The Intriguing Personalities Of Tabby Cats With Grey Coats (2024)

Grey tabbies are not a breed but a coat colour, and they can come in several patterns, including stripes, spots, whorls, and bands. They are known for their striped coats, and while they come in a wide variety of colours, the grey tabby is unique. Grey tabbies can have different eye colours, including yellow, green, copper, hazel, and blue, and their temperament depends on their breed.

Tabby cats are not a breed but a coat colour

Tabby cats are not a breed but rather a description of their characteristic coat pattern. The name "tabby" refers to the unique markings on their coats that set them apart from other cats. These markings include stripes, spots, whorls, and bands, as well as an "M"-shaped mark on their foreheads. The tabby pattern can appear in many different breeds, resulting in a wide range of colours and sizes.

The tabby pattern is not limited to a specific colour but can be found in various shades, including brown, grey, orange, and even black. The most familiar tabby coats are black, but variations in pigmentation result in different colours such as grey, orange, and black tabbies. The orange variety, also known as red or ginger tabbies, is a colour variant with pheomelanin instead of eumelanin. While they are typically a mix of orange and white, the ratio of these colours can vary significantly.

There are four main types of tabby patterns: mackerel, classic or blotched, ticked, and spotted. The mackerel tabby, also known as the striped tabby, is the original cat coat pattern and has been around for thousands of years. It is characterised by evenly spaced light and dark vertical stripes that can vary in width from very narrow to quite broad. The classic tabby, on the other hand, features thick curving bands in whorls or a swirled pattern, with a distinctive mark on each side of the body resembling a bullseye. Ticked tabbies have stripes only on their legs, tail, and forehead, while their body fur is light with dark tips, without forming distinct stripes. Spotted tabbies, as their name suggests, have spots on their bodies, which can vary in size.

In addition to these four main patterns, there is also a patched tabby pattern, which is a combination of any of the four basic patterns with calico or tortoiseshell markings. This pattern is known as caliby or torbie, depending on whether the cat has white spotting or not.

The tabby pattern is not limited to a specific breed, and can be found in a wide range of cat breeds, including domestic shorthair and domestic longhair varieties. Some of the breeds most associated with the mackerel tabby pattern include Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats, American Curls, and domestic shorthairs and longhairs.

Tabbies have a characteristic 'M' on their foreheads

Tabby cats are not a specific breed but are characterised by their unique coat patterns and markings. One of these distinctive features is the 'M' shape that typically appears on their foreheads. This marking is the result of genetics, with the tabby pattern being coded into their DNA.

There are several legends surrounding the 'M' marking on tabbies' foreheads. One story claims that the prophet Muhammad created the 'M' when he laid his hand on his favourite cat's head. Another tale suggests that the Virgin Mary marked the cat's face in gratitude for its purring when baby Jesus was crying. A third myth proposes that the 'M' comes from the Egyptian word for 'cat', 'mau'.

The tabby pattern, including the 'M' marking, is thought to have originated from wild cats such as the European Wildcat, African Wildcat, and Asiatic Wildcat, which exhibit similar coat patterns and colours. The ancient Egyptians were among the first civilisations to keep pet cats, and paintings from this era clearly show mackerel tabbies, the original and oldest type of tabby pattern.

Today, the mackerel tabby pattern is unique to domestic cats and can be found in a wide range of breeds, including Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats, and American Curls. The pattern typically consists of evenly spaced light and dark vertical stripes, with a slight curve on the flanks and horizontal bands on the legs and tail.

The 'M' marking on the forehead of tabbies is a distinctive feature that adds to their overall appeal and contributes to their reputation as wonderful pets.

Tabby cats come in many coat colours

The different colours are the result of different levels of melanin density in the hair shaft. The black gene, for example, has three alleles that control the density of eumelanin in the hair shaft. The B allele produces black fur, while the b allele reduces melanin density to a chocolate colour, and the b1 allele further reduces melanin density to a medium brown (cinnamon).

Dilution can also change these primary colours into lighter forms. Black dilutes to blue (grey), chocolate to lilac, cinnamon to fawn, and orange to cream. A secondary type of dilution, called the dilute modifier, can also occur, causing the coat to take on a brownish cast. Blue becomes caramel, chocolate becomes taupe, and cream becomes apricot.

