You’ve heard of tabby cats and undoubtably seen them. After all, they are one of the most popular types of cats in the world! However, the phrase ‘tabby cat’ brings different things to mind for different people. Some automatically picture a ginger feline, while others might imagine a rough-and-tumble alley kitty. 

So, what exactly is a tabby cat? Cat in a Flat explains everything you need to know about these much-loved fur friends. 

What is a tabby cat? 

Many people think that tabby cats are a type of breed. However, the word ‘tabby’ refers to the markings on certain cats. They can exist across many different breeds, but one of the easiest ways to identify a tabby cat is by their fur pattern. While all these types of kitties bear the easily recognizable ‘M’ mark on their foreheads, their other fur patterns can differ. Below are the four main types of tabbies. 

• Mackerel tabby: Long narrow parallel stripes running up and down their sides. These markings resemble a fish skeleton, which is where the name mackerel tabby comes from. 
• Classic tabby: The most common type, these have wider, curved stripes as well as three large stripes running from shoulder to tail. 
• Spotty tabby: These kitties have round spots against a background of lighter fur. 
• Ticked tabby: Unlike other types, ticked tabbies hardly have any stripes or spots. A ticked tabby’s stripes may be very thin and hard to see, but they’re still there! 

Where do tabby cats come from? 

Because tabby cats have mixed ancestry and can exist across different breeds, it’s hard to pin down their exact origin. However, the tabby pattern could date back to domestic cats in ancient Egypt. People compared their fur markings to striped cloth and silk from the ‘Attabiy’ district. Over time, the word changed to ‘atabis’, then ‘tabis’, and eventually became the English word ‘tabby’. 

How big do tabby cats get? 

Since tabbies can exist in any breed of cat, their size can vary widely from one feline to the next. 

Depending on the breed, these kitties can grow up to 16 inches in height and weigh around 18lbs. However, on average a tabby cat will grow to around 9-10 inches and weigh roughly 10lbs. 

If you’re planning on bringing a tabby into your life, educate yourself first on how big that particular breed of tabby cat can grow. While some felines thrive living in apartments, other breeds may be too large or struggle without outdoor space to explore. 

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Tabby cat personality traits

Because tabby is not a breed of feline but rather a type of coat, their personality can vary from one fur friend to the next. But there are some people who firmly believe these kitties are naturally more intelligent and affectionate than other types of fur friends. They are so friendly, that a tabby cat might be prone to sleeping in bed with you or following you to the bathroom!

However, since people find their markings so endearing, owners may tend to spoil their tabbies with too many treats. This can lead to an overweight cat. Hence, it’s important to feed your cat on a schedule and spend time playing with them.

Of course, these are just generalisations, but it certainly shows how much people love their tabby cats! 

Famous cats (and they’re all tabbies!)

Tabby cats have stolen plenty of famous hearts throughout history. Here are a few of the most famous (and the people who loved them). 

• Tabby: the presidential cat. It’s a little-known fact that U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was quite the cat lover. His beloved feline named, appropriately, Tabby, was the first kitty to live in the White House! It’s rumoured Lincoln even once seated Tabby at the table during a state dinner. 
• Delilah: the tabby who inspired a song. Freddie Mercury is known for being the frontman of the iconic band Queen, but behind the scenes the rock star was quite the feline fan. It’s said he owned around 10 kitties in his lifetime, but the most famous feline in the Mercury family was an enormous tabby cat named Delilah. Freddie loved Delilah so much he even dedicated one of his songs to her! 
• Orangey: the award-winning cat actor. If you’ve ever seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s, you probably noticed that Audrey Hepburn’s furry companion in the film is a tabby cat. The feline actor who played the role was named Orangey and he starred in numerous other films during his 15-year Hollywood career. He even earned two Patsy awards—the animal actor equivalent of an Oscar.
• Stubbs: the popular cat mayor. While it’s a documented cat fact that kitties can indeed hold jobs, a small town in Alaska took it to a whole new level. In 1998, the town elected a ginger cat named Stubbs in a write-in campaign. Mayor Stubbs took his duties seriously and could be seen out and about the town drinking catnip-spiked water from margarita glasses and ruling with an iron paw. The beloved kitty served for 20 years as mayor before passing away in 2017. 

Remember that every kitty is unique. Because there’s no sure way to identify the ‘typical’ tabby traits, take note of health concerns for each individual breed. Book annual vet check-ups for your feline to stay on top of any potential health issues. 

Whether you have a tabby cat or another type of fur friend, it’s also important to make sure they are well looked after when you’re away. Check out our blog posts on what to look for in a cat sitter and how to book the purrfect companion for your kitty!