Tabby Cat
“Tabby” isn’t actually a breed; it actually refers to any domestic cat that has the distinctive striped pattern, and an “M” shape on its forehead. Many different breeds can be tabby patterned.
Genus Species – Felis catus
Common Names – Tabby Cat, Tabby
Tabby cats can display a wide range of temperaments, since the pattern is not unique to one particular breed. Some studies have tried to show a link between behavior and coat colors and patterns, but these studies have not proved conclusive.
Many breeds show a tabby cat coat pattern, which consists of a marking in the shape of an “M” on the forehead, as well as stripes near the eyes, cheeks, back, legs and tail. Additionally, the rest of the body includes patterning that can be striped, lined, spotted or swirled.
Tabby cats can be many colors, including orange, brown, and gray.
The tabby patterning is similar to the natural coloration of the domestic cat’s wild ancestor, and its closest wild relatives, the African, European, and Asiatic wildcats. It is believed the pattern in domestic cats dates back to Ancient Egypt.
The word “tabby” comes from the French word “tabis”, which referred to a striped silk fabric.
Tabby patterning is common in many cat breeds, as well as many mixed-breed cats.
One famous orange tabby was Morris the Cat, the mascot for 9Lives cat food.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabby_cat
https://www.britannica.com/animal/tabby
Safari Ltd Tabby Cat Toys: