Tabbies are so ubiquitous that many people think of them as a breed. Not so; the tabby is a color pattern. Actually, tabbies can have any number of patterns: most often stripes, but sometimes stripes and whorls, or even spots and stripes. Calicos and tortoiseshell cats may also have patches or areas of tabby stripes. Tortoiseshell cats thus adorned, are called "torbies." The tabby pattern is so popular that it can be found in many pedigreed cats today, and is accepted in a number of breeds by the most popular registries. Probably the most distinctive feature seen in common on all tabby cats is the "M" on their foreheads. You will also see this M on many of the big jungle cats, such as tigers, cheetahs, and ocelots. Here's a wonderful story, one of many about the origination of that M.
See that colored title at the top of this blog? That's a clickable link to the rest of this article. Click on it to learn much more about these amazing tabbies.
Call for Tabby Photos
I'm now accepting photos for a new 2009 Tabby Cats Picture Gallery, however, you must follow the Photo Submittal Guidelines.
Jaspurr, my alpha male, has very distinctive tabby marks, including the distinctive "M" on his forehead.
Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy
Learn More About Color Patterns in Cats
Cat Color Patterns and Types
Cat Color Patterns Quiz
Tabby Cat Pictures
Comments
personally i have found that the tabby cat could also be called the “salt of the earth” when it comes to character and personality. a very easygoing disposition.
My black O can be seen sometimes to have stripes. Although it is very hard to tell if they are actually stripes, or the fur separating where he is bending a little. I can’t see any stripes on U, who is a “smoke”, with the base of her fur being gray.
I think the ¨M¨ is for Meow
, the tabby cats are my favorite.