The tabby coat pattern is the most common of feline coat patterns and comes in four varieties: mackerel (striped), blotched (classic), spotted, and ticked. The mackerel pattern is the original cat coat pattern and has been around for thousands of years. The name comes from the mackerel fish, which has similar vertical markings. The blotched pattern is characterised by thick curved bands in a swirled pattern, resembling a bullseye or butterfly when viewed from above. The spotted pattern is a variant of the mackerel pattern, with a modifier gene breaking the stripes up into spots. The ticked pattern does not have stripes or spots but does have traditional tabby markings on the face and agouti hairs on the body.

The agouti gene controls whether tabby markings are expressed or not. The dominant agouti allele, A, will express the tabby pattern, while the recessive allele, a, will produce a solid coat colour.

Tabby cats have five unique patterns

Tabby cats are not a specific breed but are characterised by their distinctive coat patterns. The name "tabby" comes from a type of silk fabric with a similar striped pattern. Tabbies can be brown, grey, orange, or even black, and their markings include stripes, spots, whorls, and bands. They typically have an "M"-shaped mark on their foreheads.

There are five main tabby coat patterns: classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked, and patched. Each of these patterns has its own unique characteristics and can be found in many breeds of cats.

The classic tabby pattern, also referred to as the blotched tabby pattern, features bold, swirling stripes that form a distinctive bullseye" pattern on the cat's side. Classic tabbies have a marbled or tie-dyed appearance, with dark bars on the legs, tail, and cheeks, along with the telltale "M" shape on the forehead.

The mackerel tabby pattern is the most common pattern. It resembles the bones of a fish with narrow stripes that run vertically down the cat's body. The stripes on the mackerel tabby are usually more prominent on the cat's back and tail, and they often have a dark stripe running down their spine. Mackerel tabbies also feature an "M" shape on their forehead and the "bracelets and necklaces" common to most tabby patterns.

The spotted tabby features a mackerel or classic pattern with round or oval spots instead of stripes. The spots can be large or small and are almost always darker than the background fur. It can be challenging to distinguish between a true spotted tabby pattern and a "bad" or broken mackerel pattern.

The ticked tabby is stripeless. Instead, the ticked tabby pattern has an Abyssinian look, with each hair being "agouti" or striped with alternating bands of light and dark colour. The ticked tabby also has a distinctive "necklace" marking around its neck, made up of a series of dark spots.

The patched tabby pattern, also known as a torbie, features a mix of the classic tortoiseshell red and black coloration with tabby patterns. The patched tabby typically has patches of black, brown, orange, and cream with the tabby markings of stripes and spots. The markings are more obvious on the legs and head.

Tabby cats are affectionate and intelligent

Tabby cats are not a breed but a category of cats with distinctive markings on their coats. They are known for their affectionate and intelligent personalities, making them excellent companions for individuals and families alike. Here are some reasons why tabby cats are considered affectionate and intelligent:

Affectionate Nature

Tabbies are renowned for their affectionate and loving nature. They thrive on attention and enjoy spending time with their human families, as well as other cats or dogs in the household. They are known to be friendly, social, and expressive, always ready to let you know how they are feeling. Their affectionate nature makes them loyal companions, always eager to participate in family activities and be part of the action.

Intelligence and Curiosity

Tabbies are highly intelligent creatures, and their curiosity often leads them to get what they want. They are known to be bright and clever, which can sometimes result in them getting cranky if they don't get their way. Their intelligence also makes them excellent hunters, always ready to chase down rodents or any other prey that catches their eye.

Adaptability and Sociability

Tabby cats are adaptable and get along well with children and other pets. Their friendly and outgoing nature makes them wonderful family pets. They are easy to find due to the commonness of their colour pattern, and their beautiful wild-looking coloration adds to their appeal.

Unique Characteristics

Tabbies possess unique characteristics that set them apart. They often have an "M"-shaped marking on their foreheads, which is believed to be a part of their tabby pattern gene. This distinctive feature has given rise to various legends and anecdotes, adding to the allure of tabby cats.

In conclusion, tabby cats are affectionate and intelligent creatures that make wonderful pets. Their adaptability, sociability, and unique characteristics, coupled with their affectionate and intelligent nature, make them a popular choice for individuals and families seeking a loyal and loving companion.

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