Tiger cats, also known as tabby cats, are one of the most popular cats in the feline world. However, they are also very misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, tabbies are not a breed of cat but a variation of the pattern. Read on to learn more about cats with this amazing coat pattern.
Race Overview
Colors:
Brown, gray, orange, black, silver, red, etc.
Suitable for:
Families with or without children, elderly people, people living in apartments
attitude:
Varies depending on race
Tiger cats come in a variety of colors and patterns. Although most people know them by the distinctive M-shaped marking on their foreheads, there are actually several other style patterns commonly seen in cats with tabby coats.
Tiger Cat Breed Characteristics
The Earliest Records of Tiger Cats in History
The tiger cat pattern began with domestic cats in the Middle Ages.
The genetic mutation responsible for producing the blotched tabby pattern appeared during the Ottoman Empire. This empire, also known as the Turkish Empire, covered most of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa between the 14th and early 20th centuries. The tiger cat pattern, seen in about 80% of modern cats, slowly became more common throughout Southwest Asia, Africa, and Europe. However, the tabby pattern did not become common until around the 18th century.
How Tiger Cats Gained Popularity
In ancient Egypt, cats were valued very highly. These ancient tiger cats were probably the ancestors of the modern tabbies we admire today and are loved and celebrated for their great hunting skills. They guarded barns, ships, and homes from disease-carrying pests.
As mentioned, the tabby cat pattern did not become common worldwide until the 18th century. By the end of the 19th century, more North Americans began to keep cats not only for their utility (rat catching) but for their company. By the end of World War I, cats rightfully earned their place as household pets in the US and Canada.
Formal Recognition of Tiger Cats
Since tiger cats are not a separate breed but rather a pattern seen in many different cat breeds, there is no formal recognition available for it. However, many cat breed standards set by The International Cat Association (TICA) and Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) contain “tabby” as a pattern.
For example, the TICA standard for Bengals includes brown tabby, silver tabby, seal sepia tabby, and seal mink tabby. The CFA breed standard for Maine Coons includes many tabby colors and patterns, including (but not limited to) classic, mackerel, and ticked tabby patterns and tan, silver, red, and blue colors -silver.
Top 3 Unique Facts About Tiger Cats
1. There are many unique tiger cat patterns.
When most people think of tabby cats, they think of the distinctive “M” mark on the forehead. While this is definitely one of the tabby patterns, there are actually many others.
- Classic tabby: The coat consists of whorls that create a target-like shape on the side of the cat.
- Mackerel tabby: The coat has rings around the tails and legs and bands of stripes (solid or broken) around the rest of the body.
- Spotted tabby: Instead of stripes, this pattern consists of bands of dots of different sizes.
- Ticked tabby: The coat consists of even fields of agouti hairs (each individual hair has two or more bands of pigmentation) that separate the pattern in a salt-and-pepper pattern.
- Patched tabby: The coat consists of patches of different colored markings (eg, calico or tortoiseshell) with patches of the traditional tabby coat.
2. The word “tabby” has a fascinating history.
The title of the “tabby” pattern is believed to have originated in the “Attabiy” district of Baghdad, where fine silks and striped fabrics were produced. Over time, the Middle French term “border,” became “edge,” before giving rise to our modern English word, “tabby.”
3. People believe that the unique “M” marking has meaning.
There are many stories of how and why tiger cats developed their trademark “M” on their foreheads.
Some believe the “M” stands for “Mau”, the Egyptian word for “cat.”
According to Christian legend, after the birth of Jesus, a cat appeared to comfort and keep him warm. Mary, always grateful for the cat’s presence, stroked the cat’s head, leaving an “M” mark on its forehead.
An Islamic legend suggests that a tabby named Muezza saved her master, the Prophet Mohammed, from a snake. To express his gratitude to the cats, Mohammed gave them the ability to land on their feet. When Mohammed held the kitten to thank him for saving his life, the “M” mark appeared and remained.
Do Tiger Cats Make Good Pets?
Tabbies really do make amazing pets just because they’re cats, and we believe all cats can make good pets. It’s important to note that tiger cats are not a specific breed, but rather a pattern that occurs naturally in many different cat breeds, so we can’t tell you what you should expect personality-wise because it’s not we know your kitty’s DNA. For example, a Siamese tabby can have a completely different personality than a Maine Coon with tabby patterning.
To get a better idea of what your cat’s personality will be, try searching for their breed (not their patterning) using the search function on our site. We have hundreds of blogs about countless different cat breeds, which should shed some light on what to expect in terms of personality and the care requirements required for your particular breed of pet. animal
Conclusion
Tiger cats are not a separate breed but a coat pattern commonly seen in several cat breeds. Although the tabby pattern is available in many different colors and five unique styles, there’s no denying how beautiful this patterning is.
Featured Image Credit: Esin Deniz, Shutterstock
