The tabby is not a unique breed of cat. Rather, the word “tabby” is used to describe the characteristics, coat markings and patterns of these cats. The coat of these cats is typified by swirls and stripes. Typical variants of these cats include the silver tabby cat, orange tabby cat, brown tabby cat and gray tabby cat. Here, the colour refers to the primary base hue of the cat’s coat. The swirls and stripes of these cats are usually dark.
History
A long list of cats show the tabby pattern, especially Abyssinian cats and Maine coon cats, and it is estimated that approximately half of the domesticated cats in the world could be accurately described as the tabby cats. Many breeders of the tabby cats think the distinctive pattern has been around as long as the domesticated cats themselves- in other words, thousands of years.
Appearance
| Size | Size of these cats varies according to their breed. Regardless of any particular breed, an adult tabby cat with a weight exceeding 18 pounds is unusual. |
| Coat | Swirls, dots or striped typify the coat of a tabby cat. It is also common for tabby cats to have white underbelly, white bib and white “socks” on their legs, regardless of the base colour of their fur. |
| Eyes & Ears | The colour and shape of these cats vary according to the breed, as does the size and form of the ear. |
| Tail | Most of the breeds of these cats have tapered tails which are lightly lined with soft fur, though certain tabby cat breeds have bushier, hairier tails and others have narrow, strong, whip-like tails. |
Disposition
The tabby cats are known for their wanderlust, curiosity, and aloofness. However, the breeders of these cats hasten to point out that any individual cat’s personality is dependent on various factors, including the home environment in which it lives and early socialization. Though, even highly independent tabby cats grow attached to a specific person in the household and they also seek the daily attention from that individual.
Grooming
Tabby cat is a very clean animal; therefore, look after most of her grooming needs on her own. However, petting and regular brushing help remove dead fur and spread the essential oils throughout the coat of cat. Furthermore, some experts recommend bathing the tabby cats during shedding season.
Activity Level
Tabby cats can easily become overweight; therefore, you should take care to feed less active tabby cats a limited diet. Further, livelier tabby cat will find her own way to work off her energy.
Health Problems
Many tabby cats are prone to kidney and liver troubles as they get older. Hairballs can also cause respiratory problems in these cats; therefore, regular veterinary care is essential. Sexually active tabby cats may develop a syndrome which is informally called feline AIDS, and overweight cats are more likely to develop feline arthritis and feline diabetes in the later adulthood.