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One of the most popular types of cat, the Tabby is a wonderful feline. But we bet you didn’t know these facts about hooded cats.
Tabby cats may look like your average domesticated cat, but they have their own uniqueness, and some interesting facts about these kitties are listed below so you can get to know them a little better.
Tabby is a style, not a breed
Tabby refers to a cat’s coat pattern, so it is not considered a breed of its own. This is actually the most common coat, and it can be found on kitties across a wide variety of breeds.
Related: Top 10 Long Haired Cat Breeds
Some of the many breeds that can display the tortie pattern include the American Shorthair, Persian, Egyptian Mau, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Abyssinian, American Hopscotch, and Siberian.
There is not just one style
Another interesting fact is that the outer layer can come in several attractive styles:
- The mackerel cat will have stripes on the body, as well as on the legs, chest, and tail. The lines will extend from the abdomen to the spine. This is the pattern most people think of when they think of snake prints.
Related: Crafting With Cat Fur? Yes, it is a thing.
- The spotted tab will have spots instead of lines. The spots can be small or large, and they can be round or oval.
- Rather than displaying stripes or spots, the traditional tapai will have thick swirls across the body. This distinctive pattern is also referred to as marbling.
- The suspended tabby is known as the agouti tabby style. You won’t find spots or lines within this pattern either, but distinct markings will appear on the face, along with hairlines on the body. This means that each hair will have dark and light colored bands. A great example is the Abyssinian.
- Finally, the patchwork patchwork pattern can be found on turtle cheeses and kattico kitties.
Tabbies can feature any color
In addition to the interesting patterns, tabby lappets can also feature a wide range of coat colors. These include brown, brown/gray, gray, cream, buff, and orange.
Tabby style has an interesting history
When researchers analyzed the DNA of cats that lived thousands of years ago, what they realized was that the outer coat didn’t actually appear until the Middle Ages. And it took until 18ten Horn for the tabular pattern to become more common among kitties. Other than that, cats haven’t changed much at all since ancient times.
They have an “m” on their forehead
When you look closely at a tabby cat, you’ll also notice an “M” as part of the pattern on the forehead. Like the rest of the coat pattern, this attractive feature is simply part of a cat’s genetic makeup. This “M” can be very faded and blend in with the rest of the fur on a cat’s face, or it can be very pronounced since it’s dark enough to stand out against the rest of the pattern.
Thinking of adopting a tabby cat?
Tabby cats are easy to find in shelters and foster care networks all over the world, so if you’re thinking of introducing one of these lovely kitties into your family, consider adopting someone who’s looking for their forever home.
