It is a physical Description, such as describing an individual as being blond or brunette. Discover more about tabby cats.ĭespite common belief, “Tabby” isn’t a breed. And it was at this momentous occasion that the first tabby cat – a 21-pound English tabby – was introduced to the world.The term “tabby” identifies your cat’s coloring compared to their own breed, but a lot of breeds normally arrive with tabby coats. In fact, the first official cat show was held at the Crystal Palace in London in 1871. “In Britain, they called it tabbi silk, and thats how the tabby cat got his name.” In the Attabiyah district of old Baghdad, the Jews made a beautiful, striped black-and-white silk that had a swirling effect. The word “tabby” started back in ancient Baghdad, explains Miller. The ticked patternĭoes not only present itself in cats, but also in rabbits and other animals. ![]() Ticked: This pattern is one of the loveliest because each hair of the cat has different bands of color from the start of the hair to the tip. “This shows that both the Abyssinian and the Siamese breeds must have had spots back in their ancestral roots.” “The original Ocicat was a surprise,” says Miller. The naturally occurring spots of the Egyptian Mau are different than the spots of the Ocicat, which is a cross between the Abyssinian and the Siamese. This causes the stripes or whorls to break up, resulting in spots.” “Some geneticists believe the spotted tabby is the result of a modifying gene, affecting classic or mackerel patterns. “The genetics of the spotted tabbies are not completely known,” says Miller. This cat may be a direct descendant of the original spotted Egyptian wildcat, believed to be one of the earliest domesticated cats. But the only naturally spotted tabby cat is the Egyptian Mau. The Ocicat is one breed that proudly wears the spots in the family. Spotted : This tabby may have some stripes around the legs, but mainly has a body pattern of spots, reminding some of a leopard or cheetah. This pattern provides very good camouflage, and could have helped cats survive in the forests. “We believe that the classic pattern is the result of an ancient mutation, which probably occurred in European cats thousands of years ago. “Its a very decorative cat,” says Miller. On the top of the head is a little swirl, referred to as a scarab. ![]() They also have very distinctive “butterfly wings” over the shoulder. They have big blotches, surrounded by a big circle, says Miller. Also very common, classics are the pattern of many American Shorthair cats. Many people name their striped tabbies “Tiger” for obvious reasons.Ĭlassic : If your cat has whorls on her side that look like a target, then you are the lucky companion of a classic tabby cat. They usually have darker spots on their bellies. The stripes running down the sides of their bodies may be continuous, but are sometimes broken. Striped tabbies have rings around their tails and stripes running across their necks and chests. Striped : This tabby is also known as the mackerel, and is the most common pattern. In fact, as of this writing, the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) recognizes about 25 breeds with tabby markings.Įons ago, the patterns of the tabby probably evolved as a form of protection for the cat through camouflage, says Miller. There are Persian tabbies, Maine Coon tabbies, Norwegian Forest Cat tabbies, Oriental tabbies – even Manx tabbies. ![]() There are long-haired tabbies and short-haired tabbies. Its a color pattern consisting of stripes, combination stripes and whorls – and combination stripes and spots. Many people think the tabby cat is a breed in and of itself, but its not. “This is a lot easier to see in kittens,” says Miller. You should be able to see the hint of a tabby pattern. The next time you get the chance, look at a black cat in the sun. However, you can often still see the tabby markings underneath as a ghost pattern. If they receive the recessive gene, theyre known as non-Agouti, and they will be a solid color with no pattern.” If they have the dominant gene, theyre called Agouti –Īnd they show the tabby pattern. “All cats have a pattern of stripes, blotches, spots or whorls. “Because all cats are tabbies, genetically speaking,” explains Miller. How does Miller decide that your cat is a tabby? Without even seeing your cat, Joan Miller, vice-president of the Cat Fanciers Association, knows your cat is a tabby.
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