Tabby cats: wool patterns and breed list

Of all the pets, almost all beloved cats are the most loved and loved. Every lover has his own preferences. Some people prefer red, others like black or trekhmastnye. Tabby cats also have a lot of fans.

Translated from English, the word "tabby" means "striped" or "motley." The very first specks of cats appeared to protect and disguise. It is thanks to them that small animals hid from large predators, and also easily approached their prey. This coloring is most natural for the representatives of the cat family.

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

• a mark in the form of the letter "M" on the forehead;
• nose and eyes circled in bright edging;
• on the collar, on the paws and on the tail there are distinct patterns that resemble a necklace.

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

The shade of wool, 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 the pigmentation appears and becomes visible to the human eye. Most often wool is decorated with transverse stripes. The wider the stripes, the darker the color of the cat's fur. Eumelanin pigment is responsible for black stripes or spots, and pheomelanin is responsible for brown-red.

Felinologists studying cats divide tabby drawings 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 monophonic, but in fact they have some marks that are placed on the paws, tail and face of the animal. If you look at these cats, you can see small black rings, similar to freckles, like in humans.

Tiger cats are both domestic animals, and their wild relatives, and new pedigreed cats, having the same coloring. There is another name applied to them - tabby mackerel. These cats got their name in honor of the fish with 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 are distinguished by rather large and distinct patterns, which are placed in the form of stripes or rather wide divorces. On the back of these animals you can see a pattern in the form of a beautiful butterfly.

Such cats, as can be understood from the name of the type, 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 main types of colors, there are a number of species of tabby cats.

1. Tortie Tabby. It combines two main colors at once: white and red or black. Throughout the body of the animal you can see randomly placed pictures.
2. Lynx Point. In such a cat, the pattern is placed only on the neck, paws, tail, as well as on its face and ears. All other parts of the body are solid.
3. Patched Most often this color is inherent in cats. On the main pattern, be it spotted, ticked, or any other, there are small “patches” of red or cream color.

In addition, all tabby cats are different by the fact 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 wool stand out in a rich black tint.
2. Lilac. In animals with this color, the paw pads and nose are painted in a delicate pink color. In addition, all markings also stand out beige or purple, but already more saturated.
3. Silver. Cats of this color have a silvery shade of fur. In addition, the figure is quite pronounced on its background.
4. Red. Most often, cats are painted in a light red color, and dark-red drawings 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 coat color of real tigers.
6. Blue. On the cream background you can see gray drawings. In addition, the paw pads and nose of the animal will have a gray or pink color.

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

This breed of cats was bred artificially. There are several color options. Two representatives of the spotted tabby were crossed to obtain the ocicats. Almost every kitten has a bright, prominently spotted pattern.

A cat of this breed has a ticked color. He may not have a necklace on his chest or paws, 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 paws, muzzle and tail of such an animal there are distinctive patterns of tabby color. The most common cats with shades of wool, such as purple, blue or brown-red.

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

• A large number of bright and contrasting spots of various sizes are randomly placed all over the body;
• their shape is quite diverse;
• on the forehead is a distinctive pattern of tabby in the form of the letter "M", because of which the cat seems a bit gloomy;
• on the chest, as well as the neck, you can see a tabby necklace;
• paws are framed with bands resembling bracelets.

The main color of these cats is black or silver. In addition, there are smoky cats. They are more rare, therefore, 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 a bit like bracelets. In addition, there are also tabby decals on the face. This is, first of all, the pattern in the form of the letter "M" of a rich dark color.

The main color of Singaporean cats is the color of ivory, which is very clearly visible ticking brown. The tone may be lighter and darker.

In addition, in the litter and in other breeds of cats can be found kittens with tabby color. All of them will meet breed standards.

1. Sphinxes. Dark spots are located on such animals on the paws, on the back, and also on the tail. The most common are sphinxes of marble, leopard, or tiger colors.Against the background of smooth skin with a light downy coat, the characteristic color is noticeable as well as on long wool.
2. Thai cats have a color point, which is manifested on the face, paws and ears. The main color of the fur is white.
3. For the Siberian cat breed, any color option is allowed except for the ticked one. Small specks and characteristic tabby color patterns can be seen along the entire length of the fur.
4. The main color of the British cat breed is leopard. Their eyes are either green or copper. However, the most valuable shade is marble. It appears already in newborn kittens, and the pattern is clearly visible.

Since birth, spots and stripes stand out brightly against the background of wool. However, special attention is attracted by the subspecies of the British cat breed color-point. They have beautiful blue eyes, very thick and light hair. In addition, bright patterns are clearly visible on the tail, paws and muzzle.

In addition, the World Federation of Felinologists set certain standards for coloring for each specific cat breed. For some of them, the color of 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 intended to carry him to the exhibition, you can safely take such an animal and not be afraid that there will be something wrong with it.

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