Tabby cats: pattern features on wool and a list of breeds

Of all the pets, perhaps the greatest love and popularity is enjoyed by everyone's favorite cat. Each lover has his own preferences. Some people like redheads more, others - black or three-suited. There are also quite a lot of fans of tabby cats.

Translated from English, the word “tabby” means “striped” or “motley”. The very first spots in cats appeared for protection and disguise. Thanks to them, small animals hid from large predators, and also easily approached their prey. This coloring is most natural for representatives of the cat family.

However, all have features that bring together tabby cats. These include the following items:

• mark in the form of the letter "M" on the forehead;
• nose and eyes surrounded by a bright edging;
• on the collar, legs and tail are clearly pronounced drawings resembling a necklace.

Most often, these cats come with eyes of warm colors. They are also yellow, and brown, and copper. Only silver animals have green eyes.

The shade of the hair, first of all, depends on the amount of melanin - the pigment that is present in the hair of her hair. But the agouti gene is responsible for the dark bands. It is thanks to him that pigmentation appears and becomes visible to the human eye. Most often, wool is decorated with transverse stripes. The wider the stripes, the darker the coat color. Eumelanin pigment is responsible for black stripes or spots, and pheomelanin for brown-red ones.

Felinologists studying cats divide tabby patterns into several types, each of which has a specific number in the international coding system. In addition, they all have different characteristics.

Cats with this type of coloring, at first glance, seem monotonous, but in fact they have some marks that are placed on the legs, tail and face of the animal. If you look closely at such cats, you will notice small black rings, similar to freckles, like in humans.

Tiger cats are also called domestic animals, and their wild relatives, and new thoroughbred cats, having the same coloring. There is another name applied to them - tabby mackerel. These cats got their name in honor of the fish of the same name.

Tiger stripes run along the spine, and then branch vertically on the sides. On the chest there are several rings in the form of necklaces.

Such animals differ in rather large and clear patterns, which are placed in the form of stripes or rather wide stains. On the back of these animals you can see a picture in the form of a beautiful butterfly.

Such cats, as the name suggests, are a bit like leopards. Only their color is a little more faded. The spots are located mainly on the back and sides.

In addition to these basic types of colors, there are a number of varieties of tabby cats.

1. Tortie tabby. Here two main colors are combined at once: white and red or black. Throughout the body of the animal, you can see randomly placed drawings.
2. Lynx Point. In such a cat, the figure is placed only on the neck, legs, tail, as well as on its face and ears. All other parts of the body are monophonic.
3. Patched. Most often, this coloring is inherent in cats. On the main pattern, whether it is spotty, ticked or any other, there are small “patches” of red or cream color.

In addition, all tabby cats are also different in that what is their main shade of wool.

1. Brown Cats of light brown color have black paw pads, as well as the same nose. Spots on the coat stand out with a rich black tint.
2. Purple. In animals with this color, the paw pads and nose are painted in a delicate pink color. In addition, all marks are also distinguished by a beige or purple hue, only more saturated.
3. Silver. Cats of this color have a silvery shade of fur. In addition, the figure is quite pronounced against its background.
4. Red. Most often, cats are painted in a light red color, and dark red patterns stand out against its background.
5. Brindle. In this case, ticked hairs are distributed throughout the cat's body. The pattern is striped and resembles the color of the hair of real tigers.
6. Blue. On a cream background, you can see gray patterns. In addition, the paw pads and nose of the animal will have a gray or pink color.

For some breeds of cats, the tabby pattern is an integral part of them, while others may appear in one or more kittens.

This cat breed was bred artificially. There are several color options. To get the Ocicati, two representatives of the spotted tabby were crossed. Almost every kitten has a bright, spotty pattern that stands out against the main background.

A cat of this breed is distinguished by a ticked color. He may not have a necklace on his chest or legs, but his eyes are surrounded by a dark edging. Besides, on the face there is a distinctive sign in the form of the letter "M".

Almost all of his body seems monotonous, but at the same time, on the legs, face and tail of such an animal there are distinctive tabby color patterns.Most often, cats with shades of wool such as lilac, blue or brown-red are found.

This cat breed was formed naturally. Such an animal has a leopard type. The main features of the breed are the following:

• a large number of bright and contrasting spots of different sizes are randomly placed throughout the body;
• their shape is quite diverse;
• on the forehead there is a distinctive tabby pattern in the form of the letter "M", which makes the cat seem a little gloomy;
• on the chest and neck you can see a necklace characteristic of a tabby;
• the legs are framed by stripes resembling bracelets.

The main color of such cats is black or silver. In addition, there are smoky cats. They are more rare, therefore, they are considered much more valuable.

This breed of cats has a light ticked color. Almost every hair of an animal is painted in a different color.

However, some shadows on the front legs of such animals are also allowed. They are somewhat in shape resembling bracelets. In addition, there are also tabby emblems on the face. This is, first of all, a pattern in the form of the letter "M" of a saturated dark color.

The main color of Singapore cats is considered to be ivory, on which a ticking of a brown hue is very clearly visible. The tone can be lighter and darker.

In addition, kittens with a tabby color can be found in litter and other cat breeds. All will meet breed standards.

1. Sphinxes. Dark spots are located in such animals on the legs, back, and also on the tail. Most often, sphinxes are found in marble, leopard or tiger colors. Against the background of smooth skin with a light down coat, the characteristic color is noticeable as well as on long hair.
2. Thai cats have a point color, which is manifested on the muzzle, legs and ears. The main color of the coat is white.
3. For the Siberian breed of cats, any color option is acceptable except ticked. Throughout the long coat, you can see small specks and characteristic tabby patterns.
4. The main color of the British cat breed is leopard. Their eyes are either green or copper. However, the most valuable shade is considered marble. It appears already in newborn kittens, while the pattern is visible very clearly.

From birth, spots and stripes stand out clearly against the background of wool. However, particular attention is drawn to the subspecies of the British color point cat breed. They have beautiful blue eyes, very thick and light hair. In addition, bright drawings are clearly visible on the tail, legs and face.

In addition, the World Federation of Felinologists established certain coloring standards for each specific cat breed. For some of them, the color of the tabby is completely unacceptable, and a cat with such a “defect” cannot be allowed to participate in exhibitions. These include such breeds as Russian Blue or Siamese, Burmese or Chartreuse. If the owners of the cat are not aimed at taking him to exhibitions, you can safely take yourself such an animal and not be afraid that something will be wrong with him.

In this video you can familiarize yourself with the Asian Tabby cat breed, its habits and the main characteristics of this breed.