![]() 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. Etymology A 19th-century drawing of a tabby cat 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 cat, or simply 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. Mackerel tabby, with the distinctive striped pattern and forehead 'M' A European wildcat ( Felis silvestris) bearing a similar coat pattern to that of a tabby cat. For other uses, see Tabby (disambiguation). We are proud to offer a wide range of services to ensure our feline patients enjoy healthy, happy lives."Tabby" redirects here. If you are considering adopting a tabby cat, your trusted team at All About Cats Veterinary Hospital is here to help. Your Friendly Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital Patched Tabby Cat: Often referred to as a tortoiseshell or tortie, a patched tabby usually has dark or grayish brown and red or orange patches with any of the previous tabby patterns.Ticked Tabby Cat: Also known as an Abyssinian tabby or agouti tabby, a ticked tabby doesn’t have stripes or spots but instead has tabby markings on the face and hairs striped with alternating light and dark bands, known as agouti hairs on the body.Spotted Tabby Cat: A spotted tabby has large or small spots all over the sides that sometimes appear to be broken mackerel stripes.Mackerel Tabby Cat: Also known as a tiger cat, a mackerel tabby cat has rings around the tail and legs and narrow solid or broken stripes that run down the sides in a vertical pattern.Classic Tabby Cat: Sometimes referred to as a blotched tabby, a classic tabby has a bold, swirling pattern that closely resembles a bullseye.The 14th century Middle French term was “atabis,” which then became “tabis,” and eventually our English word, “tabby.” A large study using DNA analysis to trace the geographical dispersal and domestication of these beloved felines from ancient to modern times revealed that the tabby cat’s distinctive coat appeared in the Middle Ages and didn’t become common until about the 18th century. Tabby cats got their name by being compared to striped cloth and silk from the “Attabiy” district in Baghdad. Interestingly, orange tabby cats are usually male, with only about 20-25 percent of them being female. The most familiar tabby coats are black, but some variations in the pigment result in brown, orange, and gray tabbies. A tabby pattern can be found across a wide range of purebred cats and in mixed breeds. You’ll often see a characteristic “M” on the forehead, right above the eyes. Tabby is not an actual, recognized breed but rather, a category of cats with unique markings on their coats. They are amusing, highly intelligent, and incredibly affectionate, making them excellent household companions! What Is a Tabby Cat? It’s not uncommon for these remarkable felines to follow their human family members around just like puppies! Tabby cats love to play and explore and thrive on attention. Tabby cats have unique personalities that some cat enthusiasts compare to dogs.
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