort baby Jesus. In gratitude, his mother Mary stroked the cat's head and left an 'M' mark on its forehead.

How rare are female tabby cats? ›

Most orange tabby cats are males: 80% male, and 20% female - No wonder they are usually mischievous!

What is the lifespan of a tabby cat? ›

Domestic shorthair tabby cats are popular felines, so how long do tabby cats live? The average life expectancy of a tabby cat is between 12 and 15 years, but some can live until they are 18 or older.

What is the personality of a long hair tabby cat? ›

Though it's difficult to make generalizations about tabbies because they come from so many breeds, many tabby cat owners say their cats are friendly, affectionate, and playful.

What are tabby cats prone to? ›

Tabbies can suffer from a variety of health problems that include worms, obesity, Diabetes mellitus, Conjunctivitis, Kidney problem, and urinary tract infection. Worms: The most common parasites affecting Tabbies include roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms.

What ethnicity are tabby cats? ›

The tabby pattern occurs naturally and is connected both to the coat of the domestic cat's direct ancestor and to those of its close relatives: the African wildcat (Felis lybica lybica), the European wildcat (Felis silvestris), and the Asiatic wildcat (Felis lybica ornata), all of which have similar coats, both by ...

What is the myth of the tabby cat? ›

Away in a manger

One says that when the baby Jesus wouldn't stop crying in his manger, a tabby cat climbed inside and started to purr, giving him warmth and comfort so that he could sleep; in thanks, Mary marked the tabby's forehead with the first letter of her name.

What is the classic tabby pattern on a cat? ›

The Classic Tabby pattern can easily be noticed because the cat will have swirls and a circle on its side. It also has a “butterfly” pattern across its shoulders which lead into thick lines down the spine. This cat is a Silver Classic Tabby American Shorthair.

Do tabby cats have a favorite person? ›

In a multi-human household, it seems that cats will choose one family member they want to spend more of their time with. According to a study done by the nutrition company, Canadae, they discovered that the person who makes the most effort is the favorite.

Are tabby cats the friendliest? ›

As we mentioned above, the coat color does not really ascertain a cat's friendliness. Having said that, most tabby cats we've seen tend to be friendly, intelligent, affectionate, and active. And we we say affectionate, these cats won't shy away from displaying their love.

Do tabby cats act different? ›

While some individual tabby cats may be friendly and outgoing, others may be more reserved or independent, just like cats of any other breed or coat color. It's important to remember that each cat is unique and should be judged on their individual personality rather than their breed or appearance.

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