Tabbies have an agouti gene that gives them their striped markings. The orange tabby is not a breed, but a color and pattern variation within many cat breeds, some of which are officially recognized colors. Image Credit: JoeSang, Pixabay Formal Recognition of Orange Tabbies Orange tabbies have a rich history and unique characteristics, making them beloved in the cat community. Their intelligent, adventurous, and friendly nature also won the hearts of animal lovers worldwide.

Orange cats gained popularity due to their beautiful appearance. Mary was grateful to the cat and thus marked it with her initial “M” so that anyone who saw it would see what it had done and distinguish it from other cats. The genetic mutation responsible for the tabby pattern emerged during the Ottoman Empire however, it was not until the 19th century that these physical traits were selected to produce “fancy” tabbies.Īccording to a biblical legend, a tabby visited the manger where Jesus was born and nestled beside the baby. They gained popularity as companion animals and as pet control on merchant ships that moved along trade routes. They also both have the same distinct letter “M” marking on their foreheads. 1 Some historians say they are modern descendants of the Egyptian Mau, which has a similar pattern to tabbies. Experts believe there were orange tabbies in ancient Egypt as they are depicted in some Egyptian art. Orange tabby cats are not a specific breed-the color and pattern can be seen in many cat breeds. Many breeders speculate that the first domestic cats tamed from wildcats had Tabby markings, which makes perfect sense.The Earliest Records of the Orange Tabby in History This is partly to do with the superior camouflage that the pattern offers and partly because Tabbies may have been the first domestic cats. There are more cats with the Tabby coat pattern than any other in the world. This trait of course also has much to do with individual cats and breeds-and almost all breeds have a Tabby variation-but anecdotally, Tabbies are generally highly affectionate cats. This is especially true of both brown and orange Tabbies, which are universally known for being particularly loving and affectionate cats. While personality is difficult to link to coat color and markings, most cat owners agree that Tabby cats are more affectionate than other coat types. The real reason, though, is genetics, and the “M” is a standard feature of all Tabby patterns. Christians and Catholics claim the same of Mother Mary, who blessed the cat for keeping baby Jesus warm in the manager. Some speculate that the marking came from the Islamic prophet Mohammed, who was allegedly fond of Tabbies and thus gave them the marking as a blessing. There are several different stories and myths of how this came to be, most of them stemming from religious origins. Almost all Tabbies have a distinctive “M” markingĪpart from their striped markings, Tabbies are characterized by a distinctive “M” on their forehead, a trait that can be seen on almost every Tabby in some form, including browns. These markings are perfect for hiding and make Brown Tabbies almost invisible in long grass. They closely resemble their Wildcat heritageīrown Tabby cats are extremely camouflaged in the wild, their brown coloring and unique patterning reminiscent of their wildcat ancestry. Image Credit: Anna Kraynova, Shutterstock 4. The most commonly seen coat is the mackerel patterning, which is often referred to as the “original” or “classic” Tabby patterning. These are mackerel, blotched, striped, and ticked.

With the different colors come a host of different patterns, and there are four commonly recognized Tabby patterns accepted by most breeders.

There are four distinct Tabby variationsīrown is only one of a wide range of colors that Tabby cats can be found in. The Middle French term, “atabis,” was later used to describe this silk, which soon evolved to “tabis” and then to “Tabby.” 3. This can be traced further back to the Arabic term, “attabiya,” which is a district in Baghdad that was famous for its striped silk cloth. The term “Tabby” comes from the French phrase, “striped silk taffeta,” a woven silk fabric. They were named after Arabic silkĭue to their stripy and silky coats, many theorize that the Tabby name came from owners comparing their uniquely striped cats to silk cloth. Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock 2. Brown Tabby markings can be found in almost any breed, including popular breeds like Maine Coons, Bengals, British Shorthairs, and almost all crossbreeds. The term “Tabby” refers to a type of pattern, not a specific breed.

Tabby cat personality orange