![]() ![]() The dark lines on a Mackerel tabby's cheek Classic (blotched) tabby The four known distinct patterns, each having a sound genetic explanation, are the mackerel, classic, ticked, and spotted tabby patterns. The notion that tabby indicates a female cat may be due to the feminine proper name Tabby as a nickname of " Tabitha". Use of the term tabby cat for a cat with a striped coat began in the 1690s and was shortened to tabby in 1774. Tabby is also comparable to the Spanish word ataviar, which means "to decorate or to dress or wear" and often implies luxurious clothing. Such silk cloth became popular in the Muslim world and spread to England, where the word "tabby" became commonly used in the 17th and 18th centuries. This word is a reference to the Attabiya district of Baghdad, noted for its striped cloth and silk itself named after the Umayyad Governor of Mecca Attab ibn Asid. The English term tabby originally referred to "striped silk taffeta," from the French word tabis, meaning "a rich watered silk." This can be further traced to the Middle French atabis (14th century), which stemmed from the Arabic term عتابية / ʿattābiyya. One genetic study of domestic cats found at least five founders. The tabby pattern occurs naturally and is connected both to the coat of the domestic cat's direct ancestor and to those of their 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 pattern and coloration. The tabby pattern is found in many official cat breeds and is a hallmark of the landrace extremely common among the general population of cats around the world. "Tabby" is not a breed of cat, but a coat type seen in almost all genetic lines of domestic cats, regardless of breed. It is thought that the tabby pattern originates from the numerous related species of wildcat.Ī tabby is any domestic cat ( Felis catus) with a distinctive 'M'-shaped marking on its forehead stripes by its eyes and across its cheeks, along its back, and around its legs and tail and (differing by tabby type), characteristic striped, dotted, lined, flecked, banded, or swirled patterns on the body-neck, shoulders, sides, flanks, chest, and abdomen. Some other breeds have orange tabby patterning too, including the British Shorthair, Maine Coon, and Persian.A European wildcat ( Felis silvestris) bearing a similar coat pattern to that of a tabby cat. The International Cat Association (TICA) recognized orange Bengal cats as a subset within the brown category in 1983. ![]() Tabbies have an agouti gene that gives them their striped markings. The orange tabby is not a breed, but a color and pattern variation within many cat breeds, some of which are officially recognized colors. Image Credit: JoeSang, Pixabay Formal Recognition of Orange Tabbies Orange tabbies have a rich history and unique characteristics, making them beloved in the cat community. Their intelligent, adventurous, and friendly nature also won the hearts of animal lovers worldwide. Orange cats gained popularity due to their beautiful appearance. ![]() ![]() Mary was grateful to the cat and thus marked it with her initial “M” so that anyone who saw it would see what it had done and distinguish it from other cats. The genetic mutation responsible for the tabby pattern emerged during the Ottoman Empire, however, it was not until the 19th century that these physical traits were selected to produce “fancy” tabbies.Īccording to a biblical legend, a tabby visited the manger where Jesus was born and nestled beside the baby. They gained popularity as companion animals and as pet control on merchant ships that moved along trade routes. They also both have the same distinct letter “M” marking on their foreheads. 1 Some historians say they are modern descendants of the Egyptian Mau, which has a similar pattern to tabbies. Experts believe there were orange tabbies in ancient Egypt as they are depicted in some Egyptian art. Orange tabby cats are not a specific breed-the color and pattern can be seen in many cat breeds. The Earliest Records of the Orange Tabby in History ![]()
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